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“Sir, if you could just give me a bit more time. Thomas is getting used to seeing me in his office now. He comes and goes, knowing I’m still there. I’ll have a much better chance of finding information and getting it to you.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I’ll leave it in your capable hands. But come to me with information soon, or those pretty hands might end up in a dumpster somewhere. And we wouldn’t want that. Now would we?”
Lorena lost her voice again and simply nodded obediently.
Sonny happily nodded, walked over, and punched a button once more. This time, the silent alert had the office door open, and the same goon who had shown her in was ready to show her out. Lorena needed no more of a cue than that to leave and leave fast.
She barely got her car door shut when her cell phone rang. Her shaking hands fished it from her purse in time to pick up the call.
“Ms. D’Augustino, your father has had another setback. This one doesn’t look like it will require surgery for now. It seems like an infection the surgeon is treating with antibiotics. But we just wanted to keep you apprised of his situation.”
“Right. Okay. I understand. I’m on my way.”
Lorena ended the call, her hands still shaking, and turned on the ignition before swinging the car out of The Den’s parking lot, burning rubber onto the street.
Again, it was as if the car drove itself. Somehow she got to the hospital in no time. Her experience had felt surreal, with her mind plagued by horrific thoughts the entire way to the hospital.
Sonny’s threats lingered in the back of her head as she parked her car.
She sat back in the seat and exhaled deeply.
God, what mess have I trapped myself in? Death for Dad if I didn’t make a deal with that devil of a shifter. Or death for us both if I screw up the deal. And what’s equally awful is lying to Thomas, who has never done a harmful thing to Dad or me, ever. I’m selling pieces of my soul all over the place. And I’m not sure those pieces are worth a plug nickel.
Then Lorena ran for the ICU ward. In minutes, she was by her father’s bedside, holding his hand, kissing his fingers, her flowing tears wetting his palm, begging God to be on his side.
As the antibiotics slowly drip-dripped through Alfredo’s IV tube, Lorena racked her brain, trying to fight her way out of the deadly deal she was in. It dawned on her his care would be far more lengthy and costly than once thought. Which meant staying linked with Sonny and Thomas longer than she had planned.
Lorena touched her forehead to her father’s hand, and she quietly sobbed.
I can’t win this fight alone. I’m no match for Sonny and his threats. And I can’t keep lying to Thomas. I need help, and I need it fast.
With the walls closing in, Lorena wondered if it was time to contact the only person who could help her out of this jam.
But would Thomas ever understand or forgive her betrayal?
Chapter10
Thomas
Thomas’s shifting ability gave him greater insight into his world. Especially when darkness surrounded him. He could more easily sense trouble, although his insight never gave him the complete picture.
Nevertheless, he stayed hyper-vigilant, on edge, and alert. Nefarious beings were circling the Leone pride. Their identity was still unknown. Their goals were unknown. But like any canine with a nose for blood, literal or figurative, he knew they were out there. Waiting.
Amid his psychic doom and gloom, a light shone in his core. It may have been weak, but it was steady and unyielding. And that light came from Lorena. Lorena was his heart. Thomas would not admit to it either, as a pride alpha had to maintain a hard shell. But in his heart, he knew.
As Lorena flitted around his office, handing him documents to read and pages to sign, his paranoia lessened, and his chilled heart warmed. Lorena had a way of bringing Thomas and his lion out of the dark shell that the threats toward his people had caused. She helped him focus more on the good things and less on the bad things.
“Knock-knock.”
Thomas looked up, confused.
“I say, knock-knock. You say, who’s there, silly.”
“Oh, okay,” Thomas chuckled.
“Knock-knock.”
“Who’s there?” He cocked an eyebrow.
