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He could be waiting for someone. Unlikely- not just anyone hides in the shadows of New York this time of night. That is when the monsters come out to play.
His frame is tall and lean. I can’t make out any other features. I draw my attention away from the figure, not wanting to freak out Sienna. She is already on edge after Jamie’s performance. She’s too busy twiddling her rings on her thumb to even notice, anyway. She’s nervous, I can tell. Her leg is bouncing. Her main tell is the way her hands fidget without her even realizing it. Clasping my large hand over both of hers, she lets out a deep sigh as I do.
“Did you, did you want to come up?” she asks, not bringing her gaze to me.
I cup her chin and make her look at me. Her expression is passive. Does she really think I’m just going to reject her?Have I not made it clear enough that I’m borderline obsessed with her?
“Baby, I have work to do tonight. I have to meet Luca.” I sigh as she attempts to turn her face away from me. Tightening my grip on her chin, I bring her back to me.
“That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to. Fuck, I want that more than anything. Spending the night wrapped up in you sounds like fucking heaven. I meant what I said earlier.” This, I gesture between us, “is not over. I can’t even picture the day we can give this up. So get used to me, Sweetheart.”
Relief flashes across her face as she gives me a smile from ear to ear.
“Now let me watch you get into your apartment. And get some rest. Before I spread you across the car again.” I give her a wicked grin, I bring my lips to hers and show her how much I mean what I say.
“Good night, my Goddess,” I whisper, my forehead resting on hers as I steal a quick peck.
“Night, my Champ,” she says as she opens the passenger door. The icy air fills the car, reflecting the coldness I feel when she leaves. Giving me a small wave as she enters her building, I spy the hooded man watching her walk past. He doesn’t move, but he’s positioned to look straight at my car.
Something inside is screaming at me. I’m now nearly certain it’s Jamie watching her. I didn’t think that phone call would be the last of this. If I don’t scare him, there must be something seriously wrong with him. He doesn’t strike me as powerful or as a fighter, which means it’s worse than I thought. Worse, because that means he’s desperate.
Like with any fight, you need to know everything about your opponent. The fuck am I letting him anywhere near Sienna. I need to know all that I can to protect her and make this asshole go away.
I itch to grab my gun from the glove box and slam it into Jamie’s head. But I can’t risk it, not this close to my fight. Irritation burns through me. Instead, I touch the dial for Luca’s contact. If anyone can find out Jamie’s deal, it’s him. The mafia boss himself.
He answers on the first ring.
“Oh hello Brother, are you on your way to the meet yet?”
His voice echoes through the car. I can hear him blowing out smoke as he speaks. I turn the volume down. The street doesn’t need to hear any of this conversation.
“Yeah, I’m just leaving Sienna’s apartment now. I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
“The woman from the club, I knew it. She’s special.”
Letting out a sigh, because there’s no point hiding it now, I nod. And seeing as I need his help, I agree with him. "Yes, Brother.” I sigh again. “But I can’t have her to keep. I can’t bring her into this world. I don’t deserve someone so pure.”
“Brother, you need to extinguish this ball of anger inside you. You’re not that kid on the streets fighting to prove himself anymore. You’ve made it. You deserve love. You deserve her.”
Dismissing his comments, I get to the point. “Look, I need a favor from you. Her ex, Jamie, attacked her last week. I found them in an alleyway outside the club. Turns out he’s been basically stalking her since their break-up. I’m pretty sure he’s hooded up outside her apartment now. From what I gather, this is out of character for him. He’s acting desperate. I have a suspicion there’s more to his behavior than wanting her back. He’s a lawyer, for fuck's sake, hardly a mobster.”
“Sounds like she’s already being dragged into something. Why not be our world? At least in ours, we protect our own. No harm will ever come to her here. You know that. Text me what you know about him and I’ll do some digging. Just because they are suited, doesn’t mean they aren’t hiding something darker. You should know that.”
“I’m worse. I’m a monster, Luca. A monster who slips out in the night to hunt people down. I can shoot a man between the eyes, watching their life drain away and feel nothing. How is that man worthy of happiness?”
“You’re a fighter, Keller, inside and outside the ring. Everything you’ve done up to this point has been a necessity. It’s not who you are. Don’t let that define you. You may wear a mask, but beneath that, you’re a fucking good man.”
He pauses. I can almost hear his brain ticking, I didn’t think he’d be so passionate about this. I honestly thought he was going to talk sense into me and tell me to stop being pussy whipped and get on with my life.
“What’s the point of being a billionaire with no one to share it with? We’ve fought to build an empire. Build a family worthy of that, and never let them go, Brother.”
Fuck it, he’s got a point.
“What if she abandons me, Luca? What if I can’t control the evil inside me anymore?” I ask whilst running a hand over my face, letting out a ragged breath. He laughs.
“Then the world better plead for mercy against you, Brother. But what if she doesn’t? What if she’s the one to pull you out of the darkness and into the light? You know your true self. Ask him if he’s worthy. Ask the man beneath the mask if he’s worthy. That’s your answer.”
Who knew he was so philosophical?
