by Anna Widzisz
Out of a sudden, a loud female laugh rang around the penthouse. All men drew their weapons instinctively, searching the place carefully. There was a grunt coming from upstairs and a slight movement followed by the clicks of heels. Their eyes darted there, a stunned silence surrounding them. On the top of the stairs, there was a woman.
Noah cursed inwardly, moving to stand, but then sank back down. He was lower than the woman, but sitting was a powerful position as long as he was relaxed enough. Instead, he extended his hand open-palmed and invited her closer, but she immediately stopped with no intention of letting him call the shots. In her black skinny jeans and dark green shirt, standing with her arms in the air in a gesture of surrender, she still seethed with confidence and power. She looked anything but ready to give up judging by the smirk painted across her face. Amusement flashed in her eyes, clearly finding this situation funny. She reached for her hair which was in a ponytail and let it loose. Seeing her beautiful, long, dark auburn hair, there was no doubt as to who she was exactly.
Lynette Selvaggio was standing there in the flesh, in front of all the people who had been looking for her. For them, it was a long-awaited meeting. But it was far from expected, nevertheless.
Noah rolled his eyes at the wink she gave him. He motioned for his people to lower their weapons. Even though he didn’t recognize the girl’s offbeat behavior, she was not a threat. He finally stood up.
She seemed very different from the last time they had met but Noah couldn’t put his finger on what that actually was. Of course, he could see the confidence written all over her and had no doubt as to why she was there, but that wasn’t it. That wasn’t all there was. Satisfaction grew in him, knowing that he was close to achieving exactly what he’d wanted. No matter why the girl came to him when he had been so certain that she was in the Bratva’s hands. Clearly, he had been mistaken.
She slowly walked down the stairs, looking straight into the older Falcone’s eyes and her expression changed slightly revealing some masked irritation. He could recognize it easily since it was her usual reaction. However, she hadn’t acted on it that much in his presence before. He wondered whether that had changed and why.
"For once, Noah, you should actually listen to your brother. After all, he is the genius," she said, her Sicilian accent coming out strongly.
Lynette stepped closer to the Capo without any fear whatsoever - the other difference in her behavior.
Noah smiled. "We have been looking for you," he admitted.
Lynette shrugged looking even more annoyed. "Believe me, I know," she answered but her eyes were on the Underboss. "Go on, Flavio. You don’t have to hide your suspicions anymore. I am here, aren’t I?"
A younger Falcone curved his lips in displeasure, clearly knowing exactly what she meant. "The fuck you’re talking about, Lynette?" Noah growled. She ignored him again.
"Flavio, how many waitresses were in that Japanese restaurant?"
A resigned sigh sounded. "Two."
The girl smiled and nodded as she came down the stairs. "Such potential and you let it get swallowed by your pride and ignorance. I don’t get it."
"I’m going to ask one last time. What are you fucking talking about?"
The Capo was angry being excluded from the conversation and kept in the dark when he was the most important person in the room.
"There were never three waitresses in the restaurant. There were two and Lynette. After Inéz told me something along the lines that nothing is as it seems it got me thinking. I checked all the documents and saw the schedule of the workers. There was an hour gap between the time when one of the waitresses finished her work and when the other one was supposed to start. But three was the usual number so no one questioned it when she came there and pretended to be a worker. Anastasia wouldn’t have realized it because no one ever suspects women to be involved in the business." His eyes moved to his brother. "Lynette is the assassin we have been looking for."
To say that no one expected this turn of events would have been the understatement of the century. It was so messed up that no way anyone would have come up with this idea on their own. Noah had spent such a long time trying to find the girl when she had been so close all along. He laughed.
"You want to tell me that this girl is the fucking assassin that slaughtered all those people in the restaurant? Her?" He pointed at Lynette. "She ran away the moment she saw her fucking housekeeper’s dead body for fuck’s sake!"
Lynette rolled her eyes and sat on the couch, crossing her legs. "Don’t worry, Noah. I can wait. Just stomach the information. It’s not like I have better things to do," she mocked.
"Why would that even happen in the first place? How?"
"I know that Flavio is the pearl in this ocean of stupidity but come on, you’re smarter than this, Noah," Lynette said. "I worked for Bazzoli. He wanted your deal with my zio gone and as he found out who I was, he knew that I was his best shot. Simply because I know you. So, I thought how I could get this done quickly since we never really talked about anything of importance but your sister. And even that wasn’t much. But then I remembered you taking me to this lovely Japanese restaurant where all the people were literally begging for your approval. I dug deeper. Why would someone waste their precious time and money on a single restaurant in Seattle when they have so many other opportunities both in Las Vegas and Sicily? Imagine my surprise when I found out what your real business deal was with the owner."
She didn’t seem worried at all. Noah’s expression was making her even more daring while he was trying to bury his anger as deeply as possible since the girl had a purpose in his plans. She was testing him, knowing how quick to judge he could be.
"You’re lucky to have such dedicated people working for you, Noah. Since there was nothing in the restaurant anymore, I had to back out."
"And you had enough time to do that, so why didn’t Cesarino?" asked Flavio.
