by Gina LaManna
“Er—okay,” I said. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Very well.”
Carlos didn’t exactly prompt healthy, vibrant conversation, so I dug right in to my agenda. “I am wondering if your history has something to do with why my family was attacked.”
“Does this have something to do with the mysterious cargo in my trunk?”
“No, well, yes—I suppose a little bit,” I said. “But it’s more than that. The explosion.”
“A woman died.”
“Yes, but she wasn’t the target,” I said. “The target was me and my family. I’m not exactly sure if it was meant to kill me or scare me away, but either way, it was too close.”
Carlos didn’t look entirely surprised. “I see.”
“I’m not sure you do.” I leaned forward, overcome by a bout of frustration. “I had left that room with my daughter and husband just minutes before the bomb went off. If I hadn’t, this might be an entirely different conversation. Or, not a conversation at all, if the bomb was a success at getting rid of me.”
Carlos didn’t comment, but his eyes flashed with darkness.
“I’ve been looking into things, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, and I’ve peeled back a lot of layers. It seems there’s this guy, Coco, who runs a little Hawaiian mob here in town, and he’s got most of the residents pressed under the thumb of his little kingdom.”
Carlos pulled another drag from the cigar.
“When I was interviewing the guy responsible for planting the bomb, he was pretty torn up. The woman who died was his girlfriend. He was devastated. The bomb was meant for me, and it stole a life from him.”
“He should never have involved her.”
“No, he shouldn’t have,” I agreed, “and obviously he’s made a few bad choices in his life, but he was hired by our friend Coco.”
“I don’t know anyone named Coco.”
“It’s a nickname,” I said. “Because he’s... coconuts. He’s a murderer, Carlos. He obviously didn’t care about putting a child’s life at risk. A baby. That could have been Bella in there.”
Carlos gestured for me to keep my voice down, but it had the opposite effect and irked me to no end. I could feel the blood pounding in my ears.
“Why is this not bothering you?” I asked, my voice rising. “Your family was almost killed! Since when are you okay with that? This isn’t just a threat to me, but the entire Luzzi family. And if my theory is correct, this doesn’t have anything to do with me—it’s a message to you.”
“I don’t know anyone on this island. Yes, it’s upsetting what happened, I won’t deny that. But what makes you think it’s about me?”
“Why haven’t you stepped in to help?”
Carlos raised a hand. “You get frustrated when I involve myself without asking. It’s usually better—and safer—if I stay the hell away.”
“Fair,” I said, “but if you suspected—”
“I suspected nothing.” Carlos sat upright in his chair, the expression on his face livid. “If I had, don’t you think I would have done something?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“I don’t know anyone named Coco. I was under the impression the explosion was targeted. I assumed the woman who died was the one intended to be murdered. Why should I think otherwise?”
“Because this is the freaking Luzzi family!” I exploded. “You can’t honestly tell me you thought it was an accident. A coincidence. Anthony and I move into a hotel room, and seconds later it blows up?”
“You believed the maid to be the target, did you not?”
“For a minute, yes,” I said. “But you should know better. You’re a professional at this crap.”
Carlos sat back in his seat. While he didn’t look defeated, something had changed in his demeanor. “What leads you to suspect I’m involved?”
“I don’t know for certain,” I said, backpedaling as I studied my grandfather. He suddenly looked older, sadder. While I was angry at this mess, I was also scared. I hadn’t intended to take everything out on Carlos. But I also wasn’t quite ready to apologize. “It was something the interviewee said the other night in the freezer—”
“In what freezer?”
“That part is not important.”
“And you think I’m the professional,” he said with a wry smile. Then he shook his head. “A freezer.”
“I spoke to the man who placed the bomb, and he said that while Coco is ruthless and even crude with his methods, he rarely does things without a reason,” I said. “Neither Anthony nor I have any history with the island. I suppose I have a history of ticking people off, but I’ve been racking my brain, and I just can’t piece together a way I’m responsible. And, if I was the target, or Anthony, well—that wouldn’t work very well to send a message to me if I was dead.”
“You suspect the message was meant for me,” Carlos said. “And what, exactly, is the reason behind this message?”
“I’m not sure of that either,” I said and pulled out the backup phone Anthony had entrusted to me. “We just got this photo. Do you recognize him?”
Carlos squinted, leaned forward. He did some sort of double take before easing back in his chair.
“Well?” I pressed. “Ring any bells?”
“It might.”
“This is the only image we have that’s believed to be Coco in the flesh.”
Carlos shook his head. “That’s not Coco, that’s Jimmy Manitucci.”
“Jimmy who?”
“Manitucci.”
“I mean, I heard you,” I said, exasperated. “But who is he?”
“Someone I encountered in my younger years,” Carlos said. “You think he’s Coco?”
“Anthony’s guys turned this photo up,” I said, flicking the security footage image around so it faced me. “They’re the best.”
Carlos acquiesced my point with an inclination of his head.
“What’s your history with this Jimmy fellow?”
“We encountered one another in the Twin Cities. It took me a moment to recognize him—he’s aged. Then again, so have I.” Carlos gestured toward himself with the lit end of his cigar. “At the time, I was entering my mid-forties. He was young, barely twenty—if that.”
