The Mafia Manipulation: A Ryker Group Book

by S. M. Dapelo

  “Sure you do. Cosmo’s just old school.” He glanced at me, “Let’s head back, I don’t want to overwork you. Rain’s supposed to come in later.” I glanced up at the fluffy white clouds and blue sky.

  “Tonight? It’s still morning, and it’s beautiful,” I remarked.

  “Yeah, but sometimes it takes a bit. Or it starts and lasts all day.” He put his hand on the small of my back and led me up the trail.

  As we approached the cabin, I did a double take of the roof and froze. “How did a dog get up there?” An enormous animal with a bandit’s mask sat on the roof staring at us. It was directly above the entrance.

  Luc followed my gaze and bit his lip, “That is not a dog, button. It’s a raccoon.”

  “No,” I shook my head. “I’ve seen raccoons at the zoo and a couple times in Kansas City. They’re the size of cats, or maybe a pug. That animal is the size of a German Shepherd.”

  “I told you the animals were large around here,” he smirked.

  “And it’s up there why?”

  He shrugged, “Probably trying to figure a way in, or to find a squirrel’s nest. We both slept pretty deep last night. It could have a home in the attic. They’re pretty smart.”

  “Is it going to charge us?”

  “Button,” he started laughing.

  “One, I’m not cute, so stop calling me button. Two, is it going to ambush us if it can get in the house?”

  “It’s not going to come anywhere near us. If we leave it alone, it’ll leave us alone. The animals were here first, you know,” he said trying to pull me toward the cabin.

  I dug in; I wasn’t going anywhere near the creature staring at me. “I don’t know that,” I argued. “As far as I know, this is some ancient city overrun by foliage.”

  He sighed, “Get in the house.”

  “No. It’s gonna pounce on my head. Just look at it, it’s plotting,” I pulled away.

  Luc howled in laughter, “It’s plotting how to get dinner.”

  “And it’s come to the conclusion if it attacks me, there’ll be more food for it,” I growled.

  He reached down and grabbed a pinecone off the ground, lobbing it at the roof. The animal made some chittering sounds at us and lumbered to the other side of the roof, where we couldn’t see it anymore. “Be happy you got to see it. They’re not usually out in the daytime. It’s just hungry.”

  “Then put food out for it,” I said. “It’ll leave us alone.”

  “Then bears will show up and break into the house. They’re big around here and you’ll like them even less than the raccoon,” he smiled, opening the front door for me as I rushed in. I just knew the racoon was plotting against me. “I’ll make coffee,” he chuckled as he roamed into the kitchen.

  “So, what am I supposed to do all day?” I sat at the kitchen island.

  “I was assuming you’d paint,” he said as he appraised me. “I have work to do while you get creative.”

  I tilted my head to the side, “What exactly do you do?”

  His face went to stone as he scowled at me, “Do you ask your father the same question?”

  “I did when I was younger. He gave me the same look,” I muttered, glancing away. “I’m going to change into some grubbier clothes if I’m painting. I don’t want to get anything on good clothes.”

  “I’ll drop the coffee off with you when it’s done.” He turned his back and started getting cups. Great. I hurt the hot, muscled kidnapper’s feelings. That couldn’t go poorly for me. Wait, he wasn’t hot. Just a kidnapper.

  I sighed and after changing, tiptoed into the small room Luca had indicated earlier. It was set up so in one corner I had plenty of room to paint, and on the other side a desk with a computer sat. I inched over and started the computer.

  “There’s no Internet access.” I swiveled to see Luca standing there. He handed me a steaming cup. “All your files from your home and business computer are on it, but there’s no modem or way for it to connect.”

  “Okay,” I forced a smile.

  “Marc was asking about this painting Feddi took a picture of. He was wondering if you’re interested in selling it?” He held up his phone. A colorful landscape showing off a particular part of Mackinac Island appeared.

  I squinted at it and frowned, “It’s a watercolor from my house.”

  “Which is why he’s asking instead of just putting the order in on your website,” Luc smiled.

  I shook my head, “No, it’s not for sale.”

  “Would the artist consider a commission?”

