Chapter 2 - The Card That Shouldn’t Exist
Nico refused to let Sienna return upstairs.
She refused to cooperate quietly.
“I need my purse.”
“Marco will get it.”
“My phone.”
“Marco.”
“My other shoe.”
“Marco.”
“My cheesecake.”
Nico stared at her.
“What?”
“Tessa hid cheesecake in the walk-in.”
“You were just shot at.”
“And traumatic events require carbohydrates.”
For the first time, Nico actually smiled.
It lasted less than a second.
Sienna pointed.
“There. You did it again.”
“Get in the SUV.”
“No.”
Nico’s smile disappeared.
Sienna crossed her arms.
“You cannot order me into random vehicles.”
“It’s my vehicle.”
“That makes it worse.”
The garage door opened.
Marco approached carrying her purse, phone, coat, and missing shoe.
Behind him came Tessa.
“Sienna!”
Tessa hugged her.
“You okay?”
“I’ve had better Tuesdays.”
“It’s Friday.”
Sienna stared.
“That explains a lot.”
Nico looked at Tessa.
“How much did she drink?”
“Two glasses of wine.”
“Three,” Sienna corrected.
“Two and a half.”
“Why are you negotiating my alcoholism?”
“You’re not an alcoholic. You’re a lightweight.”
Marco handed Nico a tablet.
“We found him.”
Security footage showed an elderly man sitting alone at table fourteen.
Silver hair.
Dark suit.
He ate soup, drank water, and spoke to nobody.
Except Sienna.
The footage showed her bringing his check.
The old man caught her hand.
Then slipped the black card into her apron.
Nico leaned closer.
“Audio?”
“None at that table.”
Sienna frowned.
“He said something.”
Every man looked at her.
Nico asked, “What?”
She tried remembering.
“He asked my name.”
“And?”
“I told him.”
“And?”
“He said…” Her forehead tightened. “‘Brooks. Like Daniel Brooks?’”
Nico went completely still.
Sienna noticed.
“My dad’s name was Daniel.”
“When did he die?”
“I was twelve.”
“How?”
“Car accident.”
Marco and Nico exchanged a look.
Sienna immediately disliked it.
“What?”
Nico handed Marco the tablet.
“Get her home.”
“No.”
“Sienna—”
“You know something about my father.”
“I know the name.”
“That isn’t what your face said.”
Nico stepped closer.
The playful waitress from five minutes earlier disappeared.
Sienna looked directly into his eyes.
“My father was a mechanic. He worked six days a week. He packed my lunches and complained whenever I wore ripped jeans. If you know something about him, tell me.”
Nico studied her.
Then he opened the SUV door.
“Get inside.”
She didn’t move.
“I’ll explain on the way.”
“That’s manipulative.”
“Yes.”
“At least you admit it.”
She climbed inside.
Tessa grabbed her arm.
“Call me.”
“I will.”
Nico entered beside Sienna.
Marco took the front passenger seat.
The SUV pulled away.
For several blocks, nobody spoke.
Finally Sienna said, “Start explaining.”
Nico turned the black card between his fingers.
“Your father wasn’t only a mechanic.”
“Yes, he was.”
“He worked for my father.”
Sienna laughed once.
Nobody joined her.
Her face changed.
“You’re serious.”
“Daniel Brooks maintained vehicles for my family.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“He also drove my father.”
Sienna stared at him.
“No.”
“For almost ten years.”
“My father hated organized crime.”
“He hated criminals.”
“That sounds like the same thing.”
“To Daniel, apparently not.”
Sienna looked out the window.
Memories rearranged themselves.
Late-night calls.
Her father leaving suddenly.
Men in expensive cars occasionally appearing outside their small house.
The funeral filled with strangers her mother had never explained.
“What happened the night he died?”
Nico didn’t answer immediately.
Sienna turned back.
“Nico.”
“He wasn’t alone.”
Her breathing changed.
“My father was with him.”
“What?”
“The crash that killed Daniel also killed my father.”
Silence filled the SUV.
Sienna looked at the black card.
“Why was I never told?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who was the old man tonight?”
“That’s what I intend to find out.”
Marco’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“Nico.”
“What?”
“The men from Vesper weren’t there for you.”
Nico looked at him.
Marco turned toward Sienna.
May you like
“They were there for her.”
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