NALEDI’S POV
I didn’t have much time.
I unlocked the room, which was more of a rabbit’s nest than a freaking room. Not to talk of the rodents, rats and roaches that seemed to be having a party when I came in.
Everything was either broken, reeking, or left in a situation that no one should be left to deal with. By the time I had my shower, which resulted in me getting burned by the hot water, which should have been cold and getting the water supply cut off, I was ready for a refund.
In twenty minutes, I was set to begin my search for the woman I’d seen Arturo with. I could still remember the sorrow in her eyes. The conversation lived rent-free in my head.
And as much as possible, I’d like to meet her and round up this search before things get worse with Korah and Marcel who I knew were wrecking their heads, thinking just where I’d gone.
I’d hate to be in their shoes but these were the tough decisions I made every day. Before I made my way up, I’d asked the receptionist some questions about my target.
You’d be shocked how people ran their mouths when given a two-dollar tip. Remind me to do my business quickly and get the fuck out of here because it’s a risk to remain here with that woman pointing everyone to their prey without a moment’s thought.
Thanks to her insight, I didn’t need to knock on a lot of broken down doors, looking for an older woman who may or may not be the person I was looking for.
As I proceeded to the room number that according to our receptionist, held a sketchy old woman who barely left their hotel, I contemplated the best manner of approach.
I stopped at a door that read 69 and knocked twice, waiting for a few minutes before knocking again. I could hear movements in the room, but the door was not opening. So I knocked yet again.
If this woman thought I would give up without getting to speak to her then she had another thing coming. I heard a click of the door and soon enough, the door jarred open.
There was no one in sight.
“Hello?” I called, taking a step inside against every warning alarm that blared in my head. “Is anyone here?”
That was a trick question because I knew someone was in there. I felt the gun in my waist and the door shut behind me. Jackpot.
“Who are you and what do you want from me?” A voice said, a woman. She was right behind me. I turned around and nothing prepared me for the huge AK-47 that was pointed at me.
No questions asked.
I knew I should be shaking on my feet at the size of the baby she held, most would have already peed their pants, but I didn’t. Taking one look at her jittery hands I could tell she couldn’t handle firing the gun.
If she did, then it’d be an unpleasant surprise for me and a shame for her who might leave with an injury or two from the pullback of the monster gun, leaving a scar to prove that she actually used the darned thing.
I didn’t say a word and it took a minute for her to recognise me. “You! I know you.” Her tone turned hostile, “I told you to stay away from me woman, why are you here? Who sent you?”
Now her hands stiffened. Her face contoured in anger and her grip on the gun was firm. It was amazing what anger and fuelling desire could do when deployed at the right time.
“Donna.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
Her expression stiffened. “Liar! Who sent you and why are you here?”
I wasn’t about to give proof of her theory of my being a liar so I stuck with my story, hoping she’d be convinced and actually let me into her little dark world.
“Believe it or not, Donna sent me here. She sent me to help,”
She shook her head, “You are one of them. He warned me against speaking to anyone who came looking for me here. I’m sorry but I have to kill you. I can’t let you live, my daughter must be protected.”
I shook my head, “Donna is at the Cosa Nostra. She hired me to investigate where Arturo had kept her little sister,” I said and her eyes widened. I had to be saying something right if she bought it.
In the two days I had before coming here, I’d watched the video of the restaurant a couple hundred times. From habit, I decoded every single line of words uttered and played fill-in-the-blank.
It seemed I was struck gold in my guesses.
“How is she?” The results were immediate. She dropped the gun. “How is she coping with that monster?”
I take it that she was referring to Caellum and answered, “She is doing alright.” that was the truth, but she didn’t seem to believe it.
I didn’t blame her though. Caellum does have a reputation that precedes him. I struggled to see that side they were all so afraid of. I knew he was tough and not to be trifled with, but I had yet to see the cynical side of him that earned him such fear and respect.
I wondered if I ever would. “She wants me to help rescue her sister, and for that I need you.”
Donna’s mother dropped the gun and sat on the bed, her shoulders sagged and she looked exhausted. “Arturo has his men watching me. They do routine checks on me, they’ll be here soon.” She met my eyes. “You are not safe here.”
That was not what I expected to hear. “I knew that. I just need to get any information you can provide on what he has planned. Donna said you’ll be in a better position to explain. She has her lips sealed shut living with that devil.”
“Arturo wants his son killed. He wants his son killed after killing my friend. He plans to use my daughter because it is easier to spin the lie since I was friends with his late wife.” Her breathing increased, “He has both of my children and has someone else who looks like me in my pack to carry out his dirty plans.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets, “He has someone pretending to be you?”
“That’s not the point. The thing is he has my other daughter. Flora. I don’t know where she is, he’s held her captive to force Donna to do his bidding.” She suddenly walked towards the window. “They are back, you need to leave, they will be here any minute now.”
“I will be back.” I said when I found that a car just parked in front of the hotel, and sure enough, two suited men made their way into the hotel.
She shook her head, “No! Forget about me, find Flora and everything will fall into place.”