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“Buenos dias—”
“Shut the fuck up, old man. Where’s the bitch that just walked in here?”
What’s he doing here?I duck behind the nearest display, needing time to figure out how I want to handle Mr. Black. He’s never come anywhere near my apartment, only meeting with me at the club or very specific locations determined by the voice in my apartment. The fact he’s just showing up out of the blue terrifies me.
“You think you can hide from me, whore?” he bellows, knocking over anything in his path as he strides up and down each aisle, searching for me. “We had a meeting in the park over an hour ago.”
A meeting?Dropping to my knees, I dig through my bag, searching for the phone they gave me, and flip it open.Fuck.Right on the screen is a notification for a missed text message. The blood drains from my face as I open the message.
Unknown
Millennium Park. 10:00 a.m.
It’s almost eleven-thirty. Shit. I don’t know what I’m most worried about. The fact I’m late for a meeting or Mr. Black coming to look for me. I don’t know how I feel about him knowing where I’m living. Not that it matters. I have no control over who they allow to come in and out of my apartment, but there’s something about it being Mr. Black that gives me an uneasy feeling.
My heart pounds in my chest as his thundering footsteps inch closer to my hiding place.
“I suggest youabandonarbefore Illame a la policia.” The racking of a shotgun reaches my ears, and I pop up, locking eyes with Mr. Black.I suggest you leave before I call the police.
I was afraid that Mr. Black had pulled his weapon and threatened Mr. Gutierrez, but it’s the exact opposite. Mr. Black’s hands are raised in surrender, and the barrel of the shotgun in Mr. Gutierrez’s hands is pressed to the back of his head. His eyes narrow in disgust as the same sinister smile from last night crosses his face.
“I believe he told you to leave. We wouldn’t want the cops to come poking around, asking questions, do we?”
A false sense of bravado settles over me. This entire situation is making me nervous, but I need to get Mr. Black as far away from me and Mr. Gutierrez as possible. The police showing up is a safe bet. We know I’d never say anything about the men keeping my sister, but Mr. Black himself is a different story. The sooner I can get him away from me, the better.
“You were lucky this time, bitch.” Mr. Black winks before reaching into his jacket slowly, pulling a small white box out, and placing it on the empty shelf beside him. “Here’s a present from my employer. Consider it a reminder of what’s coming.”
Mr. Black spins on his heels and storms out the door, the barrel of Mr. Gutierrez’s gun tracking him the entire way. The moment he’s out of eyes sight, I let out the breath I was holding, my entire body trembling in fear as I inch closer to the package he left on the shelf.
I inspect the box, looking it over carefully before opening it. Tears spring to my eyes as I notice what’s inside. Laying on cotton gauze stuck to the bottom of the box is a finger withsistertattooed along the side with a small daisy. The same tattoo my sister had gotten a few months prior when she came to visit.
Somehow, she talked me into going to a tattoo parlor for matching tattoos, claiming she wanted something to always remember me by. I thought the idea was perfect, wanting to have something for myself besides just the picture of the two of us sitting on my bedside table. Something that will never fade or go missing. The only problem is, as soon as I got there for our appointment, I chickened out. Willa didn’t mind. She just smiled and said,“Maybe next time,”before climbing into the chair and getting her tattoo.
Tears stream down my face as I imagine the pain and suffering my sister has been going through since I haven’t been able to get the information these people want. This is a warning, just like Mr. Black promised. If I don’t get my shit together and get the information they need, I’ll be getting my sister back in pieces.
“Estás bien?”Are you alright?
I slam the cover of the box closed, shoving it behind my back before turning toward Mr. Gutierrez. His face is full of concern, trying desperately to see what I am hiding, but comes up empty. There’s no way I’m going to allow him to see what’s inside, for both of our sakes. I don’t think my mind could handle explaining to him what’s really going on or who I am. No one needs the burden.
“I’m fine.” I sniffle, swiping my hand across my cheek. “Thanks for protecting me.”
He smiles at me, reaching for my hand, but I step back. If he touches me, I’d break. I need to make it back to the apartment before I crumble. Not that it’s any safer there.
“Thanks for the burrito.”
“On the house,” he responds, and I smile before pushing past him.
I barely make it to the door before the first tear falls.
CHAPTERTEN
SALVATORE
“How are your blue balls doing this morning, big brother?” Antonio questions before grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl in the center of the table and plopping down into a chair on the other side.
“The state of my balls is none of your concern.” I don’t need to look at him to know he has his feet kicked up on the table. “Feet.”
Pausing for a few moments, my eyes flick toward him, and I wait for him to argue with me. Antonio looks at me defiantly, taking a bite out of his apple, practically daring me to say something else to him.
