19. Lana

19

LANA

B efore I go to the office, I visit several of our restaurants, checking in with the managers that all is well. So far, the cops have only tried to raid the illegal sides of the family business, but I wouldn't put it past them to check the legit side. I hope Elio is right in that Vincenzo will cease siccing the cops on us.

When my driver drops me off at the office, it's late-morning. I ride the elevator up, checking email on my phone. Nothing too pressing is popping up. Good. I could use a day without a crisis.

I exit the elevator and make my way to my office.

"Good morning, Ms. D'Amato," Carla greets me. I like her a lot. She's a petite woman, but she's feisty, like me. She's about twenty years older than me and has been with the company for about that long. She started working with my father, and then with me when I took over this side of the business. Her father was a soldier working for my father, and she's married to a soldier in the family. All that to say, she's well aware of how the family works, which makes her a great gatekeeper.

"Good morning, Carla. Anything pressing?"

She shakes her head. "Just the usual."

I enter my office and have barely sat down when I hear Carla raising her voice. I immediately open my door to find out what's going on. I discover two policemen ransacking the outer office.

"You can't do that without a warrant." Carla tries to grab papers from one of the cops.

"I don't need a warrant with probable cause." He grips her shoulders and pushes her back. "Now shut the fuck up or you're going to jail."

"Hey!" I step in, going to my admin. She's a fierce a woman, but she's no match for these fuckers. "What's going on?"

"Who are you?" the other cop asks.

"I don't have to tell you that."

"It's her. D'Amato," the cop who pushed my admin says.

"What are you doing?" I ask again.

The second cop lunges for me, grabbing me by the arm and spinning me around, pushing me against the wall as he pulls my arm behind my back.

"This is unnecessary," I say, my voice steady despite the anger bubbling inside me. "I've always cooperated?—"

"Hands behind your back," he barks at me.

"What the hell?"

"Shut up." He handcuffs me, then he leans in, his body against mine in a way that makes my skin crawl. "Maybe offer me something nice in return and I'll let you go." I'm not sure if he wants money or sex.

God. I think I might puke. "What am I under arrest for?"

"Like you don't know."

"Carla, can you call Thompson?" I ask referring to our lawyer. I wonder if I should contact Elio to have his consigliere get involved, but I decide that will make things worse, so I stick with our company lawyer.

"Put the phone down or I'll cuff you as well," the other cop says to her.

There's something off about all this.

"You won't find anything," I say, keeping my voice low and controlled. "This is a legitimate business."

The cop pushing me against the wall leans in until his mouth is by my ear. He stinks of garlic and coffee. "Right. How about it, Mob princess? Want to use that big mouth of yours to make us leave?" He grinds his dick against my backside.

I don't miss the innuendo behind his tone. I feel sick and angry. My legs turn to jelly, but I fight against the urge to give in to it. I'm a strong woman. The same DNA that made Lazaro fierce runs through me. These fuckers won't take me down.

I watch helplessly as they tear through my office, pulling out files, upending drawers, even checking behind paintings. The humiliation burns, knowing my staff is witnessing this spectacle. But of course, outwardly, I don't show any of that. I keep my chin high, my eyes defiant.

Where is this coming from? Henry immediately comes to mind. It's too much of a coincidence that after I bared my soul to him about my childhood and loss of Lazaro that the cops are here, raiding my office. Not a warehouse. Not a club or one of our other establishments. They're here, in my office.

I don't want to believe Henry's behind this. The connection between us has felt so real. But doubt creeps in, insidious and cold. He's a detective, after all. His job is to bring down people like me. What if it was all an act? The tenderness in his touch, the vulnerability in his voice when he promised to help find Lazaro was a lie.

I've always prided myself on being able to read people, but with Henry, I let my guard down. I showed him a side of me I rarely reveal to anyone. And this is the price I have to pay.

I don't know what I told Henry yesterday that he thinks he'll find something incriminating here. But it's clear he thinks there's something. He also apparently shared our more intimate moments as well if the way this cop suggested I give him a blow job is any indication.

