soon with snow and ice, then it will be a wonder as to how it can it can be stifling hot in Chicago in the summer months.
Before I get to my bike I have this weird sensation like someone is watching me. I’m always the first to pick up on that vibe. Always and it never fails me. Not fucking once.
The other thing about that is I’m usually right that. It’s never once been paranoia. That’s what happens when the streets are embedded into your mind. You almost develop a sixth sense. Sometimes a seventh.
So when I turn to look and see a fucker wearing a hooded sweatshirt bleeding into the alley way, I know it was him. Question is why.
I’m about to find out.
I take off after him and when he sees me he runs. A sure sign of guilt.
This is the second fucking scenario where I’ve given someone a chase and they’ve been so far ahead of me it’s almost pointless running after them. But still I try.
The fucker is fast, really fast and agile too. He practically climbs up the gates separating Giordanos Inc from the warehouses like he’s walking on air and jumps down effortlessly.
I do the same but when I land on the other side I can’t see him. Fucking fuck.
Where the hell did he go?
I pull out my guns in prep for shit, just in case the wise guy thinks he can surprise me.
I don’t see him though. I look around, searching the corners he could have gone down but I can’t fucking see him. I can’t find him anywhere.
Clearly that was one of Falcone’s guys. Sent to watch me.
I think for a moment and something doesn’t fit.
Falcone would have sent more guys if it was him, and the guys would have had guns. At least one bullet would have been fired my way.
Besides one lonely guy watching me from an alleyway isn’t really his style. The whole tech genius’ we’ve come across and the hackers, workers playing sides. That’s him. He’s not old school enough or idiot enough to send a guy on Giordano property after we tried to kill his ass.
So if it wasn’t one of Falcone’s guys who was it then.
Who else needs to watch me?
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lilly
I look out to the garden watching Rosie play with Skye, Mimi’s little girl.
They’re chasing each other and laughing. Rosie looks happy, happier than I’ve ever seen her.
Mimi arrived ten minutes ago to see me. I shouldn’t have been surprised but I was.
I was surprised to see her and embarrassed.
We’ve just sat together on the terrace with the cookies she brought with her.
It’s been so long that I’ve sat with someone I could call a friend and feel relaxed in any capacity to talk. when we met at the coffeehouse I wasn’t really in any state. I’m hardly in any state now but she’s here and she’s here because she cares.
“The cookies are the ice breaker,” Mimi says waving her hand over the assortment of delicious cookies. She made them herself and they smell truly divine. “Consider it my way of showing you that I really do come in peace and I was genuinely worried about you. Behold I have even asked my crazy grandmother to babysit my little Jack, so we could talk.”
“Thank you, it means a lot that you came to see me,” I answer.
“You’re very welcome. How are you feeling?”
“Better, but fragile. Very fragile and scared.” I’m going to be off for the next two weeks to heel. I hope I can feel better in that time.
“Lilly… Christian hasn’t really told me anything so please don’t think that my presence means everyone’s talking about you. I know bare minimum as in I know you were attacked where you live, but that’s it. It’s enough and I’ve been around a long time to put a few things together and complete a puzzle.”
“I guess I’ve been a mystery.”
“The offer still stands to talk when you need to. Unless if you don’t. The boys asked me to take care of the girls at the club. It was my first job. I was too young to even be in the club, but they took me everywhere they went and wherever my boy was I wasn’t too far behind.”
I smile at that. The way she talks about Salvatore is nice. It’s heartwarming and you can see they love each other. She’s been with him for so long and they’re married with kids. When I first met her