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“No, not—I mean, yes,” I stammered, then hurried to backtrack. “I’ve encountered them when they, uh...” A shiver rolled down my spine at the flood of memories I couldn’t seem to escape the past day and a half, and I had to clear my throat before continuing. “A year ago. But I wouldn’t put it as being around them.”
“You survived,” she said as if waiting for an explanation.
“Only because sirens sounded nearby.”
“Only because you were a nobody,” she countered bitterly. “Do yourself a favor and keep it that way. Because here...with us...”—Libby’s head moved in slow, wide shakes as her attention drifted back to where Alexis was playing with one of the babies—“you’ll quickly become a somebody to every person with mafia ties. And that kind of mark is a dark beacon that follows you no matter how hard you try to escape it.”
My head dipped on a delay even though she wasn’t looking at me. “I’m sorry,” I said as I reached for the door handle. “I’m so sorry about your mom and Lily.”
Libby’s dark eyes snapped my way and narrowed.
By the time we’d gotten back this morning, Libby had been completely inconsolable. Blaming herself for not going to the house with Lily because of her strained relationship with her mom.
From her distraught expression then, I was sure she still was.
When she spoke, her voice was low and somber, but it didn’t hide the tremor there. “Get out while you still can.”
I didn’t offer anything in way of response; just slipped out of the room. Once I had the door shut behind me, I pressed against the hard surface and let the past thirty-six hours crash over me.
The man in the neon mask and in my apartment.
The truth about the man I’d fallen for night after night.
The threat inside my apartment and the warning I’d just received.
Dead men in fields and the tragedy that’d hit this family.
All of it felt so heavy. All of it made me want to do what Libby told me to—leave before it was too late.
But as I stood there with one hand pressed to my aching chest and another to my trembling lips to mute any cry that might escape, I knew with a sureness that surprised me that I was where I needed to be.
Because that dark beacon was already on me, practically begging trouble to come find me. Keane Street Gang and the Guerras...I’d been no one to them, but I’d ended up in their crosshairs just the same. And there was this feeling like my skin was too tight for my body that warned it wasn’t over.
Not now. Maybe not ever.
But even if there were no beacon and if there’d been no Keane Street, there would always be something that stopped me from leaving.
Because I loved Diggs too...
The way he effortlessly shifted from ridiculous arrogance to commanding adoration. The intoxicating energy that flared when we were together and ached when we were apart. The confidence that he would always come back to me, no matter what barrier he placed between us that day in an attempt to keep me safe.
“Willow—”
I jolted away from the door at the unexpected voice.
“Hey, sorry. Just me,” Jess said, taking a step away and lifting her hands in a placating gesture when her greeting nearly sent me spiraling. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Hey-hi,” I stammered awkwardly and fought the urge to roll my eyes at my inability to keep my composure.
Logically, I knew I was safer in that house than ever before. But my heart was racing and ice-cold fear was rushing through my veins as I struggled to catch my breath. Almost as if some subconscious part of me had anticipated a neon mask to pop out of the shadows at any moment.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, then hurried to add, “Wait, no...sorry; that’s so insensitive. I just meant—”
“It’s okay,” she said over me as an understanding smile pulled at her lips. “I know what you meant, but I don’t know if there’s news. We’ve been checking Diggs’ apartment and yours to see if there were any other signs than what you saw this morning. There weren’t,” she added quickly.
I glanced down the hall when she did, not seeing anyone else as she continued.
“We brought your car back. Kieran has your keys and school stuff.” She added the last on a whisper, complete with a conspiratorial wink. “I can’t imagine Diggs will let you out of his sight any time soon, but these guys need to be challenged every once in a while.”
