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“No, Madisen, you don’t. I’m a big boy. The decisions I’ve made in my life weren’t without spending time reflecting on the shit I’d put myself in the middle of. But that’s my choice, my life. What happened to you wasn’t by choice but deadly circumstances. You’re right in that Mr. Torino will go to every length possible to find you, including through the people you care about. Do you know who he killed?”
“His name is Jack something. He was a regular, a real asshole too. I’m sorry. The people I worked for made it very clear that I shouldn’t remember their faces, let alone their names. Do you understand?” Madisen glanced into her glass, spinning the dense crystal in aimless circles.
“Yeah, as you said. I understand better than most.” I took another swig of whiskey, holding the liquor in my mouth. I wasn’t interested in a war on the streets of Los Angeles, but if that’s what it took to keep her safe, then so be it.
“What’s going to happen to me? They’ll kill me, right? I should be terrified.”
She already knew the answer but was simply looking for affirmation. I wasn’t the kind of man to sugarcoat anything. “Yes, Madisen. They will try, especially if the man you witnessed being killed is someone of importance. Is there anything else you’re not telling me?”
When she lifted her head, looking at me with her huge doe eyes, my balls tightened. “No, Viper. There’s nothing else. I saw something I shouldn’t have and because of that, I’m going to die.”
“You’re not going to die. I want you to just stay there and try to relax. I need to make a phone call. Can you do that?”
“Please don’t call Mike. Not yet anyway. Promise me.”
“I can make that promise because when I return, you’re going to call him.”
The way she stared at me defiantly was something I wouldn’t tolerate, but at this point, I had to give her a slight break. Thank God she’d had the forethought of getting out of Vegas immediately or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
I only hoped it would last. I stood over her, needing to be certain she completely understood what we were dealing with.
“Make no mistake, Madisen. Your instincts to run were correct but you shouldn’t have waited so long to come to me. That bought them time to find you.”
“Oh, God. I think they’re already here.”
Shit. This was the last thing I needed.
The reason for the disguise and her ridiculous behavior. “Did they follow you?”
“No. I was careful. But I wouldn’t put anything past them.”
The air in the room was thick with tension. I allowed my mind to return to tactical mode, trying to plan the events of the next few hours. At least it would take some time for Torino to get to me. If he managed to make the connection at all.
“What did you drive?”
“A truck. An older red Ford. Don’t worry. I parked it down the street so your neighbors didn’t spout rumors hurting your illustrious reputation.”
The girl had a mafia kingpin after her and she was worried about my reputation? “Give me your keys.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.” When she looked at me incredulously, it was impossible not to be annoyed with her. Everything was going to be a push-pull. “The last thing we need to do is to have your big red truck sitting in the street as an invitation. I’m parking it in my garage.”
I sensed she was running on empty, which I couldn’t blame her for. While I didn’t know her very well, I sensed she wasn’t used to anyone helping her. Both sad and admirable at the same time. She finally slipped her hand into her jeans pocket, pulling out a ring with two keys only. “Take care of her. She’s just about all I have left.”
“Her?”
“Baby. That’s what I named her. She’s been my rock, something I could rely on. I felt like she needed a name. You know?”
No, I didn’t know. Vehicles were nothing more than something to take me where I need to go. Hell, I owned five of them plus a Harley, something I’d taken for granted. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your baby.”
Madisen offered a slight smile as she brushed hair from her eyes. All of a sudden, she appeared far too vulnerable, invoking a deep need to wrap my arms around her, ensuring everything was going to be just fine.
Only at this point, I couldn’t make a single promise.
“Just sit tight. I’ll be back in a few minutes. We’ll sort it out.” I moved toward to the door and stopped, still trying to think of the right words to use with her. “You might not like me very much, Madisen, but I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Her sigh was ragged, pulling at my heartstrings, which couldn’t happen under any circumstances. In order to keep her alive, I had to remain impassive, no feelings whatsoever. As far as I was concerned, I’d just snagged myself a new client.
