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I’m always looking out for her, and when I can’t, I have Marcello do it. There have only been a few hours that I’ve had to let one of our other men guard her. They know that if one hair on her head is out of place, they will suffer the consequences. I return home for a quick shower and clean clothes, but otherwise, I don’t like to be away from her. Watching her never gets boring.
I walk in and take my usual seat with Marcello. He’s got a shit-eating grin on his face, like the cat who got the canary. I know he’s enjoying watching my fixation on a woman. The asshole cackles about it but says it will never happen to him. I roll my eyes because I really hope it does. Payback is going to be a bitch, and I can’t wait to see a woman bring his pompous ass to his knees.
“Hey, Gio, I know my ass isn’t as nice as hers, but can you pay attention when I’m talking, asshole?”
“Don’t be looking at her ass!”
He throws his hands up as if in surrender. “Don’t worry. I am not looking at her ass.”
“If you want to keep your eyes in your head, you won’t.” I know I’m being a prick, but Everly is mine and mine alone. I don’t care if Marcello and I have been best friends since we were kids. I would slit his throat from ear to ear to protect what’s mine.
“Okay, buddy, so what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Did you get the stuff that I asked for from the doctor?”
“Yeah, G. I got it all. I also got the room ready at your house and picked up the license.”
“When the guys were guarding Everly, I stopped and got the rest of the stuff I need. I’m ready for my plan to go into action. Since Everly won’t take care of herself with the money that I give her, I will have to do it for her.”
“I don’t think she’s going to like this, G. Your girl seems like she’s a hardworking, independent woman.”
“I give no fucks what she likes. She’s mine to protect, and I’m going to do what’s best for her. I can’t spend another night watching my girl go to bed cold and hungry. I’ve tried to slip her money. Hell, I even left bigger tips on her other tables after customers left when she wasn’t looking. She needs someone to take care of her for once. When I find out who left those bruises on her face, I am going to skin them alive.”
“We got her, G. No one will ever hurt Everly again without suffering. You have my word on that.”
I hear a loud sound coming from the table with the three idiots. They’ve been in a couple of nights this week, and every time they do, my girl clams up. She avoids eye contact and acts like she doesn’t hear their vulgar insults. I was trying to put off killing them, but as soon as I see that one of them has pulled her down on his lap and is sucking on her neck with his hands between her jean-clad thighs, I know their time is up.
Before I realize it, I am across the room and have jerked Everly off of the guy’s lap, bending the hand that he had between her legs back until I heard the bones snap. He lets out a yelp. Marcello lets me know he’s got the three idiots.
“I want them at the warehouse. Hold them until I get there, and make sure you save the one that touched her for me.”
Everly is shaking, her lip trembling, and she’s breathing heavily. Her eyes are
panic-stricken. Whatever has happened to her in the past has caused her heartbreaking trauma.
I move slowly so as not to frighten her. “It’s okay, Angel. You are safe now.”
Whatever she sees on my face seems to ease the worst of her fears. I reach up and softly place my hands on each side of her face. Her skin is softer than silk. Looking directly into her angelic brown eyes, I let her know what’s going to happen next.
“You are going to get your stuff, and we are going to leave.”
“But I have to finish my shift. I can’t leave.” Everly shakes her head.
I make sure she is looking me directly in the eyes. “No, babe, you are leaving with me. Your job is safe.”
“But I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Gio. Everything’s going to be okay.”
I know my girl isn’t thinking straight because she’s allowing me to pull her along out of the bar. Marcello had a guard go pay off the manager so that Everly could leave with no one being pissed that she had abandoned her shift. They know she won’t be back and have been compensated generously. Seeing as how there isn’t anyone else to notice that Everly’s gone missing, it’s worth every cent.
As we walk to my black SUV, Everly is going through the motions but is in shock.
“Where are we going?” she asks softly.
We stop beside the SUV, and Marcello comes around and places something in my hand that is now behind her back. She does not know what’s coming.
“Baby, don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay now. No one will ever hurt you again.” To throw her off balance, I lean in and crash my lips against her, giving her a kiss. That’s a lie. I really just needed to taste her. She’s so stunned her mouth opens to me, and my tongue enters hers. She tastes like the sweetest cherries. As I am kissing her, I bring the syringe up to her neck and inject the substance into her. She pulls her head back and looks at me like I’ve betrayed her trust, and, in some ways, I guess I have.
