I pulled back. “That sounds serious.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. It might be nothing, but,” he passed me the piece of paper, “here, look for yourself.”
My fingers worked quickly to unfold the paper. When I read what was on it, my chest squeezed. “You found them,” I whispered. “You found the Petersons. Already?” I smiled and chuckled. “You do work fast.”
“Mina, that’s the thing,” he started cautiously. “How long ago did you ask Lev to find them?”
How long? I thought back. “About six weeks ago. Why?”
He cursed, running a hand down his face. “I don’t want to cause no trouble, you hear, but I think you need to know that someone contacted the Petersons a few weeks back, asking all sorts of questions about you.” I frowned. That couldn’t be right. He added quietly, “And I think it was Lev.”
“What?” I laughed humorlessly. “No. That can’t right.”
Alessio lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. “I don’t know for sure. I don’t know. Maybe you should talk to him about it. If it wasn’t him, I don’t know who could’ve been asking about you. It’s a creepy coincidence though.” He continued, “And I don’t believe in coincidences.”
My heart twisted.
Lev wouldn’t do that to me.
He wouldn’t.
I blinked out of my thoughts, moving on. “You spoke to them then? To the Petersons?” He nodded slowly. I was suddenly nervous. “What did they say?”
Alessio spoke calmly. “I spoke to Maggie. I told her I was your brother. That we didn’t know about each other until just recently and that you were looking for them.”
My throat tightened. I asked a hushed, “What did she say?”
His eyes widened comically. “Well, first she fucking cried like a baby.” My hand came up to cover my mouth as my face crumpled. Alessio laid a hand on my knee, patting it, and went on. “Then she wanted to know how you were and where you were staying. She asked if she could see you. I didn’t tell her where you were, but I said I’d take her details and that if you wanted to meet, you’d call.”
My voice quivered. “How are they? How’s James?”
Alessio smiled. “They’re good. They live pretty close to where they used to. I don’t know about James. She didn’t mention him.”
“Wow,” I muttered, looking down at the paper in my lap. I swallowed hard then huffed out a long breath. “Thank you.” I turned to him. “Thank you so much.”
Then he said something wonderful.
He shrugged. “You’re my sister. I’ll help where I can.”
Before I burst into tears, I threw myself over the seat, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close. “Same goes for you…brother.” I released him, smiling. “I’d better go.”
He checked his wristwatch and nodded. “Yeah, me too. Gotta get ready for work.” His face changed then and he clicked his fingers. “Wait, before I forget.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old photograph then handed it to me. “Meet Enzo Scarfo.”
The face that looked back at me was handsome. Very handsome. With high cheekbones, a sharp nose, and low brows, he looked dangerous. He didn’t smile in the photo, his near-black eyes staring back at me. A shiver ran through me. “He was very handsome.”
Alessio sneered. “He was a cruel bastard.”
If the things Alessio had mentioned were anything to go off, I agreed wholeheartedly.
So when I took the photograph and gripped it tight between my fingers, tearing it down the middle, I muttered, “I’ve seen him now. My curiosity is sated. And I hope he’s burning in hell for what he did to you.” I tore the photo to pieces, holding them tight in my hand so I could throw it all in the trash.
Leaning over to kiss my brother’s cheek, I said my goodbyes. “Come by this week. We’ll have lunch.”
He didn’t hesitate in his quick response. “Yeah, okay. I’ll call.”
“Thanks again.” I smiled.