Lynette laughed. "Cesarino was a dick who didn’t deserve to survive. He brought his own daughter along for the action to punish her. I knocked him out and left him for you to take care of. I figured you would treat him like the piece of shit that he was. As you are one of the cruelest men I had the honor of meeting. Or a curse. Can’t really make up my mind on that one."
"What about the girl? You cared enough to make her father pay, but not enough to take her with you?"
The girl rose from her seat. "Anastasia is better off as she is now. She made one mistake and was treated like the worst criminal on the face of the earth. And we all know there are much worse people. We are worse people." she paused, turning to Noah. "You are a monster. After everything I’ve known and seen, there’s no doubt in my mind. However, neither you nor your brother would punish her in any way, shape or form just because she was born in a mafia family. That’s her only sin, and one that she cannot change. I don’t want a life like the one she had in New York for her and you won't hurt her." She looked at Drew for the first time. Her eyes were empty as she quickly moved past Isaac and then Inéz. "You know how shocked I was when I saw those three going in the restaurant?" she asked.
Noah frowned. "You were still there?"
Lynette nodded. "I’m not an amateur, Noah. Of course, I was there. I had to make sure that there was nothing that could connect me to it all. And I know that you want me and why, but going to such lengths to find me wasn’t the right way. Did it seem like I wanted to be found?"
The Capo raised his eyebrow.
"Did you actually think that your captains just dropped dead of their own accord?"
A wave of rage overcame him as he walked up so close to Lynette that there was almost no space between them. "You fucking killed my soldiers?" he roared.
"Surprise," she whispered, unwilling to look away. "I wanted you to leave me alone. That was the purpose of my first kill but it clearly didn’t come through the way I intended it to. Therefore, your second Capodecina had to go. And here we are because your stubbornness is on the verge of being yo
ur downfall, Noah. Lucky me, you have many people to take the places of your captains and I can kill them one by one until the message gets through," she threatened.
Noah grabbed her arm, twisting her and pushing her against the wall. A lunatic laugh sounded. Lynette enjoyed it for some reason. "Easy there, or I might take this as foreplay."
"Don’t test my patience, girl. You should already know that I’m not the person to mess with. I can crush you with one fucking move."
She challenged him. "Go on. I would love to find out who is better. A man that trained most of his life with Marco's excuses of soldiers. Or me who trained for years with the one and only Luca Venas."
Her admission brought as much surprise as twisted amusement.
Lynette pushed back, sliding her leg between his and pulled it, unbalancing Noah. She used his distraction and slipped her hand from his grip. Twirling around, she landed behind the Capo pulling out her knife and pressing against his throat.
It made Flavio and Nicodemo pull their guns out.
Lynette laughed again.
"Frankly, I believe there is a chance that I could win or at least die together with you," she whispered in the man’s ear and hid the weapon.
"You went in search of the very person who put you in this position? I knew you were mentally unstable but didn’t think it was this bad," Noah mocked her. The girl showed him that she was capable of a lot more that he had ever given her credit for. "How did you even know where to look? Your uncle has been searching for Venas for a long time."
"And it took me a few days to find him," she admitted proudly. "I knew where to look because I listen, Noah. No one in the mafia seems to know how valuable just listening can be. I listened to him when he was talking about his life, I listened to you when you were telling me about your sister, and I listened to my father in his jail cell when he told me just when exactly your sister was killed by him."
Noah’s fury increased at the reminder of his dead sibling. He reached for the girl and slammed her to the wall again. It made her laugh. She looked at the Capo smirking.
"Damn, I wish I pulled my head out of my ass four years ago and noticed how hot you were." Lynette stroked his shirt as he released her after seeing no point in holding her anymore. She was clearly enjoying it.
That reminded him of the way he acted in such situations.
"You said you visited your father in his jail cell?" asked Flavio, the only one able to still think clearly and catch every little detail in what the girl was saying. He didn’t believe she was making empty promises which was even more disturbing. Lynette looked pleased to know someone had been paying attention.
"Of course I did. Haven’t you seen my beautiful work? You just got the autopsy records."
Inéz widened her eyes, trying to figure out exactly what the girl meant.
"You want to tell me that you somehow sneaked into a maximum-security prison and killed your own father? Don’t be ridiculous, Lynette. You don’t have guts to do that. You never did," said Noah, finding the mere thought of that laughable.
"I’m a damn assassin. What do you think?"
"I think you cared too much for your father to be able to kill him."
Her eyes met Drew’s for the first time. Lynette had been a lot of things, but never that confident. It was refreshing to see the change, but her words, they were terrifying because she was admitting to killing three really powerful men. And most likely the Bratva soldiers in Las Vegas. Two of those men had been under the Capo’s protection, and he was required to avenge their deaths. The third one had been her father - the man who had raised and cared for her all his life. She wasn’t even a little bit scared of judgment. As if there was to be none.
"What happened to you?" asked Inéz seeing as no-one thought of voicing out the one question that had been running through all their minds.
Lynette looked at the girl.