“And?”
“Like all teenage boys, he thought he ran the world,” Carlos said. “He staged a coup.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He tried to overthrow the Luzzi family and make it his own. The Manitucci clan.”
“It didn’t work?”
“I’m still here.”
“What happened after? You obviously didn’t kill him.”
“Lacey.”
“What? You banished him to Hawaii?” I shrugged. “Doesn’t sound so bad.”
“The second he steps foot back into the state of Minnesota, I promised consequences,” Carlos said. “He’s abided so far, and now I know why. He’s been setting up shop out here.”
“Well, there’s less snow,” I pointed out. “But how would he know you were here?”
Carlos gave a tsk. “Any good leader knows who’s in their territory, when they enter, and why. What I don’t understand is what set him off.”
“Um, you?”
Carlos ignored me and turned to look out the window. “It wouldn’t be something as simple as that. In a way, we ended on positive terms.”
“How is that possible when you’ve banished him from an entire state?”
“He deserved it. He knew it, and he accepted the penalty without complaint.”
“Yeah, because you sent him to Hawaii.”
“Before he attempted a coup, he was an apprentice to me.”
“An early Anthony?”
“Something like that,” Carlos said as smoke spiraled between us. “He knew the rules of the game. When his, ah, attempt on my life was unsuccessful, there were only two options I had to choose from when it came to punishing Jimmy. I chose the less permanent one. In a wa
y, I admired his...”
“Guts,” I supplied.
“Guts,” Carlos murmured, lost in thought. “He had the courage, the drive to attempt something nobody else had done successfully.”
“You mean, he was crazy,” I said. “Because anybody who tries to go against you is bonkers.”
“Thank you.” Carlos smiled as if I’d given him the highest compliment.
“Don’t you think Jimmy’s banishment is reason enough for him to attempt getting back at you?”
“No,” Carlos said. “I suppose it could happen, but I just don’t believe it. As I said, we had a relatively amicable parting. As good as it could be under the circumstances. I spared his life.”
I considered. “Well, something set him off.”
“I agree,” he said. “And I’ll find out what.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll talk to him,” Carlos said. “As I explained to you, Jimmy’s set himself up with a life here—a venture he’s been building forever. It doesn’t make sense that he would ruin everything with an unprovoked attack against me.”
“Carlos, you’re...” I hesitated.
“Old?”
“I’m just saying, it’s not your heyday,” I said. “I mean, you look great. Despite the cigars and pasta three times a day. I don’t know how you do it.”
A tiny, wry smile peeked out from under his darkened gaze. “Doesn’t matter how old I get, Lacey, nobody attacks my family and gets away with it. I’ll take care of things.”
With that, Carlos stood, dismissing me from the conversation.
“Hey,” I said, tugging on his arm. “What does that mean, you’ll take care of it?”
“You found Clay, and he’s returned safely?”
“Yes,” I said. “But—”
“So all is well, except you suspect Coco might attack again.”
“I was thinking he might try to finish the job,” I admitted. “But I can’t be sure.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I don’t—”
“Let me handle it,” Carlos said, putting out his cigar. “Don’t you have a wedding to prepare for?”
“Is it safe to go through with the festivities?”
“Like I said...” Carlos turned and leveled his gaze at me. “I’ll take care of it.”
I hurried to catch up with him as he strode toward the door. “You’re not going to kill him, are you? I know I came off angry back there, but I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”
“Oh, Lacey.” Carlos shook his head. “I won’t regret anything.”
Chapter 21
“I don’t know how to feel about it,” I told Anthony over dinner. “Carlos scares me.”
Anthony cut up banana into microscopic pieces. He placed them on Bella’s highchair tray and watched as she promptly smooshed them on top of her head. “Do you trust him?”
“I suppose,” I said. “I don’t have a reason not to, really. But—”
“Carlos is one the most intelligent people I know,” Anthony said, and then quickly added, “in some respects. He won’t do anything stupid.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better. His idea of stupid is different than mine.”
Anthony laughed and wiped Bella’s chin. “He’s not going to kill Jimmy. He’ll make sure this Coco fellow isn’t an issue anymore, and that’s it.”
“You say that as if you’re not entirely convinced Jimmy is our guy.”
“I’m not. I don’t assume anything until it’s proven, and one grainy photo nabbed from a security tape does not qualify as evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.”
I pondered his words as Bella busted out in spontaneous laughter. Despite her good mood, my anxiousness was increasing exponentially. “What have I done, Anthony? If Jimmy isn’t Coco, then I might have just condemned an innocent man.”
“I suspect if Carlos knows Jimmy, then Jimmy’s not an innocent man,” Anthony said, leaning forward as Bella reached up and grabbed his lip. He spoke through her grip on his mouth. “I learned from Carlos. He won’t do anything without proof, either.”
“I suppose it’s out of my hands, anyway.”
“You’ve got me next to you,” Anthony said with a wink. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
I made a silly face at Bella. “Daddy is hilarious, isn’t he? Shall we get you cleaned up, messy girl?”
