Cold Brew and Bullets (Part 1 of the Syndicate Series)

Chapter 4- The Blind Date

Her grin was genuine this time, not just a facade for the customers. "That sounds about right."

I waited to the side for the coffee, glancing back at my phone to look at emails and texts. My eyes occasionally flicked up to follow the girl's movements around the room, first as she checked out a couple more people, then as she made her way to an older man sitting alone in a booth. I couldn't quite understand their exchange of words, but she seemed to help him with his crossword, and based on his astounded expression, it was an extremely difficult question. She must be smart or at least somewhat intelligent, I noted, but the twinkle in her eye and humble smile on her face told me that she probably didn't flaunt it very much.

I went back to my phone, reminding Leonardo that he needed to finish filling out a stack of forms on my desk and make sure that Sebatian and his medical bills were taken care of. There was so much going on lately that I knew there would be a pile of work for me when I got home, no matter how long this 'date' lasted. Like I had told Leonardo, finding a girlfriend was the last thing on my mind or my priority list.

Her conversation with her manager caught my attention as well- I didn't necessarily wish to eavesdrop, but I was very curious and hey weren't difficult to overhear. Based on his concern for whatever had happened yesterday, as well as his insisting that she stay with him for a few days, made him think that they had a much closer and more personal relationship than just a manager and his employee. My first thought was that they might be related, but they didn't look anything remotely similar and based on her boss's skin tone, the only likely relation could be a marriage in the family.

His features were sharp but worn, like he had spent too many years frowning and working late nights, and hers were rounded, what would have looked innocent and endearing on any other girl, but her eyes and reserved expression made her look too cautious and experienced to trust anyone. She was beautiful, though, just not in the traditional sense of a runway model. She seemed calculating, and every word was carefully chosen as she spoke with her boss.

I tore my gaze away one more time as he left and she turned to the kitchen. I could barely hear her talking to the other girls in the back and scolding them, but I also caught the tail end of their conversation where she got them to apologize and reconcile with each other. She was obviously in charge in some way and held authority. I glanced at her name tag and caught the name 'Eliana' as she turned to me, apologizing for the wait.

I normally wouldn't have said anything at all, when people spoke to me in public the most they usually received was just a stoic nod. She didn't shrink away from my lack of response, which made me almost think that she deserved one. This Eliana girl had a spine, I had to admire that.

"No problem."

My eyes continued to flick to her as she glanced over a pile of receipts. Her demeanor was hard and her jaw clenched when there weren't customers there to observe her. I had gotten good at gauging people, that was a large part of the job. And this girl was much more hardened and tough than most people might assume from her skirt, tights, and apron.

She called out my order and wished me a nice day, but my mind wasn't totally focused in that moment. I was distracted again by the thought that I was now on my way to a morning date in the park with someone I didn't even know if I could make small talk with. I crossed the street to get to the park and looked around for Lucia. Leonardo had shown me a picture before, and I realized that I had in fact met her once or twice around the house. She was the sister of one of my newer men, a man who had come from Italy a few years prior.

Her hair had been dyed blonde since then, I noted as I saw her on a bench across the grass. It didn't look bad on her, but it was the absolute polar opposite of Eliana in her coffee shop. As I neared her, she glanced up from her phone and stood up, nervously straightening her skirt. She nodded, "Good morning, Mr. Moretti."