The meeting ran longer than expected, and I spent the rest of the afternoon returning calls.
Glancing up, I frown. There’s been a strange tension hanging in the air, and I can’t figure out what’s responsible for it.
My personal phone starts to ring, and picking the device up, I answer, “Liam.”
“It’s Luca. Just checking if you got the payment.”
I’ve been laundering money for years for the head of the Italian mafia, and in return, he supplies me with the weapons I need.
“Yes, I’m heading down now to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
“Good.” I hear him inhale. “How are things in Chicago?”
“Some Sicilians popped up here again, but I’m dealing with the problem.”
“Didn’t the stupid fuckers learn their lesson?”
“Apparently not,” I mutter. “Can you ask Viktor to check for any information he can find? Maybe there’s underground chatter.”
“I’ll tell him to take a look.”
“Thanks.”
Ending the call, I dial the number for Jimmy.
“Aye, boss, I was just about to call you.”
“Did you find out anything from Tony?”
“Aye. He says it’s a small group. No more than twenty to thirty men. I asked him to find out who the new leader is, seein’ as Manno’s six feet under.”
“Twenty’s nothing. We can deal with them. Thanks, Jimmy.”
“Sure thin’, boss.”
After the call, I notice it’s already past five. I tuck the phone into my pocket as I get up and head out of my office.
Reaching Devon’s desk, Kiara’s staring at the computer screen, completely lost in thought.
“Time to go home,” I say.
She jumps, letting out a startled sound. “Oh. Right.” I watch as she switches everything off and wait until she stands up before I walk to the elevator, pressing the button.
Glancing back at her, I ask, “Feeling better?”
Her head bobs up and down as she comes to stand next to me. “Thanks for asking.”
Always polite.
My gaze scans over her face, and with her standing closer, I notice the dark circles forming beneath her eyes.
Something’s wrong.
“Get some rest this weekend,” I say. The elevator doors open, and I wait for her to enter before stepping inside.
After I press the button for the lobby floor and I step back, our arms accidentally brush. I don’t feel the need to instantly put distance between us, but Kiara quickly steps to the side.
“Sorry,” she apologizes, even though it’s not her fault.
“It’s okay,” I murmur. Looking at her, it’s to see she has her arms wrapped tightly around her waist, her shoulders hunched as if she’s trying to make herself smaller.
The protectiveness surges in my chest, and for the first time in my life, I feel the need to hug another person.
I shove my hands into my pockets to keep myself from reaching for her.
When the doors open, Kiara practically scurries out, careful to step around me. Walking to the exit, I open the door for her, and follow her outside.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, my eyes searching her face.
Her gaze lifts to mine, but it’s only for a moment before she glances in the direction of the bus stop. “Yes. Have a good weekend, sir,” she says, an emotion I can’t quite place, tensing her voice.
“You too.” I watch as she walks to the bus stop and joins the gathering group already waiting.
Shaking my head, I walk back into the building and go up to the third floor, where the money laundering takes place.
When I enter the office, Will’s already here, checking that things are running smoothly. “Update me.”
He moves in behind Charles and gestures at the computer’s screen. “We’re processing a quarter of the funds as payment for services, and the rest is for a sale of a property.”
“When will the funds be back in Luca’s account?”
“The usual forty days, so it doesn’t appear in the same calendar month.”
“Good.”
Pulling my phone out, I send Luca a text updating him on what’s happening.
“I spoke with Jimmy,” I tell Will.
“Oh yeah, what did he say?”
“His informant, Tony, says the Sicilians are a group of twenty to thirty men.”
Will lets out a bark of laughter, crossing his arms over his chest. “What the fuck do they think they’ll accomplish with twenty to thirty men?”
“Right?” I chuckle while shaking my head. “Fucking stupid.”
“Can Jimmy find out who’s the fucker in charge?”
I nod. “He’s on it.”
“Good.”
Stepping closer to Charles’ desk, I say, “Keep the amounts below twenty-five thousand.”
“Yes, boss.”
I spend another thirty minutes checking that all the other payments are being processed correctly before turning my attention back to Will. “I’m just going to grab my jacket, then we can head to the main warehouse.”
“I’ll wait in the car.”
My thoughts turn to the Sicilian problem as I head back to the executive floor. I just need to find out who’s the new leader and where they’re hiding, then wipe the bastards off the face of the planet once and for all.
