AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I paced the empty gym, threw swings at the various punching bags hanging around the perimeter, but instead of working off this frustration, my muscles grew more rigid with each second that ticked by. She’d never missed an appointment and was annoyingly punctual.
Had I upset her so much by surprising her last week? Did I cross a line? Had she decided not to return, to forgo her remaining sessions?
The way that thought caused my chest to tighten was disturbing, but I didn’t have time to analyze my feelings for her now, because regardless of where I stood with Jacqueline Fiorino, she owed me money.
Money that I, in turn, owed Carmine.
When his goons showed up tomorrow morning, as they did every Saturday, being short would cost me. Not my life, as a truly dead vampire could never pay off a debt and Carmine wasn’t stupid, but I had no doubt I’d suffer for the perceived slight against Carmine. There were many ways to punish a vampire without delivering the final death, and I had no doubt Carmine and his goons were well-versed in torture.
As a young vampire, I hadn’t yet amassed my wealth, and as a Ricci, I would long be burdened by my family’s debts. Until I could pay off Carmine and move the fuck away from the mess my grandfather created for his bloodline nearly a century ago, I was trapped here and indebted to the largest crime family to ever come out of Italy.
But even with my debt a constantly looming shadow and tomorrow’s weekly visit with Carmine’s henchmen to occupy my mind, all I could think about was Jacqueline.
“Fuck,” I roared as I threw one last punch, knocking the punching bag clean off its hook and sending it soaring across the gym. I didn’t stay long enough to hear it hit the mat. In a flash, I was outside, running through the night toward the Fiorino family butcher shop across town.
When I reached the stairwell in the parking lot behind the shop, I stopped and stared up at the apartment above the store.
I’d been training Jacqueline for nearly a year now, and I had yet to step inside her home.
I took the stairs two at a time, stopping at her front door, my hand raised to knock.
For the first time in years, I hesitated as an old, unwanted feeling came over me.
Doubt.
Would she be mad that I showed up here uninvited? Would she turn me away?
Soft whimpers came from inside and my body went rigid. I leaned forward and listened.
Somewhere within the apartment, Jacqueline was crying.
I pounded on the door. “Jacqueline? Open the door.”
The crying stopped and I tilted my head and listened to her footsteps as she approached the door. “Vinny?”
“What’s wrong?” I asked the useless piece of wood separating us.
She cursed under her breath and I smiled at the sound. God, I loved dirty words from her sweet mouth. The doorknob moved as she twisted it, then she opened the door and I was blessed with the sight of her.
I had little time to take her in, too aware of the circles under her eyes and the streaks of mascara trailing down over her cheeks to appreciate her bare legs beneath the nightshirt and open robe she wore. I searched her gaze. “What happened?”
“Why are you here?” She sniffled, then swiped her fingertips over her cheeks, laughing bitterly when they came away streaked with black. “Oh, great. I must look amazing.”
She did. She always did. “Invite me in, Jacqueline.”
Her eyes flicked up to mine and her face went slack. After a painfully long moment, she whispered, “Why?”
Bracing myself with a hand on either side of the doorway, I leaned forward as far as I could and said honestly, “So I can hold you.”
Her lip trembled and my hands tightened on the wood. It cracked beneath my grip and her gaze flicked up to assess the damage.
“Jacqueline,” I whispered.
“It’s the anniversary,” she stated without emotion, still staring blankly at my hand gripping the door frame.
My shoulders fell as the realization hit me. Her father’s death, a year ago today. Just days before Christmas. “Franco.”
She swallowed, then nodded.
