Chapter 3 - The Friend Who Wanted Him Dead
“No.”
Dominic stared at me.
“That was quick.”
“Because I'm not insane.”
“Tommy says he'll only talk if you're there.”
“Then Tommy can enjoy silence.”
Dominic walked toward the window.
“He knows who ordered the poisoning.”
“You mean it wasn't his idea?”
“I don't know.”
I studied him.
“You actually want me to walk into the same room with the man who tried to poison you and bruised my wrist?”
“I won't let him touch you.”
“You couldn't stop him the first time.”
That landed.
Dominic turned slowly.
“You're right.”
I hadn't expected that.
He continued.
“I didn't know he was dangerous to you then.”
“And now?”
“Now I do.”
An hour later, against every intelligent thought in my head, I entered Frank’s through the back door.
Dominic stayed beside me.
Two men waited near the kitchen.
Frank was nowhere around.
“Where's my boss?”
“Home,” Dominic said.
“You threatened him?”
“I asked him to close.”
“Did he agree?”
“Eventually.”
“That means you threatened him.”
Dominic opened the kitchen door.
Tommy sat at a table.
His leather jacket was gone.
He looked exhausted.
He saw me.
“Coffee girl.”
“Try waitress.”
He laughed bitterly.
“You ruined everything.”
“I saved his life.”
“Exactly.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“Explain.”
Tommy looked at him.
“You think I wanted to do it?”
“You put something in my coffee.”
“I had no choice.”
“Everybody has a choice.”
Tommy leaned forward.
“Not when they have your brother.”
Dominic stopped.
“What?”
“Michael.”
The room changed.
Dominic's voice became dangerously quiet.
“My brother has been in Florida for three weeks.”
“No.”
Tommy shook his head.
“He never made it.”
Dominic grabbed the chair opposite him and sat.
“Who?”
Tommy looked toward Emma.
“She shouldn't hear this.”
Emma folded her arms.
“You requested me.”
Tommy exhaled.
“Victor Sloane.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because Sloane is dead.”
Tommy laughed.
“You sure?”
Dominic said nothing.
Tommy leaned closer.
“Sloane wanted you poisoned because nobody would suspect me. He promised Michael would live.”
“And you believed him?”
“I was trying to buy time.”
“You put enough powder in that cup to kill me.”
Tommy’s eyes filled with anger.
“I was supposed to switch it before you drank.”
Dominic stood.
“That's your excuse?”
“I panicked!”
“And if Emma hadn't spilled it?”
Tommy went silent.
Dominic stared at him.
“If she hadn't been there, I'd be dead.”
Tommy lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
A sound came from the dining room.
Glass breaking.
Dominic's men immediately moved.
Then the lights went out.
Darkness swallowed Frank's.
I heard Dominic.
“Emma.”
“Here.”
“Get down.”
Someone kicked open the front door.
Footsteps.
Multiple.
Tommy whispered:
“They found me.”
Dominic grabbed my hand.
“Kitchen.”
We moved behind the counter.
A flashlight beam swept across the diner.
Dominic pulled me behind the stainless-steel service station.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
His head turned.
“No?”
“You don't get to bring me here and then tell me nothing.”
“This isn't the time.”
“Then make time.”
A voice shouted from the dining room.
“Vale!”
Dominic went still.
The voice continued.
“Give us Tommy and the waitress.”
My stomach dropped.
Dominic looked at me.
“Now you understand?”
I whispered:
“They came for me too.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Tommy answered from the darkness.
“Because you're the only witness who can prove I poisoned him.”
I stared toward Dominic.
“So what happens now?”
He reached into his coat.
Then stopped.
Instead of drawing the weapon I expected, he pulled out his phone.
He pressed one button.
The diner suddenly flooded with headlights from outside.
Cars surrounded the building.
Dominic looked toward the entrance.
“Now?”
His voice was calm.
May you like
“They find out I didn't come alone.”
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