Chapter 10Ciara

Chapter 10

Ciara

"He visits a woman in Kenwood Monday, Thursday, and Friday nights. But he has an aunt somewhere in Wilbur Heights."

Luca set out a map of the city with markings on all of Dragon Crew hideouts, as well as their homes, and women's homes. While he talked with the guys, I stepped outside for some air. We met at a loft in Curtis Road where most of the street team hung out. The building was a single unit that used to be an artist studio with a small lawn.

The loft had a large area on the upper level which served as a multi-user bedroom, with bunk beds anchored to the wall. A partition separated into another section with a double bed for privacy. The ground floor was an open plan for living space and kitchen, which also included a bathroom. It also contained a basement which was used as the armory, and a gym. All our facilities had a gym as we had to keep fit for the streets.

The space was sparse of furniture, only a large sofa, a few chairs, and a pool table in the living section, with a dining table over by the kitchen. Most of the men were in the kitchen area with Luca while some lounged about the living space as well as outside.

It's been a few restless days since we met Pretty Boy Mike, and I was getting impatient with the slow pace of our mission. However, I understood that if we didn't plan well, we would fail. Luca advised me that we should treat this like another Dimucci job, the only difference would be that we would exact the vengeance that the culprit deserved.

Someone stepped from behind the brownstone building and came up beside me. It was Sandy. The man always kept to himself, but tonight he decided to join the party. The last time we spoke I was supposed to attend a wedding with him, but I never got the chance to.

"You okay?" he asked, an unlit cigarette in his hand.

I nodded. "I didn't know you smoked."

"I don't, not anymore."

I supposed everyone had their ways of functioning that others didn't understand. It wasn't my business what he did with an unlit cigarette.

"Sandy, about the wedding you're attending…"

"Don't worry about it. The groom called it off."

"What?" I was surprised. "Why?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. He just told me that things weren't what they appeared to be."

"Ohhhh," I responded in a knowing tone.

"What is it?" he asked.

"She's probably a bridezilla, or a cheater."

He dropped the cigarette and stomped on it as though it was lit. "I suppose. I didn't pry."

"But, if you wanna go for a drink in its place, we can do that."

"Sure."

I was unsure why I felt strange after making the offer. It wasn't as though Luca and I were dating. We knew nothing about each other, and the offer for drinks was just that. I needed a drinking partner. Luca was my booty call and Sandy would be my buddy.

Sandy and I went back inside where they had brought out drinks and was waiting on pizza to be delivered. Someone allergic to cheese ordered Chinese, and a man went in search of beer as there wasn't enough. The table was now cleared, and the drinks set out. I walked over and poured myself a whiskey on ice and watched a few shocked faces.

A few men played pool, while some other watched a past world cup match on a small flatscreen. While we waited on the delivery, I took a mouthful of my drink and felt it float down my throat. A warmth hit my stomach, reminding me I hadn't eaten all day. I wasn't hungry and doubted that I would have any of the pizza when it arrived. Finishing my drink, I poured another and downed it in one shot.

Luca came over to me with a drink in his hand and I thought he was about to scold me. He didn't. Instead, he updated me on the plans which he had been working on with the men.

"Have you eaten today?" he asked me first.

"Is that why you came over, to ask if I'd eaten?" I snapped. He took a sip of his drink and offered me no answer, so I softened my tone. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"Did you know that Carlos and Pretty Boy are cousins?"

"Oh, that's why Pretty Boy Mike was being so difficult. Family first, huh?"

"And, listen to this shit. Pretty Boy Mike's dad is the real boss."

That didn't surprise me because Garry already told me as much. "Garry told me that Carlos often boasts about his uncle. The pieces are finally coming together."

Luca wasn't done. "The most critical piece of information is that Carlos and Marco are hiding out somewhere in Wilbur Heights at his aunts place."

I was curious. "How did the team find out all this?"

"I can't reveal their ways of investigation. If I do, I'll have to kill you," he laughed.

"Very funny," I chuckled.

Being with Luca relaxed me, I was sure of that now. Just standing here talking to him eased some of my earlier tension. Didn't know what it was about him that made me feel that way. I stepped closer to him and rested a hand on his chest.

"Thank you for all that you're doing."

Placing his hand over mine, he closed the few inches of space. "I can do a lot more if you want."

"What have you got?"

Around that time, his phone rang, and he pulled it out of his jacket pocket. "I'll just have to show you."

"Answer your damn phone," I laughed as he leaned over to kiss me.

I moved away from him and walked over to the pool table where some guys were playing at fifty dollars a shot. A few minutes passed before I turned around and noticed that Luca was missing. Ten minutes went by, and he hadn't returned. The pizza and Chinese food had arrived, and men dug in. I took a box and stashed it inside the oven for him in case the men finished them all before he came back.

Concerned, I went in search for him outside. He was at the side of the building with his back turned to me and still talking on the phone. I was about to return inside when his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"I miss you too … Okay …. Bye ... I love you."