I took care of the wiping while Anthony held Bella’s arms down. We made a good team, I thought fondly. Whether we were on a stakeout, evading death, or cleaning our baby’s face, we had an understanding that had only deepened since our daughter had sailed onto the scene and begun to take over the world.
“You know, this wax isn’t going to use itself,” I murmured in Anthony’s ear as he picked up Bella. “Shall we put the princess to sleep?”
Anthony had never moved faster. I followed behind him as we left the cafeteria, climbing into the elevator and cooing at Bella as she smacked her dad in the eyes with clenched little fists.
“So, siblings?” I suggested. “Yay or nay?”
“Let’s handle one bomb at a time,” Anthony said.
We were still in good spirits, laughing and holding hands and generally looking like a couple on vacation when we reached the door to our room. Then Anthony dropped my hand, and all sense of romance came to a screeching halt.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked, glancing down at Meg and Clay who had camped out in front of our door. Literally. They’d brought a blanket and were watching something on Clay’s phone with their backs pressed to our room.
“And why do you have pillows?” Anthony asked, sounding panicked. “Lacey, why do they have pillows?”
“I don’t know,” I said through gritted teeth. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
“There y’all are,” Meg said, hoisting herself to her feet. She tugged Clay up with her. “We thought tonight would be great for a sleepover.”
“No,” Anthony said, though it was more of a faint murmur that slipped out of his lips. Uncontrollably, like a sneeze.
“Yeah,” Meg said. “Safety in numbers and all that jazz. We get married the day after tomorrow. I’m not risking a missing fiancé again. And I’m not risking a missing Meg, either. Your guys’ bed is big enough. Why don’t we—”
“Absolutely not,” Anthony said.
“I thought you might say that,” Meg said, “which is why I ordered the roll-out bed to be delivered. Clay and I can squish. It’s what we do best.”
“Um,” I said, and then stuck a finger in my ear, assuming I wasn’t hearing properly. “What?”
“It will be fun,” Meg said. “A sleepover, the four of us. The last one before we’re old married farts.”
“And why don’t you want your own room?” I asked. “Privacy, your own bathroom, and all that fun stuff.”
“Yeah, see, I considered that,” Meg said, “but I’m still concerned this Coco guy is going to use me or Clay to prove a point to the Luzzi family. And no offense, but I’ve given up enough of my wedding week looking into Coco’s business.”
“She’s got a point there,” I murmured to Anthony.
“Don’t let her guilt trip you,” he whispered back. “That’s what she’s doing.”
“It’s working!” I hissed. “I’m feeling guilt!”
“Good,” Meg said. “So that’s settled?”
“Um, Meg,” I said. “Carlos said he’s taking care of the problem. I don’t think we have to worry about Coco any longer.”
“Are you positive?” Meg asked. She only had to look at my face to have her answer. “That’s what I thought. Why don’t we watch a movie together, and then maybe we can head to our own space later tonight if you’re sick of us? Don’t you want to hang with us sometime when it’s not a high-speed car chase?”
“I suppose one movie can’t hurt,” I said, though Anthony looked like he’d been pelted by a hailstorm of golf ball sized ice. “Come on in. Movie night.”
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Two hours later, the credits rolled, and both Meg and Clay snored on the roll-away bed that’d been delivered to our room. Bella added her little snores to the mix. I glanced over at Anthony who sat watching Bridesmaids with his arms across his chest.
“I guess it’s a sleepover?” I said to him.
He stood and moved to the bedroom. “I don’t understand their sense of spatial awareness. It’s as if they have none. Non-existent.”
“Let’s go easy on them. Meg does have a point. She’s been nothing but helpful this week.”
“Was it her expired snacks or her charming commentary that won you over?”
“And her parachute, and exploding cake, and...” I hesitated. “She made me try the wax. I think we should be understanding. She gets married in a day, and she’s nervous. While she might not show it, she needs a little support. Hang in there, okay? I think we owe her. She’s saved my life more than once.”
Anthony pulled me in for a hug. “Then I owe her, too.”
THE NEXT DAY WAS IMPRESSIVELY uneventful. Save for Meg waking us with a thud when she accidentally spiraled off the roll-away bed and fell to the floor. She remained sleeping while the rest of us forced our adrenaline back under control.
Anthony and I shared coffee and breakfast with Bella before tramping outside to splash in the kiddy pool until lunchtime. During the princess’s afternoon nap, Anthony and I took a moment to actually read books for pleasure. We curled next to one another on the hammock and sipped fresh smoothies until it was time to get ready for dinner.
The evening meal was a simple affair with the entire family at one of the on-site restaurants. However, from the moment we arrived to the moment the check arrived post-dessert, Carlos deftly ignored me. When I asked him to pass the salt, he flicked his wrist at Anthony, who reached across the table to retrieve it for me.
“What’s his problem?” I asked Anthony while pretending to watch Nora play peekaboo with Bella. “It’s just salt.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want you to get high blood pressure.”
“Right,” I snorted. “I’m sure that’s it.”
I didn’t find out what Carlos wanted until he signed his name on the receipt. He sent everyone away with a dismissive nod of his head. I was gathering Bella into my arms when his request came in low tones that were inaudible to anyone but Anthony and myself.”
