trying to will them away but failing, when one by one they slowly rolled down her face. Avoiding my glare, she focused on the dull surface of the table while impatiently wiping them away with trembling fingers. “I believed him. By then I knew what he was capable of and I believed every word he said.”
Rage bubbled up in my chest. I’d never met him, but I’ve loathed him since the moment I heard of his existence. At the time I met Angela, I had no idea Ronnie was involved with the Mob. His fake credentials were good, real good. Not one red flag came through tying him to his Delarro surname or the Polittos. Had I known who he really was, there was no way I would have left her behind in Chicago.
Now, knowing his history and his role in the Politto family, I was glad the motherfucker was dead. I knew his type…money, power, and no conscience. Add in that the fucker had movie-star looks, and the combination made him an extremely dangerous man. They were all dangerous to the core, especially to those closest to them. Knowledge was power, and things might have gone differently had I known this truth then. I would not have given up on her so quickly.
A flash of remorse engulfed me. My mind couldn’t help but wander to all the “what-ifs” had I known then what I know now.
“You should have told me all this back then,” I voiced out loud.
“I couldn’t. You need to believe me.”
I watched her face distort with pain. My heart ached for her, for me, for all we lost. I scrubbed a hand over my face, trying to detach my emotions from my job responsibility.
My past involvement with Angela complicated this case. My supervising officer could possibly remove me based on conflict of interests. I had no idea if she was indeed innocent or not, but my gut told me that I needed to protect her in spite of my anger toward her.
Angela
J ANUARY 2014
I was so excited that I truly couldn’t contain it. Nick and I spent the last few days talking frequently. In between our calls, he’d sent sexy texts hinting at all he planned to do to me once I arrived. He’d sent pictures of his bed, his couch, and his shower with promises of christening each one of them. The sweet side of Nick came through when we’d chat late at night and he’d tell me places he wanted to take me to. My heart ached for him, my body as well. I couldn’t wait to be reunited and to be wrapped in his arms.
The day before my flight I taped up the last box containing my personal belongings. I didn’t have much I wanted to take with me. Most of my things I was leaving behind, wanting nothing to remind me of the past few years I’d wasted in Chicago. But it was funny how life worked. Those years led me to Nick, and I’d never regret a minute of them now that I had him.
Eve was going to mail the few boxes I had once I got to New York. I told her I’d be staying with a friend until I found my own place, and there wasn’t a rush to send my stuff.
Nick said the case against Mugs was progressing as planned, and it wouldn’t be long before we could tell Eve and Jase the truth about us.
Although I still felt guilty lying to her, part of me loved having this secret, almost making our relationship sacred and treasured. I knew it was silly, but having just come out of a horrible one, it was a joy to experience all the newness and flirting that comes with new love without sharing it with anyone else.
When my cell rang, I darted to answer it hoping it was Nick. Disappointed when Eve’s number flashed across the screen, I answered, “Yes, I’m packed. Stop bothering me.”
“Ang.” Her voice sounded pained and I immediately knew something was wrong.
“Eve, are you okay?”
“My dad has been in an accident. He’s in critical condition at Northwestern.”
“I’m on my way.”
The drive to the hospital went by in a blur. My uncle Carmine was like a second father to me. He was the core of his family, and all who knew him adored him. This would cause a
Rage bubbled up in my chest. I’d never met him, but I’ve loathed him since the moment I heard of his existence. At the time I met Angela, I had no idea Ronnie was involved with the Mob. His fake credentials were good, real good. Not one red flag came through tying him to his Delarro surname or the Polittos. Had I known who he really was, there was no way I would have left her behind in Chicago.
Now, knowing his history and his role in the Politto family, I was glad the motherfucker was dead. I knew his type…money, power, and no conscience. Add in that the fucker had movie-star looks, and the combination made him an extremely dangerous man. They were all dangerous to the core, especially to those closest to them. Knowledge was power, and things might have gone differently had I known this truth then. I would not have given up on her so quickly.
A flash of remorse engulfed me. My mind couldn’t help but wander to all the “what-ifs” had I known then what I know now.
“You should have told me all this back then,” I voiced out loud.
“I couldn’t. You need to believe me.”
I watched her face distort with pain. My heart ached for her, for me, for all we lost. I scrubbed a hand over my face, trying to detach my emotions from my job responsibility.
My past involvement with Angela complicated this case. My supervising officer could possibly remove me based on conflict of interests. I had no idea if she was indeed innocent or not, but my gut told me that I needed to protect her in spite of my anger toward her.
Angela
J ANUARY 2014
I was so excited that I truly couldn’t contain it. Nick and I spent the last few days talking frequently. In between our calls, he’d sent sexy texts hinting at all he planned to do to me once I arrived. He’d sent pictures of his bed, his couch, and his shower with promises of christening each one of them. The sweet side of Nick came through when we’d chat late at night and he’d tell me places he wanted to take me to. My heart ached for him, my body as well. I couldn’t wait to be reunited and to be wrapped in his arms.
The day before my flight I taped up the last box containing my personal belongings. I didn’t have much I wanted to take with me. Most of my things I was leaving behind, wanting nothing to remind me of the past few years I’d wasted in Chicago. But it was funny how life worked. Those years led me to Nick, and I’d never regret a minute of them now that I had him.
Eve was going to mail the few boxes I had once I got to New York. I told her I’d be staying with a friend until I found my own place, and there wasn’t a rush to send my stuff.
Nick said the case against Mugs was progressing as planned, and it wouldn’t be long before we could tell Eve and Jase the truth about us.
Although I still felt guilty lying to her, part of me loved having this secret, almost making our relationship sacred and treasured. I knew it was silly, but having just come out of a horrible one, it was a joy to experience all the newness and flirting that comes with new love without sharing it with anyone else.
When my cell rang, I darted to answer it hoping it was Nick. Disappointed when Eve’s number flashed across the screen, I answered, “Yes, I’m packed. Stop bothering me.”
“Ang.” Her voice sounded pained and I immediately knew something was wrong.
“Eve, are you okay?”
“My dad has been in an accident. He’s in critical condition at Northwestern.”
“I’m on my way.”
The drive to the hospital went by in a blur. My uncle Carmine was like a second father to me. He was the core of his family, and all who knew him adored him. This would cause a
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