Chapter 133 Speak of the devil.
CHAPTER 133
Speak of the devil.
SCARLETT – POINT OF VIEW
Hours later, we return home, exhausted and weighed down by the day.
I am restless, still thinking about what Percy said. What he meant. How could he have known? What else does he know? How long has he known? I want answers. I want answers to all my questions.
“Come to bed, baby.” Roman yawns, fluffing the pillows.
“I need to check on Eve. We haven’t spoken all day. Go to sleep. I’ll join you.” I assure him, grab my phone off the bedside table, and walk out before
I stare at Eve’s door, and instead, I walk past. I slip out of the house, past the security detail and find my way to the ledge. I sit there, and for a moment, I do nothing but look at the dark water below.
My phone rings, and I exhale when I see it’s Adeline.
I bring out the notebook I’d snuck out, and connect my earpods to the call.
“What did you find?” I ask, impatient and restless.
“Nothing. He is clean. There is nothing on him, not even an unpaid parking ticket. He is clean.” She huffs, and I can hear her pacing.
We weren’t able to talk during Brunch because our husbands were watching us like hawks. Luca is very much protective of her now, not just because of the baby they’re trying for, but because he senses danger. He is the Don, after all, and he knows when chaos is on the horizon. Soon, they will return to Milan, where it’s safe, and we’ll be left conversing through phones. I need Adeline here.
“A little too clean.” She adds, irritated.
“No one is that clean.” I scoff.
“Exactly. The only person who’s that clean is you, because this is a new, fake identity. Is it possible that Percy has another identity? Why would he need to scrub everything and be made anew? He’s a University professor, not a spy, which means something is wrong.” She is frustrated.
I calm her down, “Why don’t you walk me through what you saw when you looked into him?”
She sighs, but speaks, “His educational background, his career timeline, which is a bit shady. If he completed his PHD less than two years ago, why is he tenured already? Isn’t he supposed to have at least a five-year teaching experience, then get tenured in his sixth year? It has been barely two years.”
My brow furrows, and I ponder deeper, “Except he is lying about being tenured, but why will he?”
“Focus, Scarlett. How is he tenured already? Someone is obviously pulling the strings.” She snaps, always asking the right questions.
I shake my head in disbelief, “Someone is pulling the strings? That’s not possible, Adeline. If someone is pulling the strings, then that will mean this has been going on for too long, for over two years. You really think Percy has been working for someone, for Emiliano, for two years now?” My mouth parts in disbelief. I’m still shaking my head because it can’t be true. It just cannot be.
“Would it be so surprising? Emiliano has been playing the long game, which reminds me, the fire!” She gasps, and I stiffen, “What about it?”
“Two things,” she begins, and I nod, wishing I could switch to a video call, but we need to be careful.
“When my father died, it did not make national television, definitely not international TV. It wasn’t even allowed in the media, any form of it, ranging from print to the internet. The same goes for Luca’s father. We kept the news within the family and specific business partners. No one other than the family and some soldiers knows that they weren’t killed by the fire. They were killed by gunshot wounds, and the fire was used to clear the evidence. The details of their deaths weren’t leaked. It is a tradition. It is common sense. It is what we have always done. Kept our losses and weaknesses hidden.” She articulates simply, driving at a point.
“Do you understand me, Scarlett?” She asks.
I nod, biting my bottom lip hard.
“When your parents died, we didn’t even know.” She hits the nail on the head. “My father ran the La Cosa Nostra alongside Luca’s, and they didn’t know. Their deaths, the manner of your supposed death, were kept tight from everyone, because that’s how it’s supposed to be, and mainly because Emiliano took that time to take out more enemies. Here’s what I’m saying – if we didn’t know until almost a year later, how did Percy Carmichael, a University Professor, all the way in another continent, how did he know?”
Goosebumps break over my skin, and pressure builds behind my eyes.
“I need to put aside your sentiments, Scarlett. This is crystal clear. I may be wrong, he may not be working for Emiliano, but he is not telling the truth, and we need answers. He might be the missing piece of the puzzle.” She has the decency to speak softly, as if she knows my heart is raw.
“Let’s find out what hotel he’s staying in, and break into it.” I decide abruptly.
Adeline is silent for a moment before blurting, “W … what?”
“Don’t be a chicken.” I roll my eyes, a smile tugging on my lips.
“I’m just stunned.” She chuckles.
“I am certain he has answers in his room, his documents, his file. He probably stays on campus, so let’s break in. We look young enough to be undergrads. You’re barely twenty-four after all.” I tease, warmth spreading in me.
She scoffs, “I’m almost twenty-five.”
I hear her typing furiously, obviously trying to find his hotel.
“Well, well, well, would you look at that?” She rasps in awe, “He doesn’t stay on campus. He stays in Rivering Heights in the Upper East Side.”
“That’s Roman’s most expensive hotel.” I am stunned.
“How does a professor afford six grand per night?” She scoffs.
I share her irritation.
“We are breaking in tomorrow.” She agrees, and I smile.
My phone beeps, and I glance at it. A text from Percy – I’m sorry for today. Let me apologise to you. Brunch at Le Bernadine. Twelve noon?
“Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.” I whistle and quickly send her the text.
“Respond in an hour. Tell him to meet at ten. We’ll be there at nine, sneaking in the moment he leaves. I’ll bring two of my details. Bring Rue and Russell.” She sounds almost excited, and I cannot blame her. We’re basically planning a heist.
“Alright.” I chuckle, cheeks flushed.
“Oh, about the second thing. I looked up the fire and tried to draw connections between the three families, but all I met were dead ends. Roman’s mom is alive and a witness. She has answers we need, so find a way to get to her.” She explains.
I bite my lip and nod. What’s one more lie?