“It’s only been open for a year,” Sly said, eyeing her.
“Well, that explains it.” She smiled at me and caught my expression, which I quickly wiped clean off my face. “I have been on the east coast for some time now.”
“What brought you to the east coast?” Vinnie asked, but I could tell he was digging.
“My aunt lives there. She raised me after…” She looked down and cleared her throat. “So, what’s good to eat here?”
I glanced at Vinnie, who stared at her almost as if he’d seen a ghost. Yes, he’d figured it out…Sydney was the long-lost daughter of Charlie and Stacy Knight.
I knew in my gut Vinnie was connected with their murder. Every piece of evidence pointed to the Marrones, but they were good and had solid alibies.
“The crab is superb.” Vinnie grinned at her, then looked over at me. “Are you gonna tell me it was a coincidence that you and her were both at the bar at the same time?”
I was waiting for this.
“No, it wasn’t.” I turned to face Sydney. “I’ve been following you.”
“What?” Her gaze darted around nervously. Her hand flew to her purse, but I stopped her.
“I’ve been working your parents’ case for some time now. When I heard you were back in town, I hurried to Nashville to see if I could catch you. Ask some questions, see what you could offer me.” I placed my hand on hers. “We’re both looking for answers, that’s all.”
She slowly looked around the table and let out a long, unsteady breath. “I, ah, I’m not sure what I can help you with. I was very young when they were taken from me. So are you a detective or something? ”
“FBI.”
“FBI?” Her voice cracked. “I thought the case was closed. Unsolved.”
I shook my head. “It’s a cold case, but that’s what I do. I solve the unsolved. I have some questions, and I hope you have some answers.”
“So do I.” Vinnie eyed her.
She looked over at him and squared her shoulders. “And who might you be? Because I’m guessing you’re not the FBI.”
Sly and Cook laughed with their mouths full of food. Tommy snuck me a look, and I could see he was uncomfortable. Tommy and Vinnie were like oil and water. Tommy would do anything to see Vinnie at the bottom of a river somewhere—family bickering over who would take over the business when Bobby died.
Dinner was served, and we all ate and chatted about little things. Having dinner with the Devil’s spawn was not something I had planned, but I would take any chance to gather anything new I could.
Sydney avoided any personal questions they shot at her with a witty comment that seemed to put them in their place. Though they kept trying to pry.
“Tell me…” Vinnie pushed his plate away from his huge stomach. “What do you remember about your parents?”
She downed the rest of her wine. This was her third. “How much do you remember from when you were two?”
He smirked, but I could tell he was getting a tad annoyed with her dodging. Perhaps it was time to leave.
“You have quite the mouth.”
“One could say the same about you.”
Sly cleared his throat and rested his hand on his gun. Which, in turn, made me do the same.
Vinnie rubbed his chin while he studied her. Her finger ran along the rim of the glass as she stared right back at him. Liquid courage could be deadly here.
“You’re not what I pictured.”
“Didn’t know you pictured me.” She leaned her elbows on the table. “Is this the part where you tell me you murdered my parents?”
I thought I might have left my body for a moment. Did she really say that to him? To Vinnie Marrone, second in line for the seat at the head table. The next Godfather. I wasn’t sure if I should high five her or cock my gun for battle.
Vinnie’s tongue raced around his teeth before he broke out in an odd laugh, and the rest of the men followed.
“I like you.” He chuckled awkwardly. “I want you to join me at my cottage this weekend. Both of you.”
“Why would I do that, exactly?” she challenged.
“Because I don’t normally ask, my dear.” His eyes darkened and his face changed to the look I knew all too well. Yeah, it was time to go. I would not let her tear down my case.
“You have my number, text me the address.” I rose to my feet. “I will take you back to the hotel, Sydney.”
She stood, then turned back around and held onto the back of the chair. “If you did kill my parents and I find out, I will take your balls and snap them off at the base.” She flashed them a bitch smile. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, gentlemen.”
I took her wrist and hurried her out of the restaurant before we added more red to the décor.
It wasn’t until we were in the cab that she finally sucked in a deep breath and showed me her true emotions.
Her hands shook as she ran them over her thighs.
“Sydney,” I whispered while pushing back my own anxiety from what just happened. “You’re playing with fire, fire that will burn you without a thought.”
“Yeah, I got that.” She wiped a tear away with a huff. “I don’t know what came over me.”
I closed my eyes and remembered that people don’t work like I do. I shifted to get closer and wrapped my arm around her bare shoulders.
“I’m fine.”
“I know.”
Once inside the elevator of the hotel, I felt her withdraw, and she couldn’t do that yet. I needed her to stay focused.
With a sideways glance, I couldn’t help but stare at her tight body inside that little black dress. Damn, she was fine-looking.
“I need a drink.” She fluttered her hands. “Christ, I can’t calm my nerves.” She pulled her hair to one side and let out a long breath. “You want to hit up the bar?”
Yes.
“That’s not a good idea.” What the hell was wrong with me? The doors opened, and I hurried down the hall toward my room. “Night, Sydney,” I called over my shoulder.
“Yeah.” She sighed.
1:00 a.m. burned into my eyes as I stared at the clock from my bed. I couldn’t sleep. My head was spinning about the invitation to the cottage. This was big. I’d never been there. I checked in with Mason, my boss, to tell him what happened. He was surprised we were still standing, and I agreed. Sydney pushed some boundaries even I wouldn’t have tested.
Sydney…I got hard even thinking of her. Fuck it.
The hotel was silent as I headed across the lobby wearing my dress pants, with my white shirt open at the top and sleeves rolled to the elbow. This seemed to be my normal look.
I found Sydney in the corner of the bar with a man who had his hand on her leg. They were laughing and looked to be a few drinks in.
“Sydney.” My hands went to my hips. I had to admit I didn’t like seeing her with him.
She slowly looked over at me. “Good…” She squinted at the clock. “…morning.”
“We have to be on the road in six hours.”
“Noted.” Her attention went back to the man whose hand slipped higher up her leg.
With my eyes closed, I calmed my rage and looked at the bartender, who gestured to let me know the tab was on the man’s bill.