Or maybe this is one of Rinella's pranks, except Elio felt sure Vincenzo was appeased enough to stop all this and work with him. If Vincenzo really wants an alliance with us, he'll knock off these juvenile stunts.

So it has to be Henry. My stomach roils even worse than when the cop had his body pressed against me. I was duped. Used. And I allowed it. Humiliation burns deep.

I push the feeling aside. Now isn't the time for emotions. I need to stay sharp, to watch their every move. Whatever game is playing, I refuse to be the loser.

I watch the officers tear through my office. This isn't like the previous raids. There's a palpable hostility in the air, a personal edge to their actions that sets my teeth on edge. The way they carelessly toss aside files and documents, the rough handling of my personal belongings. All this speaks to a deeper animosity. Someone is out to get us. No, not someone. The police. Henry.

The hurt is raw and undeniable. I trusted him, against my better judgment, against everything I've ever learned about survival in this world. And now, as I sit here watching my life being torn apart, I feel like the biggest fool. It's not easy to maintain an icy composure when you're reeling from humiliation. But I can't afford to show weakness, not now. Now, I should be figuring out how I'm going to make this right. After this, Elio would be within his rights to ship me off to a nunnery or something. Perhaps he'll marry me off to Vincenzo. I shudder at the thought.

Movement has me looking toward entry to the office area. Henry rushes in, his expression stone cold. For a moment, my heart leaps at the sight of him, but I quickly tamp down the feeling. This is all his fault… my fault for trusting him.

His gaze settles on me. For a moment, his brow furrows, but then his expression turns hard.

"What the hell is going on here?" Henry demands, his eyes scanning the chaos of my ransacked office.

"We got a tip."

"What have you found?" The tone suggests he fully expects that there is something here.

"Nothing yet, but?—"

"What?" Henry's head snaps to the cop who wanted me to suck his dick. "If you haven't found anything, why is Ms. D'Amato in cuffs?"

"She tried to get in the way of police business."

"She did not," Carla snaps.

The other cop steps to her, towering over her. "Shut up or you'll be next."

"As you know, Detective Lutz, I've always been cooperative with you." I don't doubt that he understands that I'm not just talking about all the official times he's visited me, but the more intimate moments too.

He watches me, and I think I see emotion in his eyes, but as quick as it's there, it's gone.

"What did the tip say you'd find?" he asks the men.

The officers exchange uneasy glances, as if they don't know why Henry is questioning them.

"It was anonymous?—"

Henry scraps his hand over his face. "So you've tossed an office based on an unsubstantiated tip. That means you don't have a warrant, right?"

"We have probable cause."

"And what have you found?" Henry asks.

"Nothing yet."

Henry closes his eyes like he's asking the Lord for strength. "Uncuff Ms. D'Amato."

The cop glares at him.

"She's not going to be a problem to you unless, of course, she decides to file a complaint, and I hate to say it, boys, but based on what I see here, you could end up suspended without pay pending an investigation."

I don't quite understand the dynamic here. It sounds like Henry thinks these cops messed up, but it could be a part of the ruse. The part where I'm supposed to see Henry as my hero.

Dickhead cop moves over to me. "Turn around." His voice is low and menacing. It causes me to remind myself to carry my pepper spray with me when I leave the building tonight. He releases the cuffs, leaning against me, his mouth at my ear. "You'll suck my dick before we're done with you."

He says it low enough that I know no one else hears. I do my best not to react, but inside, I can't lie, his words send a chill down to my very core.

When he backs away, I turn and rub my wrists.

"Should I call Mr. Thompson?" Carla asks, her gaze sending death threats to the cops.

"Yes."

She goes to pick up the phone, but cop two snatches it from her and pushes her down into her chair.

"What the fuck?" Henry barks.

"We're conducting an investigation. No calls."

"You don't have to be an asshole about it." Henry shakes his head. "As soon as we're finished, you can call Mr. Thompson. I assume that's your lawyer."