"Life," she answered simply as if it was all they needed to know. She turned her head to Noah once more. "You couldn’t possibly have thought I would be the same person I was four years ago, could you?"
"I didn’t think you were able to change."
"Well, I was. My fucking father was trying to become an informant, and I couldn’t have it. He didn’t deserve anything but a death row. Those hundred and twenty-five years he’d got wouldn’t do. Especially if he was trying to cut a deal for himself," she explained.
"We thought Bratva had taken you," said Isaac.
"Yes, we did. So please enlighten me as to why on earth I got this package with your things in it and a list of countries and the length of your stay there. With a beautiful Russian signature on the bottom," added Noah.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Luca has sent them. One of my missions has taken much longer than I expected. Those damn Russians are tough fuckers, let me tell you. However, I can tell you right now that the only countries I was in were Spain and somewhere in South America, but that’s none of your business."
"So what about the calls I got from you from all those countries? Were they lies too?"
Lynette laughed. "Don’t take it personally, Noah. I just didn’t want you to know what I had in mind the minute I took that passport from your hands."
Flavio finally reached out to lend a helping hand to his brother since he wanted the girl gone as soon as possible. She wasn’t in any danger judging by her appearance, thus there was no reason for her to be there anymore. They still didn’t know how it had been possible for her to enter the penthouse that easily.
"So why did you fly to South America?"
"To change," she answered. "I was fed up with being the pathetic little girl who was scared of her own shadow. I needed her gone. So I went there to find the only person who I knew would be more than pleased to help me accomplish that. And who owed me."
"Luca Venas," said Inéz.
Lynette nodded, looking around. "I see you guys want the whole story. Very well," she agreed. "Once I got to South America I found Luca and trained with him for a while. He taught me how to defend myself, how to use weapons, fight and kill. After that, we came to the States and I rendered my services as an assassin to whoever could afford it and needed it. I kept away from mafia business until the Bratva found me and wanted my help. I did my job, and afterwards, I expanded and accepted a few jobs from different Famiglias. I actually preferred them more to the countless rich, stupid guys who desperately wanted something or had been deeply offended and decided to have someone answer for it. The mafia has more interesting contracts. To sum it up, I have been murdering people for money. Also, I learned how to hack really well."
"And you fucking killed our people to make a point? Didn’t you figure out that it only got Noah more fixated on finding you?" asked Flavio.
"Well, I came here to give you one last message. I am alive and I don’t want you to keep looking for me. That will make me really angry and you will regret it once you feel the consequences of not listening to me."
She crossed her arms, almost certain that Noah wouldn’t do anything to her in spite of her having killed his people. He seemed more impressed with her sudden change than angry for the murders.
"But you’re here now. So, tell me why would I let you leave? You should be dead already after confessing to your crimes."
Lynette smirked. "Because I know exactly why you wanted to find me. And I can guarantee you that I have no desire to give you that. Perhaps one day, but most likely not ever."
No one but Noah knew what she was talking about. The Capo had never said exactly what he needed from Lynette but had made sure that they all knew that he wanted something in particular. And the girl knew what it was. "I do want it, Lynette. And I’m going to get it one day."
"Maybe, but for that, you need me alive." She looked at the rest of the people. They were confused. "You didn’t tell them what you want, did you?" she laughed.
"It is not important at the moment. And I still won’t let you go. As Capo, it is my duty to punish those responsible for
things like the ones you have done."
"Yes, but would it be wise when I can give you information that can save your precious Inéz from her job as a pole dancer? I believe she hates it when Gastone touches her. He’s a nasty piece of shit," she admitted.
"And what would that be?"
She raised an eyebrow. "That’s it? You’re not even going to torture me for it like you did Cesarino? Only to kill me after I have revealed the information?"
"One day I’m going to find out how you know so much. But as you said, I need you alive so talk and leave before I change my mind," he seethed.
"Easy there, tiger. No need to roar. I have all the phone calls that Gastone made to the New York Capo and the money transfers for the shipments and jobs they did together. But also, there’s something that really surprised me. He was earning much more with his businesses than it was humanly possible. His accounts were soaked in sin if you ask me. So, I had them checked. Turns out he is doing inside trading. One of the commonalities of all the trades was that they involved just one investment bank. The idiot forgot to consult a Wall Street finance expert because he only ever used one fucking bank. Who does that?"
"What bank is it?" asked Flavio.
"The one that for some reason is doing the same thing with Filippo Bazzoli. I will send you all the information. There is more than enough to execute your Capodecina. And as for why I know so much, I hack, I spy, I listen," she answered taking her phone out of her jeans’ pocket.
"How did you hack the laptop? I put up firewalls and I thought only an experienced hacker would be able to get through them if anyone."
It was Isaac’s turn to talk. He was curious as to how the girl who was in the hacking world a lot less than him, could bypass his security him with such ease.
"Yes, you’re better than me, but there is just one thing you haven’t realized yet. I knew you in school so I know how you think and what you would do to block the laptop. Therefore, I knew all your blind spots. I got through them just to give you a message. I don’t care about anything else. So don’t worry."
