Double Edged Hearts

by Gray, Khardine

  I know he’s not being an ass by telling me that. He’s being real with me. We’re part of The Four. We can’t afford to have shit on our minds. Not like this.

  Trouble is always on the horizon and right now, it really doesn’t sit well with me that Cora is investigating a bastard like Matvey. Word on the underground says he’s still here. That’s all the streets are saying and everybody who value’s their life will be keeping the fuck away. Nobody knows what shit he’ll be stirring in Chicago. We haven’t spoken about him as a group yet. I know though it would have been said. If the streets and the underground know, Claudius does too and he would have spoken to Dante and Gio. As for me, he’s treading softly on account of Cora, and Jude’s anniversary.

  “Thanks, I will,” I reply.

  I nod, appreciating the offer.

  “We’re gonna be at the club until late. Call us if you need to,” Dante says.

  “Don’t worry about me.”

  Gio nods, and the two of them leave.

  When the garage door clicks shut, I release a heavy sigh and lean against the edge of the counter.

  I don’t know when I’m going to get Cora out of my head. It’s not exactly going to be an easy task. I can’t just forget her. Everything everyone is telling me is correct. Even what she herself is saying is right. My fucking heart just won’t accept it.

  In general, women are a weakness none of us can afford. They make us vulnerable. But when you find the one who will stand by you, the story changes. The situation changes.

  I hoped she would be mine. The fact that we’ve been screwing around for nearly nine years is testament of the fact that I couldn’t have been more wrong, even if she felt like mine.

  The door to the shop creeks open. For a second, I think one of the guys forgot something because I’m not expecting Manuel for another hour, then a fucker with light brown hair pokes his head in.

  I already know I’m not going to like this guy from the smug expression on his face. He’s tall and carries some muscle, and although he’s wearing a biker jacket, he looks more like he should be in a suit.

  “What can I do for you?” I ask and straighten up.

  Most people who come here outside the racing hours come by appointment only, or if a friend sent them. If a friend sent them, though, I’d know about it. So, I don’t know who this fucker is, and I’m not liking the way he’s scanning the place. Nor the fact that he hasn’t answered me yet.

  His gaze settles back on mine, and he gives me a smile. It’s polite, or at least it’s supposed to be, but the air of smugness is still there.

  “Quite a setup you have here. Impressive,” he comments.

  I eye him sharply. If he’s waiting for my thanks, he’s not going to get it.

  He can’t not know who I am. Few people in Chicago don’t know.

  “Something I can help you with?” I ask again.

  “I hope so,” he answers with a nod. “The name’s Zack… I believe we have a friend in common. Her name’s Cora.”

  What the fuck is this? I’m almost amused, but I hold back on showing my own version of smug because this visit here is odd.

  “And what about Cora?” I prod.

  “I work with her.”

  Fed… I should have known. He smells like one and has the look. I’m just off my game.

  He works with her, but he looks like he wants to do more than that. Or he wouldn’t be here.

  “And?” I raise my brows, and he chuckles.

  “I didn’t figure her to be into mobsters. Maybe it’s not her though. Maybe it’s more you.”

  This prick must really have a death wish. Coming here to a guy like me is a signature on his death certificate. He thinks he can talk down to me? Or, talk that shit? We’ll see about that.

  “Look, pal, you better get the fuck out before you piss me off,” I seethe.

  He has the audacity to laugh. “Easy, tiger, it’s just an observation. That’s all, nothing more. Seen you a few times sniffing around her.”

  If he saw me at all it means he was watching like a hawk.

  Why?

  I step to him now, walking right up to him.

  “You’re keen. Makes me think you want to cross that line of work with her.”

  “You’re bright and a quick study.”

  I want to pop his head right off his miserable body, but I hold back. Claudius is already on my ass. He’d kill me himself if I killed this guy.

  “So, you’ve come to warn me away? Is that it? You must have some death wish,” I sneer with a sharp chuckle.

  “I don’t, actually, but I have my staff’s best interest at heart. I’m just here to make my presence known. You people think you own Chicago. I guess you do to some extent, but there are other ways to get to you. Everyone’s so careful when dealing with you people. Don’t want to rock the nest and cause trouble. I don’t care about careful so much when it comes to things I want, women I want.” The fucker smiles at me like he already owns me. “I won’t be careful if you go near her again. I know a lot about you people. You leave a lot of loose ends that I’ll tie up. Like this place, for example… I wonder how much you all truly make from the cash jobs and the people who pay in cash to come and watch the events. I know about the illegal street racing too. I’m sure your boss doesn’t want trouble with the feds any more than you do. So, how about you keep it sweet, or you might end up in prison for a very long time.”

  “You don’t have shit on me,” I point out.

  “I can get it. That’s the beauty of it. I can get my hands on whatever I want to fuck with you, and there’s not a God damn thing you can do about it.” He grins.

  I hate being threatened. I have a temper on me that doesn’t do well with threats. What balances my temper is that I have my head screwed on straight.

