Her hair is white, skin gnarled and the knee length dress she wears with the little lace collar gives her a sweet librarian look;
When she turns around, however, and I meet her pale green eyes I take a deeper look inside them and see something I recognize.
Darkness.
I see darkness from the soulless, dead eyes that stare back at me and I know she’s not really what she seems to be.
My father always told me it takes one to know one. as sure as I stare back at this woman, I feel like her soul is as dark as mine and the vibe I sensed is her.
“Greetings Pakhan,” she says. “And you Dominic D’Agostino.”
Her voice is refined and astute. I would almost expect it to belong to someone like a lawyer or a judge.
“Good day,” Dominic answers.
“Hello,” I state when she glares at me.
The glare turns into a smile that makes her wrinkles more pronounced. The smile is not one of humor or greeting. It feels evil.
She looks back to the plant and points to it. “Plants are like children. They need love and nurturing. It makes them grow and you get the best of the bunch.”
“Is that so?” I say, keeping my gaze trained on her.
“Yes it is Pakhan.” She nods and gives me her undivided attention. “You know, I knew you would bring him and not the boss.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I did. You two are very similar.”
That makes me think she knows more about us than I’d like.
“Is there a reason you requested I bring a D’Agostino with me?”
“Maybe I feel like I need an advocate who’ll understand me. Someone who will make me feel safe as I answer the questions you have for me. I want to be able to stand by the decisions I’ve made in the past. We Italians do things differently than Russians.” She looks at Dominic as she speaks. I’m eager now to hear what she has to say.
“I didn’t really think it was that different.”
“Oh believe me it is.” She chuckles and moves to sit in the large wicker chairs. “Please sit. Davide you may leave us.”
Davide looks undoubtedly worried to leave her.
The only thing I wanted to ask her about was the money, but maybe this woman might know more than I thought.
When Davide leaves, Dominic and I sit next to each other in the sofa opposite her.
“You boys look like your fathers.It’s amazing, this could be forty or so years ago and I could be looking at both of them.”
“Ms. Falcione, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to get on with the questions I have.This isn’t a social visit.” I don’t have time for shit and riddles.
She fucking knows I didn’t come here for a walk down memory lane. I’m aware I look like my father and Dominic looks like his.I also think, given the way our fathers died, it’s inappropriate to talk about them if she knows Jude is part of the Order.
“Of course.” She smiles, lifting her chin.“I’m sure you must know I’m not going to answer any questions though without getting something in return from you.”
I incline my head and contemplate the odd request.I wouldn’t have thought there was anything I could give her.I never came here under those grounds.
“That really depends on how much your words are worth.”
“I think they will be worth quite a lot to you, Aiden Romanov.Let’s just say I might be able to answer one or two questions about the past and shed some light on what you seek.”