10

It had been three months and a few weeks since Kadie fled. The Cops took turns in their investigation of Dez’s death and soon enough, the case was declared ‘an accidental death’ and closed afterwards. Due to lack of evidence and Dez’s reputation as a troublemaker in the neighborhood, the authorities didn't pursue the matter further.

Tess was at the club preparing herself for the evening when Sanda walked up to her with a somber expression. She stopped immediately and focused her attention on him.

“What’s the problem?” Tess asked as she sipped away from her water bottle.

“There’s a guy outside looking for Kadie. Joey told me he has seen him around a couple of times waiting by his very sleek car. I peeped an eye out and I think I know who he is.” Tess looked at him seriously and wondered who that could be.

“Who could it be?” She hoped they were not Dez’s crazy family.

He was the one who approached me that night when the Italianos came.” Sanda said. “Maybe he is here for some more sugar, it’s rather unfortunate that Kadie is no longer here.” Sanda always found a way to add sarcasm and lighten the mood every time, they (Sanda and Tess ) were alike in that regard.

“Well, I should go and see him and let him know Kadie is not here.” Tess said and headed out immediately.

“Be careful.” Sanda shouted as Tess walked away.

Pedro, impeccably dressed in his black tuxedo, reclined comfortably against the sleek, black Ferrari Purosangue waiting patiently for someone to emerge from the club's doorway.

Despite his regular visits for the past few weeks, there was still no sign of her (Kadie). Returning to Italy without her was not even a considerable option and he was determined to find her before leaving.

Things weren’t really falling into place at home and Kadie was the only thing that could keep Vincenzo sane so he was determined to return with her.

He stood there with his arms crossed perfectly accentuating the definition of his muscles as he watched (Tess) approach.

Tess squinted her eyes the moment she got closer and took a better look at him, she had seen him at the club that night the Italian big guns came. Immediately, she knew why he was here.

“My name is Tess and I hear you have been looking for Kadie.” She said after taking in all the glamor and charm that stood in front of her.

“Where is she?” Pedro asked in a serious but rather condescending tone causing Tess to smirk.

“You can at least start by telling your name?”

“I am not here to run an introduction, where is your friend?” Pedro was becoming impatient with Tess and the tantrums she was about to throw.

“Why are you looking for her?” She put on the same face as Pedro and asked.

“My boss wants her.” Pedro answered when he saw that Tess was not willing to share anything. “I have been at her house several times, I have asked the neighbors and no one seems to know where she is. So tell me now.”

“I am sorry, I don’t know where she is either. She has been away for a long time.” Tess sternly answered.

”You’re lying to me…I know you know where she is so better start talking, I do not have the patience to stand here all day.” Pedro demanded in a firm tone. He was used to getting things done his way and Tess’ non-compliance made him agitated.

“Well then, you should leave because I can’t help you.” Tess retorted, her dismissive snort fueling Pedro's frustration.

Pedro groaned in frustration. He was going to return to Italy yet again without her. Vincenzo trusted him to return with her but it seemed he was going to fail again. He returned to Italy the next day but not without keeping some eyes and ears to the ground.

The moment Tess returned to the club, she grabbed her stuff and hurried off. Sanda tried to rush to her but she had already ran. Pedro had left after speaking with her and finding nothing but the men he had stationed outside to watch Tess were still there so the moment she drove out, they followed behind her.

She drove off to the payphone and ran over to make a call. She anxiously dialed the number and waited for a response while her eyes searched through the streets in fear.

“Joe! Finally.” She greeted in relief.

“What’s the matter? Your friend is okay.” The man said through the phone.

“I am calling precisely because of her. I need her to leave there now, there are some people her looking for her and I am afraid they might do something bad to her. Please Joe, let her leave immediately.” Tess said panting. The fear in her voice was real, if only she knew Pedro and his boss meant well for Kadie but at that point, she couldn’t risk anyone finding out where her friend was. She dropped the phone and looked around again.

The two men hurried over to the payphone and tried to pull out the last contact but unfortunately, that information was not one they could retrieve at the moment so they just left.

Upon arriving in Italy, Pedro’s first stop was the Drug House. Vincenzo had told him to meet him up. A new shipment had arrived from Myanmar and they were in the process of unloading the cargo. The drug house was cleverly concealed beneath the large sprawling complex of the legit business everybody assumed the Santinos ran. Despite its long existence, the Drug House had remained undetected, hidden from prying eyes.

Antonio strode into the scene, where the men were busy unloading goods from the truck into the stores. A Sobranie Black Premium cigarette dangled from his lips, adding to his air of confidence. His entourage trailed behind him, resembling a group of obedient followers. To Vincenzo, they seemed like mindless drones, lacking direction or purpose, much like lost puppies or headless chickens blindly following their leader.

“On whose orders did this work begin?” He yelled at the men who immediately stopped working due to fear.

“On mine.” Vincenzo responded from behind the truck. “Weren’t you too busy with your whores to remember we had a job to do?”

“Oh Brother! I didn’t see you there, I never see you anyway. You shouldn’t be giving out orders when I, the owner of this conglomerate is here, I call the shots, I say what moves out of the truck and what stays in.” Antonio asserted, his tone dripping with authority. The men who were working exchanged uneasy glances sensing the tension between the two.

“But Antonio, unboxing goods that have been sent over is a regular thing, we did it even when Santino was alive and here.” One of the men said.

“Moreso, we need to follow up the shipment immediately when they come, the Myanmar's are playing fast ones on us and it is bad for business.” Another one added.

“Another word from you and I promise you will not have a tongue in the next minute. Listen to me all of you, I own this place now, I am your only boss so you will take orders from me and not anyone else.” He said and looked over at Vincenzo who was already brooding with anger.

“We should leave before he disrespects you any further before these guys.” Pedro said behind him. With the kind of news he had returned with, he didn’t want Vincenzo to be in a terrible mood before he’d break the sad news.

“What do you mean by she is nowhere to be found?” He slammed the magazine he held on to the glass table with his anger boiling over.