I nod. "When will you be finished, as it appears there's no warrant and I've yet to hear any probable cause? Unless you've outlawed restaurants and clubs."

Henry's jaw tightens.

As if things couldn't get worse, his partner, Detective Hartley, strides in, his gaze taking in the scene.

His face hardens as Henry's had. "What's going on here?"

One of the officers explains the call and their search.

"Wait… you don't have a warrant?"

The officers shift uncomfortably, exchanging glances. I can't figure this out. Do these officers work for Rinella and not with Henry and Hartley? Is there someone else using these jokers to come after us? Do Henry and Detective Hartley really not know what's going on? Or is this an elaborate con?

"We'll handle this from here," Detective Hartley says firmly to the other officers. "And I suggest you all brush up on proper procedure before your next raid." Then he turns to Henry. "Maybe you can smooth things over here. I'll escort them out and see what I can find out about the call."

Henry nods. "Sounds good."

The officers file out with Detective Hartley, their earlier bravado deflated, but not completely gone. I can see the elevator from where I stand, and dickhead blows me a kiss as the doors shut.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. The anger is like a hot coal in my chest, but I have to keep it together. Now isn't the time to lose control. But make no mistake, someone is going to pay for this.

Henry turns to address my employees who've gathered outside the office area. "Everything is fine. You can head back to work."

My staff looks at me. I nod, letting them know it's okay to return to work.

Henry turns back to me, his expression softening. "Ms. D'Amato, allow me to escort you out. I'm sure you could use some fresh air after this ordeal."

Nope. I'm not falling for his good guy persona. "I have work to do. Work that will be behind now that I have to clean up this mess."

"I'll take care of it," Carla says, giving Henry the stink eye.

"Call someone to help," I say to her, knowing I need to talk to Henry. He's not going to leave until he questions me about whatever the hell they just pulled. I walk into my office, fisting my hands to keep them from shaking. I don't want Henry to perceive my rage as fear.

I don't turn toward him until the door clicks shut. Mustering all my inner ice queen, I turn to him.

"I guess you're feeling pretty smug about now, knowing you've got me by the short hairs." Henry's expression is dark. Like he's pissed at me.

"What the fuck, Henry?" I wave my hand. "You know what? Never mind. You can get the hell out of my office and stay the fuck away from me and my family."

His jaw tightens. "A little late for that?—"

"You're a bastard, you know that? I have to hand it to you. If this cop gig doesn't work out, you can go to Hollywood. You'll surely win an Oscar for your performance."

"What are you talking about?"

Power surges through me, and I step toward him. "You and your ilk are a bunch of self-righteous hypocrites. Breaking the law, all for the greater good? You used my love for my brother to infiltrate my life. You fucked me for information. Is that part of your police training?"

His head snaps back like I've hit him. And boy, would I like to.

"Funny how breaking the law is only corrupt if you're not a cop because I know without a doubt, you had no reason to come here today. I bet your cop buddies got a good laugh at your stories of how you fucked me. You're a good storyteller, Henry, because your buddies wanted me to do to them what I did to you."

"Fucking hell, Lana, what are you talking about?"

A wave of nausea hits me, revolted by the man in front of me and what he did. "Get out, Henry. And if you're wise, you'll stay away from me."

His eyes narrow. "Are you threatening me?"

I lean in close to him. "That's rich coming from the man who sent a man to physically assault me and suggest I could go free in exchange for sucking his dick. I don't need to sic my family on you, Henry. I just need to report you and all your buddies to Internal Affairs."

"It's not likely you'll be believed."

I laugh. "Right, because of that blue code of yours. Funny how the more I learn about it, the more it sounds like a gang. And when that gang does illegal activities like violate my rights and assault me, now they're a criminal organization. And when a criminal organization uses threats, intimidation, and extortion, well… that sounds like the Mob. Face it, Henry, you're no better than the people you're trying to bring down. In fact, if you're in charge of those men in my office today, you're a Mob boss."