Page 7 of Power & Punishment
“Great. I’ll see you soon. Goodbye.”
Keith mutters a groggy goodbye back before I hang up and tuck my phone in the pocket of my leather jacket. And then I find a wide oak tree to hide behind as people gather around my brother’s burial.
I feel like a coward lurking in the shadows, but it feels better than not being here at all. Dirty grey clouds fill up the sky, covering any hint of sunlight that might shine through. It’s perfect for Vince, though. He loved gloomy days.
“Great day for a funeral,” I hear behind me. Panic makes my entire body freeze, but I find the will to turn around somehow.
“Alice,” I say, making eye contact with the dark bags under her eyes.
“I knew you’d show. Dante owes me twenty bucks.”
I fight the urge to smile. “I’m guessing he filled you in on everything.”
“More or less,” she says, flipping a messy strand of blonde hair over her shoulder.
We used to call her Alice in Wonderland when we were kids because between her pale skin and baby blue eyes, she fit the character perfectly. Not to mention she always had her nose stuck in some book. Always off in her own little wonderland.
“I know that I’m supposed to pretend like I don’t know you, but that doesn’t feel like a lie.”
I blow one single breath through the shallow opening of my lips. “I’m sorry, Alice. I know I left—”
“It’s fine. I know you were just a kid,” she says. “And don’t worry. My cousin Teresa fit in your bridesmaid dress so it all worked out.”
I press my lips together tightly. “How are you doing?” I say, attempting to change the subject.
“I’ve been better.” She shrugs, pulling at the hem of her shirt. “I knew when I married Vince that there was a good chance our happily ever after would get cut short. It’s the price of marrying a made man.”
“Alice, I’m going to find out who did this,” I say, repeating the promise I made to Dante last night. “It’s not going to be like last time. We’re going to get answers.”
Her lips deflate into a frown and something close to defeat flashes across her face, but before she can answer me, the sound of a car door drags our attention a few feet away, and a cold rush sweeps through my body.
That’s the car.
My eyes bounce to the driver and spot a tall man in all black. Another wave of panic skits across my chest.
It’s the man from the bar last night. The one Dante told me to stay away from.
I snap my head back toward Alice, and her already pale skin has turned practically iridescent. “Alice. Who is that man?”
Her stare peels away from him and drops back to mine. She licks her bottom lip and squeezes her eyes closed before popping back to life.
“That prick is Leo De Luca. I can’t believe he’d show up here after everything—” She stops herself and straightens her posture. “I have to go.”
“Wait, Alice,” I say, grabbing her forearm. Her eyes anchor on that connection. “If you need anything, take my number. It’s a secure line.”
Her glare slides up my arm and settles onto my face with an icy penetration. “Just figure out who did this.”
And with that, she yanks her arm back and heads for the group of people waiting below. I watch her entire body curl into itself as she walks away.
She doesn’t look back. Not once.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I don’t check it. Instead, I find myself searching for the man that has just landed himself at the top of my suspect list. But when I find him, he’s turned toward me.
Fear crackles across my skin.
To the naked eye, you’d think he was looking right at me, but I can’t see much through the sunglasses covering most of his clean-shaven face. I’m safely hidden behind a tree, but the longer I stand here, the more certain I am that his gaze is locked on me. Like he can sense me somehow.
A slow, cunning smile curls up his lips, making my instincts flare. But then I see him wave at a man walking toward him and I let go of the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