  “I’m the artist and no, not at the moment.” I sat down in a chair at the table. “I’m working in a different medium right now.”

  “The black and white paintings?”

  I huffed out a breath, “Do I have any secrets?”

  “No,” he shook his head. “At least not that are in your house or business. Feddi took pictures to document everything for inventory.”

  I pursed my lips, “Well, there you go. No, the painting is not for sale. It has meaning to me.”

  “Okay, I’ll let him know. I’ll be right across the hall if you need anything.” He turned and went through the door sitting across the hall.

  “Good to know,” I muttered as I stomped to the blank canvass, assessing it. I turned to the computer to pick out one of the pictures I’d amassed while in Colorado. I studied it, then drifted to the canvas. I considered my options. I couldn’t escape in broad daylight; I’d have to wait for a better opportunity. I sighed and picked up a tube of acrylic paint. Might as well do something while I was waiting.

  4

  After a few hours, I had to stretch. I took a few steps back and considered the painting. Not bad. Working in shades instead of color was a challenge I was enjoying. Acrylics meant I had to do everything quickly. It dried a lot faster than oils. People assumed shades meant only black and white paint, but there was a lot of blue used as well.

  “Ready for lunch?” I turned and Luc stood in the doorway.

  “I rarely eat this time of the day,” I said, glancing at the image on the computer, comparing it to what I’d painted.

  “We both skipped breakfast,” he noted.

  “I don’t need another mother or big brother.” I tried to ignore him as I washed my brushes.

  “That’s not what I’m aiming for,” he muttered. I turned to stare at him. He let his eyes drift over me. “I’m pulling stuff out for sandwiches. Clean up and meet me out there. We’ll go for another walk afterward.” He turned and walked away. I sighed to myself, I had to get him to relax around me if I wanted to a chance to run. I considered my options as I continued to clean the brushes, then walked to the restroom and washed the paint off myself.

  I walked into the kitchen. Luc had the bread, at least three different meats, two fresh cheeses and vegetables sitting out. “You’re honestly protecting me?” I asked, “My father knows I’m here? You’re not using me against him?”

  “My brother and I wouldn’t use anyone like that,” Luc narrowed his eyes at me. “I don’t know how often I have to tell you this, Alessandra, but I’m here to protect you.”

  I gave a small nod and made a sandwich. “Okay. Let’s say I take you at your word. How are you looking into my brother’s murder?”

  “Marc’s been getting copies of the police files. We have someone on the inside. He’s been double-checking facts.” Luc took a bite, never taking his eyes off me, “There have been discrepancies.”

  “Like?”

  “The evidence collected isn’t matching what’s stated in the reports,” he shrugged. “I’m looking over everything remotely.”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier if you were there?”

  “It would,” he shrugged, “but then you wouldn’t be as safe. You escaped from Feddi easier than you should have. If I hadn’t overheard him talking to you, you would have gotten away. I heard the same mistakes you did.” He took another bite, “You say you’re not cute, button but that’s not true. If you were
older, Feddi wouldn’t have been distracted by how innocent you look. He underestimated you.”

  “You don’t?” I raised a brow.

  He slowly shook his head, “No. Underestimating the wrong person will get you dead. It’s a lesson I learned the hard way. That’s different from trusting someone, button. I’m giving you every chance to prove I can trust you. I’m hoping I’m proving the same to you.”

  I considered what he said. “Do you have a pasta roller?”

  “I have a top-of-the-line pasta maker.” He leaned against the kitchen island, “Why?”

  I shrugged, “I don’t enjoy doing dishes. I’ll cook, you clean.”

  “I have spaghetti in the pantry,” he frowned.

  I made a face at him, “The boxed stuff? Are you even Italian?”

  “You’re telling me you can cook?” he smirked.

  “While you and your brother were becoming doomsday preppers, my father was taking me to Europe every summer. You might have done Outward Bound, but my tours were educational. Some art focused, some cooking focused. And I’ve been doing them since I was little. So yes, I can cook,” I smiled. “You said my father was old-school. You weren’t wrong. Cosmo believes an Italian woman should be a master chef.” Especially since his wife wasn’t. I don’t think my father had taste buds anymore.

