All three of us walk up and Carlo gestures for Zane to take the lead. He does so and I could almost believe Zane has done this before. I wonder if he’s handling this like an arrest or raid as he would when he was a cop. His demeanor comes from being the levelheaded cop. He doesn’t even show his nervousness when he uses a steady hand to ring to let Carmello know we’re here.
I straighten my dress as we wait, flounce my hair about and stand as tall and ready as I possibly can, all while trying to exude some of the calmness the two men before me have executed. I’m not even nervous for myself, only terrified for Zane. As the door opens, I feel a ball of dread roll into my stomach, but I have no time to voice my concern in confidence.
“We’ve been expecting you,” a huge, muscle bound black guy in black announces. He looks menacing, with a face full of anger and a readiness to usher us inside with haste. “Get in now.”
“No way to speak to a business associate,” Zane comments and enters.
I hesitate for a moment unable to comprehend that Zane just took command.
“Gonna come in, gorgeous, or stay on the door step?” the thug asks me, and I follow inside. “What I wouldn’t mind doing to you.”
“Whatever you have in mind, stud, trust me when I say my payback would be worse,” I comment, not even bothering to give him eye contact. “I’m bad for your health.”
“I’m sure you are,” he quips and bypasses me to stand before Zane and Carlo. “Carmello is out back seeing to renovations. He told me to bring you through when you arrived.”
I follow through the house and the dread in me doesn’t disperse. We walk into a large room that seems to be in the middle of mass renovations and, instantly, I feel that ball of dread begin to grow in my stomach. Something isn’t right. But I have no time to voice my worry or grab onto Carlo. As soon as we’re in, I can feel an uncomfortable weight position behind me, and before I have time to inspect, hands wrap around the top of my arms and paralyzes me. Before I can call out, his arm moves across my chest, and I feel the cold, sharp edge of a blade press against my neck.
“Boss, I’ve got her,” the thug who let us in speaks gruffly from behind me.
“No,” I struggle to say, the blade pressing in harder than ever.
My whispered response has Zane and Carlo looking quickly.
“Fuck,” Carlo swears as he turns to see me captive. “This isn’t the deal!”
“We’re here to swap money for diamonds,” Zane states. There’s alarm in his eyes, but the training he had to become an officer is clearly sparking to life. He has the ability to negotiate and he’s going to be using it to his advantage. “Now, let her go.”
“Well, you see,” Carmello pipes up, stepping out of the shadows. He’s a large man with an unhealthy glow to him and a back comb hairstyle. He’s tanned, overweight and reeks of power. “We can’t do that. Salvatore owes me more than just a pitiful swap job. I thought his beloved Amelia was pretty good collateral damage.”
“She isn’t anyone’s collateral,” Zane comments, and I notice that although he’s getting hostile, Carlo leaves him to play this part. “We have your money.” He turns and Carlo throws the pouch of money to him. “This, for the diamonds. That was the deal Salvatore said. Amelia is no form of payment.”
“Like my good pal Sal, I like to change things up,” Carmello comments casually, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a small pouch that I can only assume is the diamonds. “Like him letting you take this job.” Carmello laughs when he sees Zane’s eyebrows furrow. “I know all about you,” Carmello acknowledges who Zane is. “The wannabe for Don Abbiati.”
Zane scoffs, “You know nothing about me.”
“No, no, I do,” Carmello comments, moving closer to Zane. “That pretty little thing over there was set to kill you. That didn’t happen too easy so Big Al stepped in to help the Dio Lavoro only to take Ms. Amelia’s stiletto to the neck.” He looks at me with hungry eyes. “Damn, girl, you are killer when it comes to those you love. I have to hand that to you. I wonder what pretty fortune your father will pay when he finds out you’re now working for me.” Carmello laughs, eying me quickly from head to toe. I feel like his gaze leaves a trail of dirt behind. “I actually bet you’d look good tied up on my bed. I can’t wait to fucking claim you as mine. No one will want you after I’ve ruined you.”