“I…” She glances down the hallway both ways, and I wonder if she’s looking for someone. A boyfriend maybe? Not a husband. I didn’t see a ring when my eyes traced every part of her body. If she had a boyfriend, she doesn’t any longer, that’s for fucking sure. I’ll have my men bury him next to Joey. Then they’ll only have to dig one grave. What kind of man would leave her unprotected?
“You didn’t, did you,” I say, and it’s not a question.
She looks tired and hungry on top of being scared to death. I reach up and touch her cheek again, and she flinches. My jaw tightens.
“You won’t tell anyone about what you saw, will you,” I demand, again not asking.
She shakes her head. I slide my fingers across her cheek, stealing another touch of her, unable to control myself. Maybe she isn’t an angel. Maybe she’s a witch who has me under her spell. I shake the ridiculous thought from my head.
I drop my hand, going for her purse. She doesn’t stop me as I dig through it, finding her wallet and looking at her ID.
“Thea.” I say her name, liking how easily it falls from my lips. She doesn’t respond. I look into her purse and see she doesn’t have any credit cards and only a little bit of money. I see an old cell phone and grab it. I glance back to meet her eyes, and she’s staring at me with that fucking scared look still on her face. I click on the buttons and put my number in her phone. Then I hit send and end the call when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I drop the phone back into her purse, then slide the strap back up her arm.
I take out my wallet and pull out some of my cash. I don’t want to give her so much that she’ll use it to take off on me, but I want her to have enough so I know she can take care of herself. I slide the bills into her purse, then lie to her.
“That’s to keep quiet,” I tell her. Then I give her the truth. “I promise you, that man is exactly where he’s supposed to be.” She just nods, and I hate it because I want to hear her talk again.
She licks her lips, drawing my eyes there. My cock grows more painful at the sight, and I’m going crazy because I’ve never had a reaction to a woman like this in my life. It should piss me off how I’m feeling, but I like it. I haven’t felt like I’ve wanted for anything for a while, and now need is pumping through me. A need for something that I can’t have. Not yet.
I reach down, picking up her keys from the floor. I move closer to her and feel her breath stop as I slide the key into the lock and turn it, opening the door. I pull the keys out and put them into her purse.
“Go inside and get some sleep, angel.”
She stares at me like she doesn’t believe I’m letting her go. I can’t believe it either, but I think we have two different ideas of what I’d do with her if I didn’t let her go into her apartment. She probably thinks she’d end up like Joey, but I’d have her locked in my bedroom.
“Thea. In. Lock the door and keep that pretty mouth shut.”
She nods again, turning to go into her apartment. Before she can step away, I grab her hip and pull her back to my chest. I lean down so my lips are right next to her ear.
“Anyone else in there?” I ask, needing to know I’m not sending her into her place with a man inside. She shakes her head. “Boyfriend?” I push, needing more. She shakes her head again.
I inhale her sweetness one last time and then let her go. She scrambles inside, shutting the door in my face. I wait just a second until I hear the lock click before I make myself walk away from her door.
When I get to the street I stand outside her apartment building and take out my phone and make a call.
Chapter 3
Salvatore
Most people are surprised by the fact that I have an office. I don’t think they expect someone in organized crime to be so business-like. But in my experience, if you treat people with respect that’s how you’ll get treated in return. And it goes a long way to smooth over politicians and the police if you’ve got your shit together. Nobody wants to do business with a thug, and I learned from my father to always be professional.
I might be a killer, but I’ve got suits that cost more than most people’s cars, and for some that’s all that matters. For me, it doesn’t mean dick. I treat people how they treat me, but looks are important. Especially for the ones who don’t want to be seen breaking the law. It’s all about perception for some, and that’s okay. But my memory is long, and I don’t forget.
I grew up in a middle-class neighborhood with a mom and dad and a dog. From the outside, I had the perfect family, the perfect life. I think had my parents lived, they would have shielded me from the life they lived and wished for me to do something else. But after they were both killed, I found out the truth behind my father’s business dealings. I made it my mission to not only repay those who took them from me, but take over my father’s legacy and make it what it is today.