Page 67 of A New Days Don

“Thank God,” Ren’s chuckle sends irritation skittering through my veins, making my fists clench.

If he doesn’t watch it, I am going to take out this pent-up frustration and anger on him.

“On a serious note, are we going to discuss the developments with Fabio?” Ren prompts. It was only a matter of time before he came waltzing into this office to talk business.

After I watched Mila leave in her cruiser, I returned to a very deceased Fabio. With no other answers to be extracted, I took off in my Audi and followed her back to the station where she parked her cruiser. Then followed her home, making sure nobody bothered her. This city will learn quickly not to mess with what’s mine.

“There is nothing to talk about. Fabio gave nothing away other than that he was working with Thiago and organized a mutually beneficial relationship for his skin trade.” I sneer. Fabio got what he deserved. If I could have prolonged his death further, I would have.

“I’m not talking about your father,” Ren snaps at me as if I were the idiot. My eyes narrow on him, daring him to keep talking to me like this. The smart man sighs and softens his tone, “Your father was an amazing man. We all loved working for him, and many of us were close to him. But the facts are that he is dead now. I know you returned to avenge his death, but I think it is time to lay him to rest and protect what is alive.”

I glare at him, daring him to bring Mila up again, and he chuckles.

“Whether you like it or not, we are a team, and you are the unofficial leader that all these men are looking to for direction. We all heard what Fabio said. Mila is in danger and is on the hit list. Based on Thiago being involved, we both know that means skin trade of some kind or if she’s lucky, death.” Ren is right. Between his conscious and unconscious states, Fabio let it slip that they were coming for Mila, or at least hinted at it. I didn’t want her to get caught up in this world, but someone has been keeping tabs on me close enough to threaten her safety.

When I don’t say anything, Ren continues, “This throne is yours. We are ready to defend you and your family to the death. So, the question is, does that family include Mila?”

The thought of Mila as my family twists something sickeningly sweet inside of me, and I let the breath I was holding go.

Mila’s blue dot flares over top of Fergusen’s Martial Arts, blissfully unaware of what is coming her way.

“Yes, she’s family.” I nod, and a pleased smirk pulls on Ren’s lips, “Don’t fucking say it.”

Once again, his hands raise as if surrendering, but we both know he won’t stop, “I will organize a team to trail her. Nobody will get within five feet of her without us knowing.”

“Not any team. I want Raphael and Adriano tailing her. If something goes wrong, then I am the first to know.” I demand, my body slipping into the emotionless void of bloodlust at the thought of someone hurting her.

Ren nods, his hands clasping behind his back as his defined features harden, “Will you be making an announcement to the famiglia?”

“Not yet.” I tell him, “If Mila was targeted, then that means that Thiago is closing in. He would have needed her to gain my attention and control. I want everything you can find on his whereabouts and any information on where the cartel has moved in the last year.”

“We will keep tabs on them,” Ren reassures, but it does nothing to settle the inner wrath that wants to claw its way out and force Mila to stay put by my side, where I can keep her safe.

I crack my neck, each pop barely releasing the stress building, and stand, “She is busy with some sex worker murder case. She isn’t allowed in the field right now, but I think she is still trying to investigate it outside of the department. I want her phone tracked. Do what you can to get into her apps and texts. If she so much as gets an email or writes a note, I want to be informed.”

Ren nods once more before I brush past him to head for the streets. If I’m not doing anything, then I will be on her tail. My clubs essentially run themselves aside from the mergers and deals that have to be signed by me, and as long as I don’t take the head of the Vegas Famiglia, I won’t be expected to show up at the political parties and dick wagging contests disguised as charities.

The sun sinks behind the horizon, blanketing my Audi into the night’s shadows. I sit at the end of the street, eying the small townhouse with one light on upstairs, anxious to catch a glimpse of inky hair slicked back into a perfect ponytail. Mila paces and paces. Until the clock strikes eight. Then she moves to her front door.

Where are you going, angelo mio?

I check my phone to watch her blue dot shift around in her house until she opens the front door with her hand clenched around her phone. She looks around, assessing her environment as if she can feel my men and I keeping a close eye on her, but she won’t spot them. She may spot me, but I am not trying to keep myself hidden.

I would welcome her finding me and storming up to this car with her shoulders tense and a little twist of irritation on her face. She wouldn’t be scared. I have never given her a reason to truly fear me, as much as she may have been spooked by my display with Fabio.

I am brought out of my little fantasy of Mila coming to chat with me when she storms out the door, locking it behind her, before heading for her cruiser. There is only the smallest tinge of disappointment that she didn’t come for me, but I brush it off and follow her as she takes off down the street. Raphael gets into an SUV with Adriano, but they keep an inconspicuous distance behind me, as I keep my distance behind Mila.

Mila drives following all the traffic rules, and I can’t help but chuckle. My good little law enforcement officer. I may have been teasing Mila by questioning if she was going to cuff me, but I would let her and enjoy every minute of it if she did.

She makes an abrupt turn, heading down a less-than-ideal street in one of the more desolate and dilapidated areas of Vegas. When she pulls to the side of the road, I follow suit a block away.

Why the hell is she here? She better not have been sent to investigate on her own, or so help me, I will fucking own the police department by the end of the week.

I get out of my Audi, grabbing my gun from the passenger seat before heading down the quiet street. Mila hesitates, reaching for her taser on her hip. When she pauses, looking down at her hip, her body cringes.

Yes, that’s right, angelo mio, you dropped and left your taser in your scurry out of the warehouse. Turn around and go home. You know you aren’t safe.

But she doesn’t do as I mentally try to coax her. Instead, she balls her hands into fists, and I curse under my breath as she heads toward the older, abandoned looking house. I make quick work running down the street. I can hear Raphael and Adriano close by as we approach the lot.