  Luc gave a grudging nod, “I’ll pull the pasta maker out after our hike.”

  “You do that.” I walked over to the pantry, looking at everything in there and making a note of what I could make. “Good, you have sardines. So many people don’t.”

  “Sono Siciliano,” he shrugged.

  “Now that I understood,” I smiled at him. “Mio padre e di Napoli.”

  “Io so,” Luc nodded. “Quanto Italiano parli?”

  “Enough,” I shrugged. “I can’t keep up if it goes fast, but I can communicate. How about you? Are you fluent?”

  He gave a quick nod. “Dom was fluent,” Luc noted. “Why aren’t you?”

  “Cosmo and Elena raised Dom,” I said. “I’m Cosmo’s bastard daughter, born from his affair with my mother. I was only there part time and my mom’s not Italian.”

  “Your mom and Elena have become good friends since Dom passed,” Luc noted.

  I frowned, “Elena hates my mom. She blamed Mom’s lifestyle for the affair.”

  “Your mom is a modern-day hippie,” said Luc as he put everything up. “But Jennifer was the first one at the house after the news announced what happened. She took care of Elena while Marc took care of your dad.”

  “So, hell’s frozen over,” I said as he led me to the door. I stopped suddenly, “Are you sure that thing isn’t waiting to jump on my head?”

  “What thing?” he frowned.

  “The animal on the roof.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I’ll go first. The raccoon is probably asleep. They’re nocturnal, like possums,” he said as he walked out. I waited, but he was fine. I followed at a sprint.

  “Possums are the giant white rats, right?” I glanced at the roof. Nothing there.

  “How do you not know animals?” he frowned at me.

  “I’ve been around goats, chickens, cows, and horses. I know how to ride. I’ve just never been in this situation,” I waved my hands around. “I’ve been to the zoo. I even pet a llama once.”

  “Ohhhh,” Luc said sarcastically. “Have you ever seen a squirrel?”

  “Of course,” I sneered. “They invaded Mom’s attic. She had to put a cage up there to catch the family and move them.”

  “I’m surprised she didn’t raise them,” he chuckled.

  “She had this small house in the middle of the city, even though Dad offered to buy her a larger one. There was never room for pets,” I shrugged.

  “Your dad didn’t have any?”

  I shook my head, “Elena didn’t want the smell or any damage to the furniture.”

  “You need a puppy,” Luc muttered, shaking his head.

  “I’ll keep it in mind,” I laughed. “Who doesn’t need a puppy when you’re working twelve-hour days opening a new business?”

  We continued quietly up the trail for some time until he suddenly put his hand out, stopping me. “Look,” he whispered, pointing off the trail, down into a valley. Below, a half dozen deer were feeding. He pulled me in front of him to get a better look.

  “They’re so cute,” I squeaked, knowing I’d now ruined any cool factor I might have had.

  “See, not all nature is out to get you,” he said into my ear. The breath on my neck caused me to shiver. Hopefully, he didn’t notice. “Let’s head back. We’ll go further tomorrow.”

  As I turned, I noticed he had a smug look. Handsome jerk. We walked back to the cabin. As it appeared, I said, “My legs are going to kill me tonight.”

  “In case you hadn’t noticed, the bathroom has a huge jacuzzi tub,” Luc said.

  “I had noticed,” I admitted. “In fact, I noticed it’s so big I could probably use it as a swimming pool.”

  “That’s on Marc,” Luc said. “He updated the bath a few years ago. He says he can personally guarantee it fits three with room for more.”

  “I don’t want to know how,” I frowned.

  “Preaching to the choir,” he agreed as we walked in. Thunder sounded as the door shut. “Rain is still not expected until after dark tonight.”

  “Okay,” I nodded. “I’m going to get started on making the pasta. It’ll need a bit of time to dry before I put the lasagna together.”

  “Hold up.” Luc smiled at me, “You’re making me homemade lasagna with made from scratch noodles?” I nodded at him. His smile got wider, “I haven’t had it for a long time.” He tilted his head to the side, “Thank you.”

