Chapter 2 - The Address Luciano Never Forgot
Elena Ramirez opened her apartment door and nearly dropped her inhaler.
Sofia stood outside.
Behind her were two black SUVs.
And Luciano Whitaker.
“Inside,” Elena said.
Sofia blinked.
“Grandma—”
“Now.”
Sofia entered.
Elena pointed at Luciano.
“You stay there.”
Luciano stopped.
One of his men looked astonished.
Nobody ordered Luciano Whitaker around.
Apparently Elena Ramirez hadn't received that information.
“My granddaughter disappears until after sunset,” Elena said, “and returns with six strange men?”
“Four,” Luciano corrected.
Elena stared at him.
“Would you like me to make it zero?”
Luciano almost smiled.
“No, ma'am.”
Sofia whispered, “I found him hurt.”
“I can see that.”
Elena looked at Luciano's bandaged forehead.
“What happened?”
“Business disagreement.”
Sofia frowned.
“You got thrown into garbage because of a disagreement?”
Luciano glanced at her.
“Complicated disagreement.”
Elena studied him.
Then her gaze fell on the serpent-and-crown watch.
Her face changed.
“You're a Whitaker.”
The room went silent.
Sofia looked between them.
“You know him?”
“I know the symbol.”
Elena turned toward Luciano.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I promised to bring Sofia home.”
“She's home.”
Luciano nodded.
Then he noticed the prescription bottles on the kitchen counter.
Two were nearly empty.
A pharmacy notice lay beside them.
PAYMENT REQUIRED.
He looked at Elena.
“Your medication—”
“No.”
“I haven't offered anything.”
“You were about to.”
Sofia looked at her grandmother.
“Grandma.”
“We don't take money from dangerous men.”
Luciano's eyes sharpened.
“You know what I am?”
“I've lived in California sixty-eight years.”
“Then you also know refusing me usually doesn't work.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Try me.”
Sofia covered a smile.
Luciano actually looked impressed.
His lieutenant approached the doorway.
“Boss.”
Luciano turned.
“What?”
“We confirmed it.”
The man's voice lowered.
“Someone inside the organization gave them your route.”
Luciano's expression instantly changed.
“Who knew?”
“Seven people.”
“Make it six.”
The lieutenant understood.
Elena didn't.
Sofia did enough to become uncomfortable.
Luciano noticed.
“Outside.”
His men left.
Luciano crouched so he was eye level with Sofia.
“The men you saw tonight may come looking for you.”
“Why?”
“Because you saw me.”
“I don't know anything.”
“They don't know that.”
Elena stepped forward.
“You brought this here.”
“Yes.”
Luciano didn't defend himself.
“So you'll remove it.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Luciano stood.
“By making sure nobody touches either of you.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“Men like you always think protection means more men with guns.”
“Usually because it does.”
“And what happens when your enemies bring more?”
Luciano had no answer.
Sofia tugged his sleeve.
“Mr. Whitaker?”
“Luciano.”
“Why were your own people looking for you?”
He glanced at Elena.
Then back at Sofia.
“Because somebody betrayed me.”
“Do you know who?”
“No.”
Sofia thought about the recycling yard.
“The first men knew where to look.”
Luciano froze.
“What?”
“They weren't searching everywhere.”
His eyes narrowed.
“They went straight toward the broken appliances.”
His lieutenant reappeared.
Luciano turned sharply.
“Bring me a map of that yard.”
“Boss?”
“Now.”
Ten minutes later, the kitchen table was covered with satellite photographs.
Sofia pointed.
“I was here.”
Luciano leaned over her shoulder.
“And they entered?”
“Here.”
His lieutenant's face changed.
“That route isn't visible from the road.”
Luciano straightened.
“So whoever sent them knew exactly where I was dumped.”
“Meaning?”
“The people who attacked me and the people pretending to search for me are connected.”
A knock suddenly hit the apartment door.
Everyone froze.
Three slow knocks.
Luciano's lieutenant reached inside his jacket.
Elena whispered, “Who is it?”
A man's voice came from the hallway.
“Bakersfield Police.”
Luciano's eyes turned cold.
Sofia recognized the voice.
Her face went pale.
“That was him.”
Luciano looked at her.
“Who?”
“The officer from the yard.”
Another knock.
“Sofia Ramirez? We need to ask you some questions.”
Luciano quietly moved toward the door.
Sofia grabbed his sleeve.
“He was with the men searching for you.”
Luciano stopped.
“Was he?”
She nodded.
The knocking became harder.
Luciano looked toward his lieutenant.
“Take Elena and Sofia through the back stairwell.”
Elena shook her head.
“This is my home.”
“Tonight it isn't safe.”
The officer called again.
“Ms. Ramirez, open the door.”
Luciano looked at Sofia.
“You trusted me when you didn't know who I was.”
His voice lowered.
“Can you trust me now that you do?”
Sofia looked toward her grandmother.
Then back at him.
“Yes.”
Luciano nodded.
“Good.”
He turned toward his men.
May you like
“Get them out.”
---
