Page 75 of Power & Punishment

Sympathy flickers on Cecil’s face, and her eyes even land on Leo for a millisecond. “Well, you’re welcome here anytime.”

Her words penetrate deep, sinking in where they don’t belong. Because after tonight, that statement won’t hold any weight.

When this is over, we’re done.

“I appreciate that,” I say, swallowing my emotions like an expert.

The light conversation from earlier resumes, but Leo doesn’t lean into it like before.

“Who’s ready for dessert?” Cecil asks, rising from the table. “Frank, help me grab some things from the kitchen.”

As soon as their parents leave, Gio turns toward me with a devious look. He leans back in his chair and drapes his arm over the back of Mari’s seat, much to her displeasure.

“I’m impressed, Leo.”

Leo doesn’t move. All he says is, “Don’t.”

“What?” Gio shrugs innocently. “I was going to compliment you. You finally bring a woman home, and she’s smart, funny, and hasn’t run for the hills yet. It makes me think that she doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into.”

Mari bows her head and is quiet for the first time all night.

Leo’s hand tightens on my thigh. So tight that his nails puncture the skin under my dress. I suck in a sharp breath. “We’re not doing this here.”

I glance between them, more questions piling up in my head as Gio ignores his brother and leans forward. “Mia, you seem like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. If you want to keep it that way, I suggest you walk away.”

I open my mouth to respond—having no clue what to say. The thing is I know exactly what I’m getting myself into, but now I’m under the impression that Gio and maybe even Mari are clued in too.

Now, the idea of using Leo’s family against him doesn’t sound like it will work.

Before I can muster up a half-ass response, my phone vibrates, and when I see the caller I.D. I use it as an out. “I’ve got to take this. It’s work.”

I stare at Leo’s hand waiting for him to remove it, but he keeps it there like he’s debating whether or not to let me go.

“Don’t take too long,” he murmurs, taking his hands off me for the first time all night.

I force a fake smile, avoiding Gio and Mari as I accept the call and step into the hallway. “Please tell me you found something.”

22

MIA

“Yes and no,” Katy says. “The only full set of prints is from someone named Marco Bellini.”

“Okay,” I say, looking over my shoulder to make sure I’m alone before slipping behind a cracked-open door. “Did the system flag anything on him?”

“He was into some shady stuff,” she says, clicking her tongue. “Multiple counts of assault, drugs, and weapon charges. But nothing ever stuck long enough to keep him off the street until right before he died.”

“It sounds like we have a lead. Why did you say ‘and no’?” I ask, taking in my surroundings for the first time. It’s a small room lined with bookshelves and a huge desk in the center of the room.

“That’s the thing. He’s been dead for the last twenty years.”

“Shit,” I say, leaning up against the desk and squeezing the bridge of my nose. “Another dead end.”

Katy sighs on the other end of the phone. “The weird part is the prints I lifted don’t look old. It’s difficult to date, but they would’ve degraded by now if they were decades old.”

“So, I’m dealing with a zombie?”

“This job isn’t that cool,” Katy mutters. “My best guess is the dead man might not actually be dead. These organized crime guys fake their deaths sometimes, right? Or is that only on T.V.?”