Mena
In the early morning, we were already heading for Towson. Pilar drove, Gian in the passenger seat, while I sat in the back, wrapped in a blanket. We had all packed a bag, just in case, but the idea was to return the same day.
Luckily, Giulia agreed to watch Naty for me and had planned a spa day with the other mothers and children.
Alessio and I hadn’t spoken yet, but according to Gian, he was completely fine with us going out, as long as it would be a short trip. I bet if he knew what it was really for, there wouldn’t have been a trip because he would have confronted Levi on the spot. I hadn’t closed a single eye because I couldn’t stop thinking about that letter. My worries, which were originally about Anson losing his life at the hands of Alessio, had changed into concerns about Levi betraying the family.
None of us knew what we were going to find in Towson, but as of now, going there was our best option.
Every now and then, I caught myself glancing at Gian through the rearview mirror, checking if he was still comfortable, given his condition.
“Are you still doing alright?” I asked once again, trying to make eye contact. His response was quick. “I’m fine.”
But was he really?
His wheelchair was in the trunk, and he had managed to get into the car by himself, so the physical therapy was working. Aside from that, I could not forget that he was one of Alessio’s brothers, and if there was one thing the Fanuccis loved doing, it was downplaying their pain.
“If you need a minute to stretch your legs, we can stop and get some fresh air.”
“I’m fine, really,” Gian insisted, then looked over at Pilar. “The only thing making me want to get out of this car is Pilar and her shit taste in music.”
We both laughed, even though I didn’t agree with him. The music was good, though the volume was a bit too much. “Hey!” Pilar shouted. “Mena, you are supposed to have my back!”
“I do, I’m sorry,” I said, trying to keep my smile to myself.
After what felt like an eternity, we had arrived in Towson. We leaned against the car, taking in the sight of the town, clueless about our next step. The street was a blend of old brick buildings and several stores. It was quite busy, with people filling the cafes or having a conversation on the sidewalk. In the center of the square, there was even a street performer.
In short, the streets were so crowded I had no idea where to begin.
“Well,” Pilar broke the silence first, chuckling loudly. “Three brains, all book smart-but no one came up with a plan beforehand,” I could hear the amusement in her voice.
“Speak for yourselves. I came with a plan,” Gian announced. With his good hand, he fumbled in his pockets, trying to reach for something. He seemed to be having a hard time as his injured arm was restrained by the sling that held his cast.
“Do you need help?” Pilar and I asked at the same time, both aware of his stubbornness.
“No, I don’t need your help,” he grumbled. First, he insisted on walking with his cane instead of using his wheelchair, and now he was refusing our help. It couldn’t get any crazier. After a struggle, Gian eventually pulled out what he had been searching for.
“Got it.”
In his hand were pictures of Levi, and he gave one to each of us. It appeared to be group shots where he had been cut out off. “I told you to stop here right in the center of the town because if we’re going to find something, it might be here.”
“We should spread out, ask around, and come back here in an hour.”
I chuckled, impressed by his strategy. “Ha, so you did have a plan?” It was clear he had thought this through more than either Pilar or I had anticipated.
“Don’t forget to mention it’s your friend you lost contact with, don’t give them your real names. We don’t want anyone getting suspicious.”
Pilar shot me a teasing grin, “Can you do that, Mena? Without Alessio being there to hold your hand?” her voice dripped with fake concern.
I rolled my eyes, deciding to ignore her. She had often called me Alessio’s puppet because according to her, I would lick his pee from the floor if he’d ask. Clearly, I wouldn’t.
“Gian, I’ll grab your wheelchair,” I offered.
“No need, I’ll be fine,” Gian was quick to dismiss the idea. Before any of us could oppose, he had already turned around and begun walking, using his cane for support, although he wasn’t really using it.
“One hour!” he reminded us, looking over his shoulder.
I nudged Pilar, “God , he’s so stubborn-” I stopped talking, noticing Pilar’s gaze fixated on him. Her soft eyes, her gentle smile, it was a look you could only give to the one you adored, and I decided to let her be.
“See you in an hour,” I shook my head, smiling.
~
After what felt like an endless hour of approaching more than forty strangers, I had accepted my failure. Approaching strangers was out of my comfort zone, and not getting a single clue about Levi despite my efforts felt as if the world was against me. I remained hopeful, believing that Gian and Pilar might have gotten luckier than I had.
Arriving back at the car, I found them already waiting. “And?” Pilar asked.
“Nothing,” I gave her a defeated head shake. “What about you two?”
“Nothing.”
I couldn’t help but offer Gian a sarcastic grin. “Well, your plan sucked, no one knows anything-we might as well head back home,” I declared. “At least we got to visit Towson. Never been here.”
Pilar’s laughter filled the air as she playfully smacked my shoulder. Gian, on the other hand, was less entertained. He remained poker-faced.
“There’s one more place I want to visit,” he said.
“Well,” Pilar opened the car door for him. “Since we’re already here.”
Following Gian’s final request, we ended up near the edge of Towson. The area felt quieter and more secluded than our starting point. He had brought us to a local Diner Bar, and ordered us some steak and fries while he went off on his own, asking the people inside if they recognized the man in the picture.
Occasionally, we would watch him, noticing most of the women, including the older ones, would swoon over his handsome looks.
“Not going to lie,” Pilar took a sip of her virgin cocktail. “I feel bad we’re eating while he’s doing everything.”
“Me too,” I hummed, taking another bite of my steak. “I feel bad his legs aren’t properly working yet, yet he insists on walking with that cane just to impress you.”
Pilar smiled widely, knowing I spoke of the truth. “It’s not that,” she sang.
“You know it is,” I sang back.
I had expected her to change the topic like she always would, but she didn’t. “If you squint your eyes just a little, Gian’s actually kind of cute, isn’t he?”
“He looks good,” I told her, pursing my lips with a nod. “You don’t have to lie about that.”
All three of the Fanucci brothers had their own charms, but they were all handsome regardless. If Alessio had sharp features that could cut through glass, and Dante soft features that just made you want to squeeze him, Gian was somewhere in between.
That was not adding personalities because, out of the three brothers, he was the most unapproachable.
Not Alessio, him.
As Gian made his way back to us, I was unable to read the expression on his face, and that’s when I knew we would once again leave with nothing. “I hope he doesn’t feel too bad,” I whispered.
He pulled out a chair and sat down. “It’s okay, we’ve tried. We’ll just have to find another way to find some evidence before I’ll tell Alessio.”
“What are you talking about?” Gian furrowed, slapping a piece of paper on the table. “Someone recognized him.”
My eyes turned big at the unexpected victory. “I’ve confirmed his ex-wife’s name, Jessica Summers. Lives with her four-year-old daughter. She’s a local at this bar, often comes to complain about her ex-husband who is a real asshole and works for… the government.” Gian said.
“Oh, wow, I might hire you to look for my Daddy someday,” I laughed, looking at Pilar who was just as shocked and surprised.
“So, did you get the address?” she asked.
“Of course, I got the address.”