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His expression doesn’t change. It’s like he isn’t surprised to hear me question him. “What are you hoping I find? What is the end goal here? Do you want to know where she goes and who she talks to, or are you wanting more of a deep background check and financial summary?”
“Anything and everything. I want to know who she talks to, where she goes, and what she does. I want to know where she grew up, who she dated, and any enemies she may have. She’s hiding something, and I want to know what it is. Given my family name and the nature of our work, you can understand why we need complete honesty and loyalty.”
“Absolutely. I understand. Nothing we talk about and nothing I discover will be shared with anyone except you.”
“Good. Then I expect a full report in forty-eight hours.”
His eyes widen slightly, but his expression doesn’t change. “I’ll be in touch.”
He spins around and gets back in his car and leaves without a backward glance.
Now, I just have to wait. In two days’ time, I will know what Alexandra is hiding. My heart constricts with pain as if it’s protesting the thoughts swirling in my head.
I don’t want her to be hiding anything from me, but she’s not acting like herself, and I need to know why.
Did an ex-boyfriend suddenly show back up? Did she have a sudden change of heart? If so, why?
I roll my shoulders, stretch my neck from side to side, and climb back into my car. Now that I have that situation taken care of, there’s one more thing I need to do today.
And I need backup in order to do it.
Rhett and Spencer are busy with their women tonight, but I know they’d help me in a heartbeat. I just don’t want to hear the judgment in their voices. I need someone that will keep his opinions to himself.
I grab my phone and call Gage as I drive out of the parking lot. He answers on the second ring.
“What’s up, Joey?” His tone is cheerful and happy but cautious, like he knows I’m about to fuck up his entire night.
“Are you at your apartment?”
“Yeah. Well, I’m downstairs in the recreational area with some of the guys. What’s up?”
I cut straight to the chase just in case he put me on speakerphone. “Right now, I need someone I can trust.”
I hear him tell the guys he will be right back before asking, “What do you need? What’s going on?”
That’s a loaded question. I need Alexandra. I need my family to be a family again. I need to get rid of the Rossis and the Reapers.
Breaking for a red light, I say, “I know you know about my family being in the mafia and some of the guys working for us. I need someone to come out with me for a couple of hours on a secretive mission. I’ll explain in a few, if you are available.”
Of course, if he agrees, then he will be a part of the family. This will be the start of his new life. A life of servitude, as Uncle Tony would always say.
“Yeah, I’m available. Do I need to get anyone else?” His voice lowers to a whisper.
“No, just you. I don’t want anyone knowing we are going out. Not even the guys. Make up a story and meet me out back.”
I end the call and pull around to the back of the building. Gage jumps into the passenger seat with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“What did you do?” I ask as I drive away from the apartment building.
His expression falls. “What do you mean?”
“You look too happy right now.”
Has my life really turned into this? Am I so miserable that I don’t want to see my friends happy?
“I just have a feeling we are going to have a great time tonight.”
“That’s one way to look at things.”