Thomas

I didn’t get anywhere with the Deluca’s. They think that Hannah’s a liability that needs to be handled. I make them promise that she won’t be touched. Hannah is my responsibility and if she needs to be handled I’ll be the one that does it.

Oliver offers to give me a ride back to the condo and since I have no better option I accept. It starts off as a quiet ride until Oliver lowers the radio and looks over at me.

“You know were doing this because we look out for each other, don’t you?” he asks, and I nod

“I trust her Oliver.”

“She’s a beautiful woman Thomas. She has that long dark hair, blue eyes and lush ass. I get it… but we aren’t in the position to let that shit get to us. She was raised on these streets Thomas, she isn’t as innocent as she looks.”

“Do you know something that I don’t Oliver?”

“Hannah Cofe works at a diner, lives above a bar, doesn’t have a car or a cell phone in her name, but has $500 thousand dollars sitting in a bank account with her name.” he advises, and I tense

I rub my temples wondering where the hell Hannah got this kind of money from

Oliver turns back on the radio and we both sit in silence until we reach the condo. He reminds me to be careful and keep an eye on Hannah. When I push the door open to the condo, I call out to Hannah and there is no answer. I check both bedrooms and she’s gone. I can’t even call her because she doesn’t have a cell phone. Where the hell is she?

It’s morning and Hannah didn’t come back. Were they right about her? I am making coffee when there is pounding at the door. I glance at the clock and roll my eyes wondering what the hell Oliver is doing back here so early. When I unlock the door, it’s shoved open and I am thrown against the wall.

“Thomas Esposito, you are under arrest for the murder of Stan Irwin and Harry Cofe.” I can hear the fucking happiness in his voice. This motherfucker has been after me for years. He’ll probably get wet on the ride to the station from the thought of taking me in.

We arrive at the station and I am shoved into an interrogation room and left for almost thirty minutes. They like to make you wait, I guess they think you’ll talk if they make you sweat for a while. The joke will be on them because I am not a virgin when it comes to this shit. I am pissed off and angry and they won’t be getting shit from me. I trusted Hannah and it’s obvious that she fucked me over.

Detective Howard finally waltzes in with a smile on his face.

“I am going to enjoy saying this to you Esposito. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law, you have the right to the presence of an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you prior to questioning. Do you understand your rights Mr. Esposito?”

I roll my eyes and smile at him. I won’t let him get to me. I was weak with Hannah and I won’t make that mistake twice. I lean toward him and ask for a phone, so I can call my attorney. The Deluca’s have the best attorney’s in Chicago at their disposal. I will be out of here in thirty minutes and that’s only if there is traffic. It there isn’t traffic, Howards’ ass won’t even have time to adjust to these hard ass chairs.

“I think it will be better for you if you just talk Esposito.” Howard advises as he taps his finger on the manila folder he came in with. I glance at the folder and back up to him.

“Do you know who paid me a visit last night?” he asks, and my heart starts to race as I narrow my eyes on him

“the beautiful and very convincing Hannah Cofe. She had plenty to say and none of it was very flattering to you.” Howard recalls, and I bite my tongue in anger

“she sat in that very seat and said that you killed her favorite boss and her adorning father. What do you have to say to that?” he teases

I stare at the wall behind him, but never say a word.

“Look in the folder Esposito.” He suggests as he slides the folder toward me

When I glance in the folder I look up to see Howard staring at me. I shake my head, close the folder and push it back towards him

“My lawyer.” I yell, and he sighs and grabs the folder.

“Esposito… sometimes we have to pick our battles. She sold you out, just remember that.” Howard reminds me as he leaves the interrogation room and within one hour my lawyer arrives.

The minute I leave the station I demand to be taken directly to Deluca’s. I stomp upstairs to the office and push open the door so hard it slams into the wall.

“Where is Frank?” I ask Alex whose eyes widen as I stomp over to him

“Hello to you too, what’s stuck up your ass?” Alex chuckles obviously not noticing I am in no mood for his bullshit right now

“Where is Frank?” I ask this time, but slower so he knows I am in no mood for him

“He’s not in today. What did you need?” Alex asks, and I run my hand through my beard and shake my head looking towards the ceiling

“I’ll talk to Oliver.” I answer, and I turn to leave the office

“Wait… I’m right here Thomas. Will you just talk to me? We used to talk all the time.” Alex reminds me and he’s right. We did talk all the time and we got in a shit load of trouble all the time too. I need to talk to someone who’s first instinct isn’t to kill. It’s a little hard for me to say that since my first instinct was to kill too, until Hannah. I guess if I would have stuck to my first instinct I wouldn’t be in this shit mess that I am in.

“Thomas… talk...” Alex says as he pushes his paperwork to the side and leans back in his leather recycling office desk chair. There was a time when Alex was considered the boss. Lucky for all of us his father didn’t trust him enough to run things after his death and he asked Frank to take over the family business. I shudder when I think of the shit Alex has done just because he was the boss. I suppose he has settled down since he and Adele got married and she spit out his kid.

“Hannah set me up.” I answer, and Alex sighs and then starts to laugh.

“Didn’t we already tell you this? What happened to bring you to this conclusion?” Alex asks as he folds his hands in front of him and I glance at his newly tattooed knuckles. It takes a man in love to tattoo his wife’s name across each knuckle.

“I was arrested, but Detective Howard doesn’t want me…he wants Hannah.” I advise, and Alex’s eyes lift in confusion

“What do you mean he wants Hannah? Why would he want her?”

“Let’s just say she’s not as innocent as she looks.” I whisper and his shakes his head