Part 2 (1/2)

A black sedan pulled down the street and parked behind Gabeas bike.

Dante smiled as Roman exited the car, dressed in jeans and a polo s.h.i.+rt.

Roman had changed, had filled out. He was muscled, his light blond hair darker now and cropped short.

Dante met him halfway, holding his hand out to shake Romanas. Roman pulled him into a hug.

aI canat believe youare here, man. Where the h.e.l.l have you been?a aHere and there.a Roman stepped back. aItas been too long. You just disappeared afteraa He s.h.i.+fted his gaze to the alley. aAfter that night.a aI know. I needed to get away. Iam sorry.a Roman nodded. aI understand. It was rough on everybody.a Dante wanted to ask about Anna, but now wasnat the time. aYou ready to check this out?a aYou really think George came here?a Dante shrugged and shoved his fingers into the pockets of his cargo pants. aThatas where I tracked his cell.a aHow the h.e.l.l could you track his cell?a aI have ways.a Roman slanted a curious look his way. aI want to hear about that.a aMe, too,a Gabe said. aBut letas get this over with first.a Dante drew in a breath and nodded.

They rounded the corner into the alley, and it was like slamming back in time.

Head been in the midst of war, been shot at, had ducked for cover as the world exploded around him. Head been wounded in the line of duty and had spent hours, minutes, seconds wondering if head just drawn his last breath.

But head never been through anything as awful as that night twelve years ago, when head seen Anna lying there covered in blood.

Head never wanted to come back here again. Ever.

aYou okay, Dante?a He gave Roman a curt nod. aI hate this place.a aMe, too.a aDitto,a Gabe added. aLetas hurry up and get out of here. This place creeps me out.a The Dumpster loomed like a monster in the dark, still positioned in its same spot in the center of the long alley. Now a streetlight s.h.i.+ned over it like a monument to that night, forever marking the spot where they killed someone.

aWhy here?a Roman asked.

aI donat know. This is where his phone tracked to.a aThat makes no sense. George doesnat even know about that night.a Gabe paused, looked at Dante. aDoes he?a aI didnat tell him.a Dante looked at Roman.

aI didnat, either.a They started moving again.

aJeff wouldnat have said anything, either,a Roman added.

aWhich means George would have no reason to come here,a Dante said. aIf anyone had told George, Ellen would find out. Who would want her to know?a aNone of us,a Roman said.

The closer they drew to the Dumpster, the tighter Danteas throat became.

When he saw the shoe, he stopped.

No.

aWhat?a Roman asked, then followed the direction of Danteas gaze. aOh, s.h.i.+t.a They ran the rest of the way, Dante pus.h.i.+ng past the Dumpster to land on his knees on the wet asphalt. His hope that it was an old drunk sleeping it off was obliterated by the sight of the blood, the torn s.h.i.+rt and the heart-shaped carving on Georgeas chest.

Same as Annaas.

Dante felt for a pulse, but George was already cold. There was nothing. He was dead. He lifted his gaze to Gabe and Roman and shook his head.

aJesus Christ,a Gabe whispered as he looked down at Georgeas body.

aI think I might be sick,a Roman said, crouching down next to Dante. aThis is just likea” What the f.u.c.k, Dante?a Dante couldnat speak yet, could only stare at the beaten body of his foster fathera”his father. The tough but loving man who had been a rock in his life, who had given him a home, had shown him that discipline didnat mean beatings, that love was unconditional, that no matter how many times head screwed up, head still be loved.

George was dead, killed the same way he and his brothers had killed that guy in the alley that night. And there was a heart carved into Georgeas chest the same as Anna.

What the h.e.l.l did it mean?

His head swam with questions. He turned to Roman, who had pulled his radio to call it in.

Dante took another look at George, then pushed off his knees and stood, looking around the alley, searching for somethingaanything that would give him a clue as to why the f.u.c.k this had happened.

aWho did this?a Gabe asked, looking as lost as Dante felt.

aI donat know. Ellen said he went out earlier, she thought for a short drive. She tried to call him when he didnat come back, but she didnat get an answer.a Roman had already gone to his car and come back with his evidence kit. Head gloved up and leaned over Georgeas body, swallowing hard as he checked Georgeas pockets.

aYeah, hereas his phone.a He tucked the phone in an evidence bag and slid his fingers into the other pocket of Georgeas jeans, paused and pulled out a clear plastic bag filled with white powder.

aWhat the f.u.c.k is that?a Dante asked aMy guess is cocaine,a Gabe said. aAbout an ounce.a aAnd you know this howa?a Dante asked.

aBecause he works for Paolo Bertucci,a Roman said.

aThe mob-guy Bertucci? That familyas still around?a Gabe didnat say anything, just turned his attention to the bag. aWhatas George doing with c.o.ke in his pocket?a aGood question,a Roman said.

The scream of police sirens interrupted any further discussion. Roman bagged the c.o.ke as the uniforms arrived. Dante wished they could hide the drugs, but he knew they couldnat.

George, with c.o.ke? Had he come here to do a deal? It made no sense.

Black-and-whites blocked off both entrances to the alley. In short order, yellow police tape roped off the alley, and crime scene techs began working the area. The medical examiner had arrived and was looking at the body.

And Dante still hadnat called Ellen. He wouldnat call her. Head have to do this in person. Did Ellen know about the drugs?

G.o.d, right before the coupleas anniversary. What was he going to say to her?

Another unmarked car pulled up at one end of the alley in front of the tape. Another detective, he imagined. Head let Roman handle him.

Dante folded his arms and waited while the car door opened. The lights were s.h.i.+ning on them, so he couldnat see the detective coming at them until hea”no, make that shea”moved in front of the lights.

He caught the flash of badge clipped to her belt, which was attached to a very nice set of hips, the swing of a dark ponytail and the piece attached to her holster. His gaze lifted to rounded b.r.e.a.s.t.s in a polo s.h.i.+rt, and some very wide, very shocked amber eyes.

No f.u.c.king way.

Anna.

Two.

Anna Pallinoas steps faltered when she entered the alley.

First, because she was in this G.o.dforsaken alley again, a place she hadnat set foot in since that night twelve years ago. Now she was back again, and someone was dead in the alley. Again.

Second, Dante Renaldi was back.

Those were enough to justify the stutter in her step.

Roman greeted her.