Ana sighed and shook her head then sighed again. “Tom will gut me. He would gather his men from his security company and declare war on Fred. I guess once a man gets a taste of battle, he can’t break free from the combat.” She rubbed her forehead. “And he’s stingy with his money. God forbid I’d buy a thing he didn’t approve of, yet he wants me to be pretty for him. Though he said he’d pay for my nursing school.”
“See, he wants to invest in you. Why don’t you take him up on his offer? Schooling is important. You’ll set a great example for Nicky.” Dario pulled in front of Ana’s apartment building. “You can give me my jacket and shirt later.”
“Thankfully my sister’s working. If she sees me coming home wearing no clothes, she’d never stop bitching. Ah, she’ll bitch regardless, there’s nothing I can do right in her mind. My mom’s hopefully playing cards at her friend’s house. I can sneak in and pack things for Nicky.” Ana turned and took her son’s hand. “I’m so sorry, baby. I was selfish and only thought of me. I should’ve listened to Dario when he warned me about Fred. Come now, your dad will be here soon.”
“Come with us, Mom.” The pleading in Nicky’s voice pulled at Dario’s heartstrings. Damn these broken families where children suffered and parents used them against one another. He and his brother grew up poor, but compared to today’s family’s values, they had riches of the loving parents all the time.
“I don’t know, love. Your dad can be…” she lowered her gaze.
“He promised he wouldn’t get mad at you anymore.” Nicky gave her an awkward hug, wrapping his arms around the backrest of the seat.
Ana made an eye contact with Nicky. “He made such a promise before and the last time he got mad, he scared me.”
Nicky tapped his mother’s shoulder. “He’s sorry, and he’s learning to be cool.”
Dario leaned in his seat. “Things will work out if you give them a chance.”
Ana swallowed. “I don’t know, Dario, I said some pretty awful things and he got mad like never before.”
“Maybe you both needed time apart to cool your heads off. You learn to curb your tongue, and he’ll put a lid on his temper.” Dario frowned at the thought of Nicky witnessing the fights between his parents.
“Thank you, Dario. I needed to hear that.” She turned to the window and pointed at the weather-beaten door of her building. “Let’s go, Nicky.”
Ana stepped out of the car, her son squeezed through from the back seat. She leaned in and smiled. “Tom may help in your battle with Fred.”
“Thanks, Ana, I may hold you up on the offer. Fred may be armed. Did you see if they handled any weapons?”
“I didn’t, but be careful.” She closed the door and hurried toward the building, wrapping her arm around Nicky’s shoulders and pulling him closer.
Dario shifted gears and reversed from the parking spot. The neighborhood hadn’t changed one bit. New graffiti covered the dumpster and the facades of the buildings surrounding the parking area.
No sooner than he turned onto the main road, his cell phone buzzed. Unknown caller displayed on the screen. He pressed the talk button and slowed down to pull safely onto the side. “Dario Vitez.”
“Yes, Mr. Vitez.” The deep man’s tone filled Dario’s ear. “It’s the fire marshal. The investigation into the fire incident has been concluded. I’ll be sending you an official report, but wanted to tell you that the blaze started inside the dishwasher.”
Damnation, he feared as much but other than the staff, who else would know of this hazard? “My manager confirmed the machine was emptied and turned off, he ensured that everything was off before he left for the night.”
“That is why this fire is suspicious. There was nothing in the dishwasher but a butter knife stuck to the bottom preventing the appliance to take in the water. So the motor overheated and burned out. The greasy rug hanging off the handle caught the blaze.” The fire marshal coughed. “I will keep in touch. Have a good day.”
Dario pressed the end talk button and hugged the steering wheel, easing onto the road. His harping at the staff had proven effective. The boy working the dish pit always checked the bottom of the dishwasher for any cutlery before running the appliance. Would the insurance company see the incident as negligence or foul play?
Dario pulled in front of the barrier gate of the underground parking of his condo building. Before he could lower the window and flash his access card at the barcode reader, he turned in the direction of screeching tires and engine revving. In the round, corner mirror, he spotted a dark SUV. The vehicle bolting for the road bore a striking resemblance to the one he’d parked next to the day before. Could Fred’s dogs have followed him? He hadn’t paid too much attention to the cars around him.
The parking arm lifted and he continued down the slope, then eased his car into his designated spot. Cold air hit his bare torso as he got out of his car. When he’d left his place, he’d never anticipated he’d be handing half of his outfit to Ana and her son. Only a snake like Fred could strip a woman and her child of their clothes because he’d paid for them. Dario pressed the lock button on the pendant and a click indicated his car was secured. He took the side exit for the condo lobby.
Dressed in her white gi, Ella stormed toward the elevator. Her arms folded over her chest, a deep crease marred her petite face, her chin shook and she blinked fast.
Irena trailed behind her. “Ella, honey, please be reasonable.”
“What’s going on?” Dario stepped between mother and daughter. Not the best place to be, but someone should mediate the situation.
“Mom promised we’d go out tonight and see the city, then she changed her mind.” Ella’s deep voice quivered and she swiped at a tear running down her cheek.
“I like to see the city as much as you.” Irena attempted to hug her daughter, but Ella pulled back. “Honey, the car I saw through the binoculars circled the building for hours.”
Dario’s chest squeezed. “Was it a big, black SUV with German plates?”
Irena scowled at his torso. “Yes, did you see it too?
And why are you half naked?”
“Long story. Let’s go to my place and I’ll tell you everything.” He pressed the elevator button. At least Ella seemed to calm down. “Don’t be mad at Mom. We must be extra careful. I know you’re dying to explore the city, but there’d be days for that.”