Page 18

He nodded, and I broke the phone handing it back over to him. A million ants were crawling up my arms and legs as needles poked my back and torso. I needed out of these clothes. I could feel them too much.

“And deliver the remainder of the money.”

Johnny had been bought for his kid’s surgery, and the Vitales always kept their end of the bargain. There was a reason no one ever ratted on us. Fear alone wasn’t enough to rule the streets of New York.

Johnny’s car would be returned to his family once it was thoroughly cleaned. Benito didn’t take chances, and neither did I. My car waited for me on the side of the road. Although everything in me screamed for me to run toward it and hurry the fuck up, I kept my movements controlled and measured.

The drive was quick, and I made it back to the hotel. I’d planned to go home, but for some reason, my on-fire brain decided the hotel would be best. I marched through the doors, and the bright lights assaulted me. I squinted through it, swallowing back my discomfort.

“Mr. Vitale, your guest left a message for you,” the receptionist said.

She didn’t question why I was back so soon. Normally when I closed the room out, I stayed away for a month or two. However, even if she’d asked me I didn’t have the answer.

“Has he been back here?” I asked, forcing every word out. I wanted nothing more than to stay silent and disappear into a quiet area.

“No, sir. Not that we have noticed.”

I stared at her, working on voicing the question. Words twisted, and my tongue rested heavily in my mouth, determined not to move.

“He questioned a server about you but nothing more. The breakfast was half eaten before he left in an Uber,” she supplied.

I turned away once I took the note, disappearing toward the elevator. My control and patience were that of a saint. Yet, the piece of paper burned against my fingertips, demanding I open it right then and there. It momentarily distracted me from my discomfort but the moment the elevator dinged and opened I ran to my door. All control went out the door as I snatched the clothes off my body. My flesh was itching and burning all at once.

Taking them off wasn’t enough, and I frantically moved to the bedroom. I tossed the note on the bed and started up the shower. I didn’t wait for it to warm. The ice cold was a reprieve from the overwhelming heat threatening to consume me. I knew it was all in my head, but it changed nothing.

Once I was fresh out of the shower and dressed, I made my way over to the bed. The envelope was still there, taunting me. I picked it up and opened it. A single little note fluttered onto the bed.

Something close to laughter broke free as I shook my head. I stared at the piece of paper with a smile on my face.

Fuck you.

* * *

Enzo: Ray Lends taken care of.

I sent the message to Benito and ground my molars as I placed my phone in the cup holder.

Another unsatisfying kill. It wasn’t enough, and I felt the edge of chaos closing in on me. Tension built between my shoulder blades, and the feeling of a needle piercing my flesh repeatedly grew tiresome. No amount of reading or meditation was helping.

I found myself on the other side of the city where a certain rookie cop lived. I checked my messages, and Tex was working. Five days since I’d last seen him, and strangely thinking about him and the night we’d had calmed the whirlwind of insanity inside of me. However, the memory was getting old, and I needed to do something about it soon.

Keeping tabs on him was my job, but I’d stayed away from him. He was the kind of toy I’d end up breaking too fast. Or get fixated on, and the last thing I needed to become obsessed with was a cop.

I knew it wasn’t a good idea, and yet I got out of the car and walked right up to his door. The apartment was easy to break into, boasting two simple locks that wouldn’t keep a teenager out. Then again, looking around, there wasn‘t much to steal. Anyone breaking in would either have to be desperate or obsessed with Tex.

Jiggling caught my attention, and an orange Maine Coon came out of a box that was far too small for it. I hadn’t taken Tex as a cat man, but lo and behold, the beauty sauntered up to me and meowed. I crouched down and scratched behind his ears, grimacing at the hair that clung to my fingers.

He needed to be brushed and bathed.

“Since I’m here, let’s see what your owner has been up to.”

I stood back up and let my gaze wander, but it looked as if Tex lived like a pig. Clothes were thrown everywhere, a few dishes in the sink, and a wet towel on the bathroom floor.

My need to fix it took over. Before I knew it, I was cleaning the entire apartment. To my surprise, there was nothing here that indicated Tex was even a cop. No badge or files lying around. Not even his police academy workout clothes. If I didn’t know who he was, Tex could almost come off as a regular guy.

Almost. Those startling blue eyes flashed through my mind, and I shook free of the hold he had over me.

Ringing cut through the peaceful moment, and I sighed as I pulled my phone free of my pocket. Benito’s name flashed on the screen. I knew I had no choice but to answer it.