  I already know not to think this guy isn’t some fucker who’s talking out of his ass. He’s serious as fuck, so I don’t say anything more to him one way or the other.

  I won’t lie down like a little bitch and agree to keep anything sweet, and I won’t respond to his threat the way I want by killing his ass.

  What I will do is be careful.

  He looks me up and down before he walks out.

  I stare on in deep thought. Deeper than before.

  He was watching Cora. I get the interest he has in her, but it’s not normal to watch the way he suggested and then approach me, a dangerous man.

  And threaten me like that?

  Here is the part where maybe I should back the hell down and leave well enough alone.

  Cora and I are over. Broken up. So I should turn away from this.

  There’s a feeling deep in my heart, however, that tells me there’s more to this guy.

  There’s more, and I can’t just leave it alone, not because I don’t want him anywhere near Cora, but if he can threaten a guy like me, it means he’s dangerous too.

  Chapter Nine

  Cora

  “How’ve you been?” Richard asks with a wide smile on his face.

  “I’m okay,” I answer.

  Returning the smile I lower to sit across from him resting my hands on the dinner table.

  His eyes twinkle and he looks pleased that I’m okay, but I know he’s been holding off on asking me the real question he wants to ask about Alex.

  There’s a feast before us of honey roasted chicken and an assortment of roast vegetables. In the kitchen is a cinnamon infused apple pie. Unlike last week, he invited me to the apartment he’s been staying at and cooked a meal like he did in the past.

  It feels nice to sit here with him, just the two of us. Even if I know he has questions for me on a very sensitive subject.

  “You have that look about you,” Richard states. “What your mother would call a dull aura.” He waves his hand over me and I chuckle.

  I know what he means. He’s probably right. I remember Mom saying things like that. She talked about auras and positivity. I agree that mine is probably dull today. It’s been
that way for the last few days. Since I last saw Alex. I just can’t shake that last meeting out of my head. It was the way he looked, what he said, and what he didn’t say.

  “I’m just tired,” I reply, which isn’t far from the truth. “We’re still no closer than we were days ago in the investigation.”

  “Let’s not worry about that tonight.”

  “No work at the dinner table,” I fill in and he nods.

  “Exactly,” he answers, serving me a good helping of mashed potatoes.

  “Thank you.”

  He serves himself next and sets the bowl down to cut the chicken.

  “Tonight is about us. We catch up over a homemade dinner and forget about the stress and worries. That said if you have anything pressing on your mind, I’m all ears as usual.” He nods and starts setting down slices of chicken on my plate.

  The gesture reminds me of that time after my parents deaths and I could barely eat. I lost so much weight and got so weak at one point I was hospitalized. I collapsed at school and had to stay in the hospital for a week. When I got back Richard took it upon himself to nurse me back to health feeding me when he had to.

  “Thank you, and thanks for being there too. I appreciate you, and… all you’ve done for me,” I tell him.

  He straightens and rolls the sleeves up on his jumper. “You know you don’t have to thank me for being there, Cora. I was always going to be there for you. Your mother was very dear to me and you are too.”

  “Thank you. I have to say it. It’s all I can say. God knows what would have happened to me if not for you.”

  His hands still by his fork and he stares at me. “I’m just glad I could help. Sorry I had to be harsher in some respects. Cora… I have to ask you something that’s bothering me, worrying me even.”

  Although I have a pretty good idea what he wants to ask me I feign innocence. “What’s worrying you?”

  “You being here in Chicago. I’m not talking about Matvey and the danger the investigation presents. I mean just Chicago in general. To my knowledge you haven’t been back here since… um that day I told you what happened to your parents,” he explains and steeples his fingers.

  “I haven’t been back since then.”

  “I’m aware that when you left, you just left. You never really spoke to your… friend.” He says the word friend tentatively and raises a brow. He’s talking about Alex. Richard always referred to him as my friend.

  “I didn’t. But I’m sure my absence spoke for itself.”

  He looks me over, contemplating. “Have you seen him at all? I mean since coming back?”

  My pulse quickens and I try to steady my breath. If it’s one thing I loathe it’s lies, but sometimes there’s no choice but to lie. This is one of those times.

  “I haven’t seen him.”

  “No?”

  “No. I think after so long he wouldn’t have forgotten me anyway.”

  “Alex… that was his name. Cora, I hate to talk about this because it’s a touchy subject, but I doubt from what I learned about that guy he just forgot you.”

  Richard had me followed. That was how he knew. He came to see me for a surprise visit back in LA and saw me with Alex. I never knew about that. Then he had Alex checked out. By that time I was here in Chicago. Richard came armed with knowledge of exactly who Alex was and knew we’d been seeing each other for years.

  I’m not sure what answer I’m supposed to give here. I know why he’s asking. This is the first time the need for the question has come up. When I got back from Europe we never spoke about what sent me there or my parents deaths. Richard just went back to how he used to be with his subtle references to Mom. Like he did when he spoke about my aura.

