“Only because you got me involved,” I said, annoyed.
“Doesn’t matter. I want this journalist girl. What do you think about her, Rafa?”
“She’s not a problem,” I said. “And she doesn’t know anything.”
“Oh look, a fucking expert.” Ernesto made a face. “Listen, Vince, I want the girl. I’m only here out of courtesy to you and Rafa.”
“We don’t think you need to take her,” Vince said slowly.
“I don’t give a fuck. She’s the only link we have to the Spiders, and I want those fucking bastards.”
“She’s just a girl,” I said. “Some stupid girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Ernesto looked at me. “She’s a journalist looking into our fucking business. That alone used to be enough to get her killed.”
“I chose not to kill her, because I know what’s fucking best,” I practically growled at him.
“Rafa is a good judge,” Vince said quickly, trying to defuse my anger.
“Maybe he is, but I still want this girl.”
“I’m not letting you,” Vince said simply.
Ernesto looked surprised. Hell, I was fucking surprised. Ernesto slowly stood up.
“You can’t stop me,” he said.
“I can,” Vince said simply. “Stay away from the girl.”
“You stupid boy,” he said. “You stupid fucking boy. Arturo is going to have your ass.”
“Arturo can do whatever he wants. For now, you back the fuck off, or else.”
Ernesto glared and then looked at me. “You fucking pussy. You should have just killed the girl.” He turned and left the room.
I stood up and looked at Vince. “Thanks. Now I have to go kill that fucking cocksucker.”
“Sit back down,” Vince said. “I didn’t do shit. He can do whatever he wants. He’s just afraid of starting an actual civil war.”
“And you’re not?”
“No, because that was an empty fucking threat.”
“So what? We just let him have her?”
“We see what Arturo says. For now, keep an eye on her.”
“Fine.” I headed toward the door and then paused. “Thanks for backing me up.”
Vince sighed, shaking his head. “I know what you’re going through.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“Something like it. Now get the fuck out of here.”
I nodded, opened the door, and left the room.
Ernesto was a piece of shit, but he had power in the mob. He had men, a good number of soldiers, maybe as many as Vince did. If it came to a fight, it might not go in our favor.
But I would love a fight. That was what I was good at. I could cut throats like any man. Hell, I could do it better. I wanted a chance at blood.
Instead, I’d watch over the girl, make sure she stayed intact while the fucking council of bosses made their damn choice. Vince would argue my case, and then that would be that.
I headed out to my car, intent on a long day of sitting around, bored as fuck. I wasn’t going to let Cassidy know that I was stalking her. I didn’t need to spook the girl any more than I already had.
Although I wished I could get up into her apartment, slowly strip her panties down her smooth skin, and run my tongue along her delicious little pussy until she forgot about all of this and came like lightning in my mouth.
11
Cassidy
Rafa took me up to my apartment, checked to make sure that it was empty, and then left. As soon as the door shut and I was alone, I felt like I was going to break down and cry.
Instead, I curled up on the couch and took some deep breaths, getting myself together. I couldn’t have a breakdown every time Rafa came around. There was too much at stake for me to lose it, and I knew I needed to keep my cool no matter what right now.
I tried my best to go through my normal routine. I changed into comfortable clothes, I made some lunch, I watched some TV, and then I tried to do some work. I was writing a story about a local man who had started a charity that collected shoes for the homeless. It was pretty boring, but it would pay well enough, so I was committed to doing it.
My day drifted along like that. I kept catching myself daydreaming about Rafa, imagining his body against mine, his arms wrapped around me as he pressed me down against the couch. I wanted to feel what he could do to me, the way he could make my body feel, but I also hoped I’d never see him again.
Dinner came and went. I cooked, ate, and got back to work. I was throwing myself into this boring article simply to try to distract myself from being so damn afraid.
The fact that Rafa had felt the need to drive me home and check my apartment meant that someone was after me. He wasn’t trying to hide that fact, but still, it felt almost unreal. I’d never been wanted by anyone before, and I’d never been in any danger. Now some mobster was protecting me from the rest of the mob, and I had no idea why.