Bow Down(198)

We continued moving that way, slowing gradually until finally I pulled out of her and stepped back, gasping.

She turned and threw her arms around me, kissing me. I held her and kissed her back.

This was what I needed. Maybe I hadn’t realized it, but it was the important thing. I needed a woman who could push me, fight back, who was strong and independent and smart. It helped that her pussy drove me fucking wild, and I couldn’t get enough of it once I’d gotten a taste.

We got dressed in silence, enjoying each other’s company. I loved watching the lines of her body as she pulled her panties back on, smiling shyly at me.

We left the room, holding hands.





31





Cassidy





The decision happened fast, and there was no real time for us to prepare. Only a few hours after Rafa had spoken with Arturo, we were told that the peace deal was going down.

I got out my laptop as soon as I heard and began to search for the Spiders. I knew it was mostly just a cover, since Louisa was probably listening in. She knew what was happening, and I hoped she knew what she was doing.

I hated keeping this secret from Rafa, but I was doing this for him. If the mob and the Spiders kept fighting, we would never get away from it. There would always be a war, even if Arturo and them no longer cared about me. Rafa would be stuck in it, and he’d always be in danger.

If there was peace, there was one less thing I had to worry about. I didn’t want the father of my child to get killed after all.

That wasn’t fair. I didn’t want Rafa to get killed for selfish reasons. I wanted him, needed him, and I was realizing it more every day. He was kind and strong, the kind of man I knew could take care of me but wouldn’t object when I wanted to take care of myself. The more I peeled back the violent mobster outside, the more I saw him for what he really was.

Kind, handsome, and strong. He knew something was happening that I wasn’t telling him, and yet he didn’t push. He trusted me.

The Spiders took over my computer eventually, but there wasn’t a conversation. This time, it was just a date, a time, and a place.

Rafa frowned at the screen. “Tomorrow night. In the warehouse district.”

I nodded. “Makes sense. Empty and remote.”

“Hard to plan on such short notice.”

“That’s probably why they picked it.”

He grunted. “I’ll tell Arturo.” He stood up.

“Wait,” I said. “There’s one more thing.”

He sighed. “Please don’t tell me that there’s another twist.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “No twist.”

“Okay. What is it?”

“I want to come to the meeting.”

He shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

“I have to come, Rafa.”

“Even if I said that was okay, it’s not up to me.”

I gave him a look. “We both know that you could make it happen.”

“I don’t want to make it happen.” He crossed his arms and stared at me, exasperation clear on his face. “You just keep wanting to dive headfirst into danger, don’t you?”

“It’s not that.”

“It is, though. I can’t protect you if all you want to do is risk your life.”

“You don’t need to protect me. Not with this.”

“That’s what you said about the Spiders before.”

“I wasn’t wrong. You were the one who almost died.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m not just protecting you. I’m protecting our baby, too.”

“I do get it, but I need to be there.” I stared at him, hoping he’d understand. “Please, Rafa. This is the last thing I’ll ask.”

He watched me for a few seconds before finally relaxing his posture. “Okay,” he said. “Against my better judgment, again, I’ll do what you ask. But this is the last time, Cassidy.”

“Thank you.” I smiled and kissed him on the lips.

“You’re welcome. Now I need to go let Arturo know about this.”

“Good luck.”

He nodded, turned, and left the apartment.



The mob was more like an army than a loose organization of criminals, especially as it mobilized to go to this meeting.

There were at least a hundred men, each of them well armed and wearing body armor. They were terrifying men, the sort of men you imagined were in the mob. They were the soldiers, the lowest level of the mafia, and the most dangerous. Each man was a killer, and each man was paid well for it.

I didn’t know the plan, but I could clearly see that the mob was moving out in force. The Spiders had never expressly forbade this, so I assumed they would show up in force as well. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I could tell that it wasn’t going to be good.