Shielding You ("The Shadows" Series: Book II)

9.

'So what brings you here? I wish we could've met in a more...what do you say...ah...calmer settings.' Eduardo followed his statement with a chuckle, leading his men to chuckle alongside him. Matteo took a big gulp of his drink, trying not to react to the fact that he had called the three of them "kids". On the other hand, Angelo looked around, trying to distract himself from the guards that were stationed around Mancini, and thus, around them. Eduardo always had his guards around him even if he was in private places. Something about medical emergency related to him.

On the contrary, he looked dandy.

And the guards looked more like warriors than doctors or nurses.

'Just a day out of the office.' Lorenzo replied briefly, making Eduardo laugh, as if tickled by a joke.

What's there to laugh? Lorenzo couldn't help thinking. Nothing he had said sounded funny to him but he knew how fake this man was.

When the official had told them about Eduardo Mancini, the three had gotten all the information they could get their hands on to assemble a thick and heavy file. His brutality in the underworld was till now, unmatched. Even the three had felt uneasy because of some of his methods of torture that they had come across.

He was an animal. Through and Through.

But they had to be civil with him. Because if they were guessing right, Eduardo had no idea about them snooping in his business behind his back, or if he had, he definitely had no proof that the three were harming his business.

Another waiter arrived at their table, took Eduardo's order and ran back to the counter.

'I like how these people fear me. I don't even have to do anything, much less look at them, and they cower away as if I'll set them on fire or something!!' His laugh was irritating Matteo and it was becoming visible to Angelo and Lorenzo. So Angelo changed the subject.

'What are you doing here? Never thought of you as a "clubbing" person.' Eduardo nodded at Angelo. The drink was served and Eduardo took a sip before replying.

'Me neither...but a few mishappenings in my business completely changed me as a person...no?' He looked jolly but couldn't deceive the three pairs of sharp eyes observing him keenly.

He's here for a reason...the three thought simultaneously.

And they weren't kept waiting long for the reason.

'One of my men passed away...tragically if I say so myself...he was murdered in his own house. Could you believe that?! It has been bugging me for quite some time.' Eduardo may be a cold blooded murderer but he was shit at keeping a facade.

He was livid with this news. He wasn't worried about his man, he was mad because maybe he hadn't caught the culprit.

'Have you heard about Amadeo? He was murdered.' Eduardo had indirectly thrown his bait and Lorenzo was ready to play.

'We have. Amadeo was a big name in the business world. He had chains of clubs under his name, although we hadn't been to any of his places because of the rumours about illegal stuff surrounding him.' Lorenzo said making Angelo nod. Matteo glanced at him with his glass near his lips, ready to take another gulp to keep himself busy.

Lorenzo knew that if he had said otherwise, Eduardo would've been more suspicious. His bet was that Eduardo was suspicious of them killing Amadeo. But he had already been dead before they could get their hands on that bastard.

Eduardo nodded and finished his drink.

'He was. His whole property will go to his remaining family members residing in California. His wife was devastated. She had become a widow at such a tender age. I pitied her. May her soul rest in peace.' His gleaming eyes were far from pity.