  “It’s been four years, Richard. You don’t have to worry about him anymore. You were right.” I raise my shoulders and give him a small smile when he reaches across the table and covers my hands with his.

  “My dear, it’s not about being right or wrong. I hate being right. Most often I am and I don’t take pride in it. It was hard for me to destroy your relationship when you were clearly in love. I can see it hurts you now to talk about. I just had to ask because I knew it must be hard coming here when the last visit was so bad.”

  I nod understanding. “I know and it has been, but it’s one of those things that worked out for the best.” I feel like a hypocrite saying that and my poor heart squeezes in response at the lies that fall from my lips.

  “I believe so. I just feel bad for being the bringer of bad news and then taking away a part of your life that made you happy. I wouldn’t be the guy I claim to be if I allowed you to continue down the path of being with a man like that and not know the dangers.”

  “I know, and I understand you only did what you had to protect me.”

  “My dear girl I wanted to stop you from making the same mistakes your mother made. I tried to warn her away from Peter.” He says and pauses. He always says my father’s name like that, with an edge of scorn. Even before the truth came out. “Lily didn’t listen, so all I could do is be there for her. For both of you. Every time you guys moved I was a nervous wreck.”

  I remember him coming to see us whenever we moved. He looked so angry, angry at Dad. Richard never said anything though. Not to my knowledge. Maybe he was scared. My father was a tough looking man who would soon put you in your place if you looked at him the wrong way.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for my girl. It was just the way it worked. I blame myself for not taking a stand with her and that’s why I had to take that stand with you and tell you the truth.”

  “I’m glad I know. It crushed me to hear it, but while I was away I realized that you were only trying to help me. You can’t be blamed for that. Knowing the truth set me on this path. I’m in a good job and I have my future ahead of me.”

  When I lived with him, he used to talk about us working together because we had so many similar interests. He was so proud when I joined. Seeing such pride in a man I admired so much was enough to keep me going.

  He nods. “You’ve done wonders at the Bureau. I couldn’t be more proud of you. Lily would be proud too. She really would.”

  It’s good to know that. I think Mom would be proud of me and all that I’ve done over the last few years. That’s something to hold on to and use to move forward.

  “That means a lot to me Richard,” I say and dab at the corners of my eyes as they well up with tears.

  He gives my hand a gentle squeeze then releases me. “You deserve to hear it. It’s the truth. I apologize for stirring the past. I just wanted to know that you’re alright.”

  “I am. I’m fine and I’ll be okay with the job too,” I assure him.

  “Good,” he answers with a smile. “Eat up. Let’s not allow the food to get cold. We have all night to talk.”

  I smile at him and pull in a deep breath.

  What I want is a future that holds positive things. My past was awful. What was worse was finding out my father was truly a monster.

  Time has only taken the edge off the pain. That’s all. The only thing I can do for myself is seek a life free from violence and fear.

  If I hope to have that I have to focus on my work here and my career.

  This time when I leave Chicago the door will be closed on the past.

  Chapter Ten

  Cora

  There… this should work.

  Encouraged by my conversation with Richard, I decided to really try to shove my worries to the back of my mind and focus. This little gadget is what I came up with.

  I stare at the little round device that fits in the palm of my hand and hope it will work. It’s called a ghost tracker.

  I spent the night working on it. Using this device I should be able to track the location of a person completely covertly with just the use of their phone number. I want to use it to see if the number we have for Matvey is completely out of use. I’ve input the number. If someone uses the phone again the g
host tracker will alert me.

  The idea came to me last night on the way back from Richard’s. I went to the electrical store near my apartment and got the stuff I needed to build it. The Bureau will have equipment like this they use all the time, but not exactly like this.

  Technically it’s a hacking device because I had to write a code into it that will allow me to listen in on a call. I had to do some research on how to do certain things but I think it will work on an operational level. As to whether or not it will work for what I need it for is another story.

  And, since the device leans more on the side of its tracking facilities I won’t feel bad for falling into old habits. Illegal old habits.

  That’s not to say I’ll go shouting about it from the rooftops. I’d most likely get in trouble and have to justify myself in some way but I figured if it helps then it helps.

  It’s my way of helping a situation that is fast proving to be leading us nowhere. Today is Monday. Monday morning again, I’m hoping this week will be different to the last.

  Quickly I get changed for work and head out. Over the next few hours I check the ghost tracker just to see if maybe I missed an alert. So far there’s nothing. The screen has been blank every time I checked.

  After lunch we got some evidence sent in from the police from the murder last week, so Lyndsey and I have been mulling over that for the last hour.

  What we have is a stack of printed emails, a few handwritten notes from the victim that looked like they were for someone he worked with, and bank statements listing cash deposits into a few bank accounts that total a hundred thousand.

  We went through the emails and didn’t really find anything of value to us and we went through the bank statements. All that stood out were some transactions coming from banks in Switzerland, Italy and England.

  Lyndsey suggested contacting the banks to get more details but we’ll need certain permissions to get information like that.