“But those days are behind me now.”
She was propped up against her headboard. It was cushioned, so it was soft to lean against. She turned to look at me, and her stare lingered for a long time.
I stared back. Didn’t backpedal. Didn’t flinch.
“You scare me,” she said quietly. So quietly, it was like she didn’t want me to hear.
“I would never hurt you—physically or emotionally.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then tell me what you mean, baby.”
She looked away, bending her knees as she crossed her arms over her chest. “The way you look at me…”
I stared at the side of her face, patiently waiting for her to share more on her own.
“You’re just really… I don’t know.”
“I think you do know.”
She hesitated before she turned to look at me.
“A crazy, psychotic, deranged man is fucking obsessed with you.” I held her stare and watched her hold her breath while she continued to maintain eye contact with me, afraid to look at me but more afraid to look away. “You should be scared.” A dangerous smile moved over my lips. “Not for you, but anyone who looks at you in a way I don’t like, gets just a little too close, says something I don’t like… They’re fucked.”
13
WOLFE
I was in the back seat of the SUV. Two guys were in the front, and Andre was in the right seat beside me. We were in the lead, while Don Mancini, Leo, and Elio were in the next vehicle, and then there was another vehicle behind that.
They put me in the front just in case they sprayed us with bullets when we got there.
It was fine, no hard feelings.
My phone vibrated with a text, so I pulled it out of my front pocket and glanced at the screen.
It was Francesca.Please be careful.
I grinned from ear to ear.Aw, my baby’s worried about me. Who’s obsessed with whom now?
I’m serious, Wolfe.
Don’t ever worry about me. It’s my job to worry about you.
Your arrogance is what I worry about.
It’ll be alright, baby. You know how many times I’ve been shot?
Cristo…
I’ll tell you when this is done.
Please text me the second you’re on your way home.
I was about to step into a den of vipers, but I was sitting in the back seat grinning like an idiot.I promise, baby. We’re about to pull up, so I need to go radio silent now. See you soon.I shoved my phone into my front pocket without waiting for her to text back, knowing it was time to put my game face on.
Andre stared at me with bullets in his eyes. “What the fuck are you smiling about?”
