The nagging voice inside my head reminded me one last time that he seemed more elated to get me from under his wing than anything else.
Just who was the real monster?
I threw on jeans, lucky to find a pair of sneakers among the items Dominick had purchased. I found Bruno walking through the house, doing the same kind of pacing that I'd been doing.
"I need your help and you're going to think this is crazy, but I have to go to a little shopping center near my father's house. It's vital, Bruno, and I realize you're going to say no, but this is very important and could be something that helps Dominick." I sucked in my breath after spewing the words, cringing as he gave me a guarded look.
"I'll have to check with Dom."
"Please, don't." I inched closer. "Look, my mother left some things in a UPS box for me. I think whatever she saved could help. My father is ruthless and I'm hoping that..." I laughed after a few seconds. "I don't even know what I'm saying. The box could have some padlock that I won't be able to get into anyway."
Bruno tilted his head. "You care about Dominick. Don't you?"
I thought about his question, an involuntary smile crossing my face. "For every wrong reason in the world, I do. He's dynamic and takes what he wants. He refuses to listen. He's hardheaded. I should hate him for what he did to me, but I can't. I just..." I realized he had a smile of his own. "I don't know what in the hell is going on, but I refuse to play the victim in all of this. That's not me. I understand you follow orders to a 'T' but in this case, break them. Just this freaking once. If what I suspect is in that box, then I might be the only person who can help Dominick." I was lying through my teeth, but there was no other way to find out what my mother had been trying to tell me all those years ago.
He remained stoic, his eyes cutting through me. I knew this was a waste of time. "Fine," I whispered, exasperation enveloping the tone. I had to stop giving a shit.
"I have bolt cutters. We'll get into the box, but we are coming straight back here." His words were clipped yet pointed.
"That's all I need. Thank you. You're a doll."
For the first time, he gave me a satisfied grin. The parking lot in front of the UPS store was almost desolate. While the location had a neon sign indicating it was still open, there was no one standing behind the counter. Number 518 was found easily, the group of boxes nestled all the way in the back of the store. When the clerk finally realized there were customers, Bruno had already cut the lock. I chatted with her briefly, finding out the box had been rented for five years, all paid in advance.
My hands were shaking as I attempted to open the door, uncertain of what I would find. The shoebox fit almost exactly with no room to spare, the lid taped as if that would matter to prying eyes. I didn't waste time searching the contents. Maybe I really didn't want to know after all.
I was so very cold as I secured the seatbelt, my arms and legs shaking. Just holding the thin cardboard in my hands made me feel closer to my mother, but also bitter and angry. Canada. I would hold Dominick and his father to the promise of bringing her home or I would locate her myself.
Then I would exact my revenge on my father.
Snorting, I closed my eyes, fingering the side as Bruno drove, happy he wasn't interested in peppering me with questions.
We rode in silence for at least ten minutes before he cleared his throat. "Aren't you going to open it?"
"I'm not certain I want to any longer."
"But you seemed desperate to find out the contents."
"I know. I'm terrified, Bruno. You can't know what it's like to have your entire world turned upside down." I swallowed, fighting a round of tears.
"Well, until you know what you're dealing with, you're never going to find peace. Trust me, I know."
He was right, more so than I wanted to believe. I picked at the tape, slowly turning my head in his direction. We were stopped at a traffic light and for the first time, I took a good look at him. He was handsome in his own way, even though he'd obviously seen his share of fist fights, even more so than Dominick. I had no idea how anyone survived this kind of life for an extended period of time. "You're right."
"I'm always right," he said, snickering. As the light turned green, he tipped his head in my direction before pressing on the gas.
His smile was actually comforting, creating a smile of my own. I suddenly had the courage to face what would no doubt alter my future, at least enough to open the damn box. "I have a feeling you..." Lights from a vehicle roared from the opposite direction, barreling through the traffic light. A cold wave swept over me, a treacherous knowing and there was nothing that could be done. "Bruno! Watch-"
* * *
Dominick
I stood against the cinderblock wall, listening to the prattling sounds of other caged assholes. Caged. That's exactly what I was. At least they'd had the forethought of placing me in a six by six all by myself. Perhaps they were terrified that I'd become a loose cannon. I snickered at the thought. The anger had subsided, leaving me with a dull ache right behind my eyes and a calmness indicating an entirely different level of rage.
Revenge.
That was the only thing on my mind. I'd been processed and tossed in the fucking place in a matter of minutes, which meant even my arrival had been planned. I'd been foolish enough to walk into a trap and all because I hadn't been able to think clearly.
Hissing, I glanced at the bare toilet, disgusted from the stench. I'd seen my share of jail cells, but I had the distinct feeling I wasn't getting out any time soon. Even the family attorney, a man considered a shark, had his doubts about obtaining bail. On the list of accusations? Murder, blackmail, and extortion. I'd listened to a litany of charges, blocking out half of them. They were bullshit, easily challenged in a court of law, but appearing in front of a judge could take months.
My one phone call had been made. At least my attorney would notify the right people, including my father. He'd also been given explicit instructions to go straight to my house, taking Caroline to an unknown location. While I knew all hell would break loose, she could still be in danger from her own damn father. That didn't make much sense in my mind. But hell, neither did anything else.
I had no idea what time it was, although I suspected morning by now. I'd laid out a basic scenario, reasons and people involved, and that would be first on my agenda when I was released.
If I was released.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!
I slid down the wall, dropping my head, still disbelieving that Carmine Francesco had anything to do with the accusations. Chicago was a long way from New York and he'd never made any overtures about taking over the city. He knew better. Lorenzo's reaction was shock and the guy wasn't a good actor.
Then why was my father almost terrified? What dark and ugly secret surrounded both families? Then there was Caroline. With my incarceration, the only way to keep her safe was to convince her to go far away. From me. From her father.
From her life.
She'd suffered enough and deserved a far better life than waiting for a jerk like me. I pressed my index finger across my mouth, trying to feel her, the last kiss. She'd made a permanent indentation in my heart. I let out a long breath, the anger breaching its wretched head. I had to remain calm in order to work through this.
Hearing a buzzing sound, I jerked my head in the direction of the cell door, chuckling under my breath. "Did you come to see how well I slum it, Dick?" I wasn't surprised to see Dick Markus standing with a police officer, a smug look on his face. Of course, a member of the organized crime task force would want to dig his venomous claws into me as soon as possible.