Goodbye, My Mate

Chapter 235

Leah's POV

Later, they dragged me to the monitoring room, a sterile cage of flickering screens and stale air. The video looped endlessly - Antonio's fall, a silent plunge into the dark sea, over and over like a sick ritual. I sat there, wrapped in a scratchy blanket, shivering for show, while Al Cosa perched across from me, an old vulture hunched over his prey. His eyes, sharp and unblinking, devoured the footage, and not a flicker of pain crossed that wrinkled mask. Ruthless bastard, I thought, savoring his son's last moments like a fine cigar, no tears, no cracks. Just cold, hard control.

Johnny, his slick consigliere, loomed nearby, arms crossed, voice smooth as oil.

"Mrs. Winters," he said, "I've no intention of detaining you here. But as the sole witness before Tony's fall, you've got an obligation to tell me the truth. What happened?"

I shrank into the blanket, letting my hands tremble, my breath hitch.

"He took me to the balcony," I mumbled, voice small and fractured. "He'd been drinking - kept asking why I was at the party. Then he… he saw something, started backing away. I couldn't hear him - the fireworks, the wind, it was too loud. When he slipped, I tried to grab him, but…" I choked off, burying my face in my hands, shoulders shaking with fake sobs.

Johnny flicked a glance at a grunt, who shoved a wad of tissues at me. I snatched them, blowing my nose loud and messy, a pitiful little show. "Then, why'd you show up at the party?" he pressed.

I sniffled, eyes wide and wet. "I just got to the States. Don't know anyone. Thought I'd meet some friends at parties, figure things out." My voice cracked, raw and lost.

Johnny's stare sharpened. "Your father - how's he doing?"

I blinked, feigning shock, then let my lip quiver. "He died 11 years ago," I whispered, swiping at a tear. "If he were alive, I wouldn't be here, exiled, fucked like this. He loved my mom - loved me, even if I wasn't legitimate. Always did."

"You ever met Tony before?" he asked.

"Never," I said, firm but fragile. "Tonight was the first time I met him..."

Johnny glanced at Al Cosa, who didn't twitch, still glued to that damn screen. Then Tommy erupted from the shadows, a rabid little shit, shoving past a guard to jab a finger in my face. "You!" he roared. "You killed my brother!"

He lunged, and I flinched - perfectly timed - but Johnny yanked him back. "Tommy, chill the fuck out!" he snarled, pinning the kid's arms.

Tommy thrashed, eyes wild, spitting venom. "She did it! I know it!"

Johnny shoved him toward the door. "Mrs. Winters, excuse us a sec. Lanny'll get you something outside." Then, to the sulky grunt, "Lanny, for fuck's sake, pour her some tea. That cinnamon shit your girl makes the morning after."

Lanny muttered but obeyed, and I trailed him out, blanket clutched tight. The door thudded shut, but my Lycan ears caught every word inside. Tommy's voice cracked, hysterical. "Why didn't we kill her? That bitch murdered him!"

"Calm down!" Johnny barked. "First, Tony's not dead - he's in the ICU. Second, you know who she is? Vladimir's bastard daughter, Russia's former arms king. Third, the video - she didn't touch him, even tried to save him. Use your fucking head and put things together. Fourth, we're legitimizing the business. You want investors sniffing around a dead Russian heiress at our party?"

Tommy scoffed. "Vladimir's kid? Bullshit - I've never heard of her!"

"That's the point of 'illegitimate', dipshit," Johnny shot back. "Nobody is supposed to know about her!"

"Fuck the Russians!" Tommy howled. "They want war, I'll give 'em war!"

"Shut it," Johnny snapped. "Your brother's fighting for his life - think!"

"He's my brother!" Tommy's voice broke. "How can I calm down? You don't get it - he's not your brother!"

Al Cosa's voice cut through, icy and final. "Tommy, for once, use your brain and shut the fuck up."

Tommy rounded on him, frantic. "You always side with him! I'm nothing to you! Fine - I'm done with this family!" He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls rattled.

Outside, he glared at me, venom dripping. "Your tricks might fool them, but not me. Just wait." Lanny shuffled up with the tea, and Tommy smacked it from his hands, the cup shattering on the floor, hot liquid splattering my boots. I flinched, trembling like a kicked pup, and he stalked off.

Johnny swung the door open, saw the mess, and stepped in front of me, a shield. "Mrs. Winters, come in," he said, guiding me back with a glare at Tommy's retreating back.

Al Cosa turned, his vulture eyes boring into me. "Mrs. Winters," he rasped, "I'm a very superstitious man. You know, people in our trade come and go. The only reason I last this long in the field is that I don't buy coincidences. You show up in the US, crash my son's party, and he falls off a balcony on the same day. It's just too neat."

I wrung my hands, voice shaky. "Mr. Cosa, I'm so sorry - I'd never hurt him. I just bought a place in Miami, wanted to settle down. I came to the party to network, maybe work with your family. My dad left me money, connections. I know you're after the Panama Canal deal - my father's old man runs it. I can help. I know it's shit timing, but I want to prove I'm on your side."

His eyes glinted, sharp with interest. He's a businessman. And a businessman sniffs out fortunes with the same primal instinct as a shark scenting blood in the water miles away.

"Thanks for clearing that up," he said, slow and deliberate. "The video's too noisy - wind, fireworks. Our techs'll clean it up. They're the best. For now, no reason to keep you. After all, we're not the Miami PD. You're free to go."

I stood, quick and grateful. "If you need me, call anytime."

"Don't worry," he said, a faint smirk tugging his lips. "We know where you live. Johnny, let Lanny drive her."

"Thank you, Mr. Cosa, but my driver's outside in the car, waiting for me," I cut in.

He nodded, dismissive, and I headed for the door. Paused. "Mr. Cosa, I'm so sorry about this."

He didn't answer, didn't look back. Johnny shut the door in front of me apologetically.

-

In the car, Liam's hands shook on the wheel, his voice tight. "You okay?"

I peeled off my mask, stretching my legs across the seat. "Drive," I said, cool as ice. "It's nothing. Just a little misunderstanding."

He swallowed hard, engine humming as we pulled away. "Boss, I know you're big-time, but the Cosas - they're fucking monsters. East Coast's theirs, and they don't play nice."

I slid a hand to his shoulder, firm, steady. "Liam, I'm here. You're safe now with me. Oh, and since I need a ride whenever, you have to move in with me. Your stuff's already in my place."

He choked on air. "Live with you?"

"It's a big house. Got plenty of space," I said, smirking. "My assistant's there, too."

"Assistant?" he echoed with a dry voice.

"More like the guy who scrubs the shark tank for me," I quipped. "A very upbeating guy with a even larger-than-life personality."

"Shark?!" he looked wary.

"Well, it has lasers and everything. You'll see."

The car rolled into the night, and I let a slow, wolfish grin spread across my face. The game was mine, and every piece was locking tight.