Tipsy Waitress Poked the Mafia Boss’s Chest—Then He Slung Her Over His Shoulder and Took Her
Chapter 4
The fire destroyed nearly everything.
Kitchen equipment.
Dining room.
Records.
Security cameras.
The upstairs office where Mia had delivered the envelope.
All gone.
But Luca wasn’t convinced it was an accident.
Neither was Detective James Reed.
Reed had spent years investigating organized crime in Blackwood, and Luca knew him well enough to distrust him.
They stood across from one another outside the burned restaurant.
“You’re getting involved in my investigation,” Reed said.
“You’re investigating my property.”
“Your property?”
“The restaurant was paying me protection money.”
Reed laughed bitterly.
“And there it is.”
Mia stood behind Luca, listening.
Reed glanced at her.
“Miss Carter, did you see anything unusual before the fire?”
“She saw enough to get someone scared,” Luca answered.
Reed’s eyes narrowed.
“I asked her.”
Mia swallowed.
“I delivered an envelope.”
“To whom?”
“Victor Kane.”
Reed looked at Luca.
Then at the ruined building.
“Where is Kane?”
“Missing,” Luca said.
Reed’s expression darkened.
Mia felt something cold move through her.
“What was in the envelope?”
Neither man answered.
“Tell me,” she demanded.
Luca looked at her.
“Financial records.”
“Whose?”
“Several companies.”
Mia frowned.
“And?”
“And those companies don’t officially exist.”
The pieces began to connect.
Money.
Fake companies.
The restaurant.
Victor Kane.
And her.
Mia stepped backward.
“I don’t understand.”
“You weren’t supposed to,” Luca said.
“Then why am I involved?”
“Because you carried the envelope.”
A car suddenly screamed around the corner.
Luca grabbed Mia and pulled her behind him.
Three shots cracked through the street.
Glass exploded.
Reed drew his weapon.
Luca’s men returned fire.
Mia pressed herself against the wall, heart hammering.
Then she heard Luca shout.
“Get down!”
He pushed her lower.
Another shot struck the wall above them.
When the gunfire finally stopped, Luca looked toward the road.
The attackers were gone.
But one thing remained.
A black envelope had been thrown through the broken restaurant window.
On its front were four words:
GIVE US THE GIRL.
