Chapter 47 A Zylenski
Dante's POV
I wasn't having any of it, her carefree attitude had gone on for too long. I was just about done with it, if I had to take her pesting one more time...
"I prefer to stand," I said bluntly, keeping my voice as calm as possible.
She nodded again in her annoyingly calm way and sat on the stool at the wooden table. The table looked like it had seen better years, but its top still looked clean.
"What do you want to know, Mr. Russo?" She asked like my secretary would.
I nearly threw up as I pictured her in a different position. "Just start with the basics. Who are you?" I asked plainly.
"Okay," she replied, readjusting herself till she was poised in a professional posture. "My name is Maria. I was the wife of a mafia boss, one just like you," she explained with a straight face, despite the weight of her words.
I nearly choked on my words as it all made sense to me now. The charisma, the composure, the lack of fear... even the driving. She wasn't just any woman, she was part of us.
"You were his wife?" I asked after being able to gather some words together.
"Yeah. I was his wife till he died," she explained again in a straight face. Then paused and looked away as it seemed to be taking a toll on her now. Her eyes looked away from my face.
"He sacrificed himself," she managed to say and went silent again, looking pretty weighed down from her past.
I shifted my weight between my legs as I grew uncomfortable. This wasn't the situation I expected to find myself in, and I had little to no idea of what to do.
Good thing I didn't have to say anything as she continued on her own. "I'm sure you are wondering how it happened," she started, following it with a dry laugh that I could tell she only did to lessen the weight.
But I couldn't afford letting her lock up again, so I stepped forward and calmly spoke. "Yes, Maria. I've been in this for years now, I know the risks and pains that come with it. If there's anybody that would understand, it's me," I said softly.
"I know. He sacrificed himself for me. We were under attack and I was to be taken. His men tried to keep him calm but he came after me alone and died in the process of saving me," she explained, then lowered his head and shook slightly.
"I'm sorry to hear that," I said softly.
She shook her head and looked up at me. "After what happened, the gang turned on me. They turned on me, exiled me from the family and split up afterwards, forming their own factions. A few stayed with me though, but under the radar," she explained.
I didn't know what to say, so I remained silent again, giving her the room to continue.
And she did. "So I went into hiding, searching for closure which I found in this small crib," she said, pointing around at the room.
I leaned against the counter slowly with my arms crossed over my chest. "Don't forget scouting around and helping strangers bravely," I teased with a smile, trying to lighten her mood.
She only offered me a tight lipped smile. "I dedicated my time to it," she started deeply. "I put my efforts into defending those who were under attack of any sort. That's why when I saw your plan crashing from my window, I knew it wasn't natural. So I came to see and help if I could, as I did."
She stared at me right in the eyes afterwards, telling me more through her eyes. I held her gaze before cutting the moment off. "But why? I mean, why turn into a Robinhood overnight? What's in it for you?" I asked.
"For the same reason Robinhood did what he did. Nothing," she replied immediately. "Maybe you could say justice, or boredom. I mean, I lost everything when he died. This actually gives me a purpose," she added with a shrug.
I hummed skeptically. "That sounds pretty noble. One would say, too noble for this world," I slipped the words out carefully.
She laughed softly. "Maybe. But it doesn't get more accurate than that," she replied.
I decided to go in a different direction. "If it's not too hard for you, I would like to know the name of your hus—I mean, your late husband," I said carefully.
"Carlos. Carlos Ramirez," she called out with a hint of pride behind her tone. "He ran the southern cartels before the great split," she added.
Ramirez, I had heard that name before. "And if my guess is correct, I would say he's the one in the frame you quickly flipped when we stepped in," I quizzed.
She smiled and clapped gently. "Pretty good, so you were watching. You are truly as they say you are."
"It's one of our things," I said with a smile. "And if I may ask, when did he die?"
"Five years ago. Probably around the time you were gaining momentum," she replied.
I nodded, finally remembering his face. "Now I know, can I have a few of his pictures?"
She smiled as though she knew I was needing proof and pulled out her phone, scrolling through it quickly before handing it over to me.
I took it and met with a younger version of her with an arm around a strong faced man in a suit with a particular symbolic ring on his finger.
I scrolled further and saw pictures of them together and even came across one with them kissing in it. I paused and gave her a look and she smiled back, shrugging before saying, "I knew a few things back in the days."
I shook my head and found myself actually smiling at that. I didn't bother scrolling any further, I had seen enough to believe her.
"Okay then," I said, handing the phone back to her.
She took it with a smile. "Now you know a good part of me, it's time I know about you."
"What don't you know?" I asked.
"Good point. Why are you here?" She asked.
I took a deep breath and felt more relaxed around her. "We're here for a woman. Serena's mother actually,"
She nodded. "I figured it was something more indepth. Peru's not exactly a tourist spot for types like you," she added softly.
"Types like me?" I asked with a smirk.
"The mafia vibes," she replied with a faint smirk. "I could smell it a mile away."
I laughed low. "Fair enough. Her mother vanished years back and my team tracked her down to here," I explained.
"Vanished?"
"Yeah, at least that's what we know," I said. "She's been off the radar and media for years now. She has information we need and that's why we are here."
"What's her name?" She asked. "I could be of help. I know nearly everyone here and every nook and cranny of this country. If there's anyone that can help you, it's me."
I gave her a side look before slowly nodding. "Vanessa Zylenski," I said slowly, trying to get the name I had seen on the tab earlier.
And I noticed the way her countenance changed immediately I mentioned the name. Like she had seen a ghost. Then she slowly repeated the name after me, "Zylenski... wow.”