  I shrugged, “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s a lot of work,” he argued as I walked over to the freezer, grabbed the ingredients I needed to thaw and the ones I needed right away.

  “Well, I’m eating it too,” I tried to deflect. I also tried to get the guilty feeling to go away. This was part of the plan. “I’m done painting for the day. The light’s not great because of the clouds. This gives me something to do.” I washed my hands and started.

  It was quiet for a while. When I put the dough to the side to let it sit for a bit, I looked up and saw Luc working on his laptop in the living room. I started chopping what I’d need for the sauce and heard him wander in. “You’re doing the sauce already?”

  “Are you doubting my talents?” I smiled at him. “I need to let it cool a bit before I assemble everything. Last time I tried to put a hot sauce on unbaked homemade noodles, it overcooked the noodles. Plus, what I don’t use we can put up for later. I’m assuming we’ll have pasta at least a couple more times before you take me to my dad.”

  “Fair enough.” He opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “Do you need any help?”

  “Not yet, but I might later. I learned to make a lot of sauce at once and it’s hard to pour.”

  “Just let me know.” He wandered back into the living room, turning on a soccer game with some guy screaming in Italian as I worked on my newest project.

  Eventually the sauce was made and cooling, I rolled the pasta, cut it, and had the noodles sitting on a drying rack, and I was staring out the window, watching as the sky quickly darkened because of the oncoming storm. No car in sight, so I had to wonder where he parked his mode of transportation.

  “Wondering where the car is?” Luc whispered in my ear, causing me to jump.

  “No,” I said way too quickly.

  “They dropped us off, button,” he smiled. “That way there’s no temptation for you.”

  “What if there’s an emergency?” I stared out at the driveway that seemed to disappear into the woods. How long could it be?

  “I have a phone,” he shrugged. “Plus, the guys in the woods are all trained in field medicine. We’re safe.”

  “Of course, we are,” I forced a smile while trying to change my plan. I used to run mar
athons but had done no sort of exercise since I left home six months ago. My legs already had little cramps from the walk. “I’ve got about an hour before I can do anything with the sauce, so I’m going to work on the computer you set up for me.” I walked down the hall, feeling his eyes on me the whole time. He couldn’t know what I was up to, could he?

  After waiting for the sky to darken even more, I went back to the kitchen and began assembling the ingredients into a tasty meal, finishing it, and putting it in the oven. I listened to the thunder and the rain hitting the roof. Then I grabbed the heavy pot, still full of sauce, and three bowls.

  “Hey, Luca. I can use your help now. If you’ll hold the bowl up, I’ll pour,” I held the pot.

  “Dinner smells wonderful.” He smiled as he looked at me, “Would it be better if I poured.”

  “Probably, but I’m already holding the pot, so I’ll just keep it,” I said. He shrugged and grabbed a bowl.

  I clumsily poured the first one, a bit hitting the floor, but not a lot. He walked back to the table and grabbed the second bowl. I followed, but my foot hit the sauce on the floor, and I slid, throwing the sauce as I tried to regain my footing. I looked up, realizing the sauce was all over Luca.

  I put the pot down, “I am so sorry,” I grabbed a towel and slid again. He grabbed me before I hit the ground.

  “It’s okay, Alley. It was obviously an accident,” he laughed. “I’m going to take a shower and change.”

  “Yeah, I’ll get this mess picked up,” I grimaced at him as he walked down the hall laughing. I spent five minutes mopping up the floor until I heard the shower start. I kept cleaning for another count of one twenty, then grabbed my shoes, a jacket and ran out the door into the rain.

  I excelled at accidents. I had one just like it when Elena tried to put me in a medicine pink homecoming dress. The paint I was working with went all over the dress and nothing else. There were witnesses, heck I almost fell on my face right after. No one was ever the wiser. Luca was going to be a lot wiser when he got out of the shower.

  I knew he said there were people in the woods, but I was counting on the downpour forcing them to take shelter instead of staring at the cabin. I used to love running in the rain, I was hoping I still would.