Page 141 of The Crowned Garza

At some point, a stout man with a mean mug enters the room with a black box in hand.

“That better be my shit,” I grouse.

He drops the box on the nightstand and flips it open. “Your ‘shit.’”

Inside are my phones, jewelry, money clip, and other inconsequential contents. “Grazie.”

Before he leaves, he hands me a small envelope. “From JB.”

I open the envelope, finding just a note card inside.

I’mveryangry with you.

For such a smart man, you are exceptionally stupid.

Expect a visit from me soon.

P.S. Don’t worry about Indy. I’ll be keeping her for a while.

“Fuck’s sake,” I mutter. “Is she always this dramatic?”

I toss the card on the nightstand then pick up my main phone and power it on. Unsurprisingly, it explodes with notifications. But my sole focus right now ismia regina. She needs to know I’m not shutting her out.

Her phone goes straight to voicemail. After trying again with the same result, I log into her home security footage, but she doesn’t appear to be home either.

I call Dulce.

“Hey, boss,” she answers. “I’ve been meaning to call—”

“Is Tillie at work? I need to speak with her.”

“She’s rostered for evenings this week. But she hasn’t come in for her shifts the past two nights and is not answering my calls. That’s what I wanted to—”

“Okay.Grazie.”

“Is everything—”

I hang up and call her best friend.

“Aw, dammit, you’re alive?” Soleil answers. “You’re telling me not even Hell wanted you?”

“What—never mind. Where’s Tillie?”

“What do you mean? Isn’t she with you?”

“That’s what she told you?”

“Well, I was kinda there when your sister called and said you were shot and in medical care. She left to go see you—”

No, no… “Fuck!”

“Guy, what’s happening? Is Tillie really not with you?”

“No, no, it’s fine. She’s fine. I’ll call you right back.”

I hang up before she can ask anything more.

Gritting my teeth, I push through the pain of my battered ribs and sit up, swinging my legs off the bed.