Hard Bastard(23)

“You won’t do shit,” I said to him.

“Sure, I would, if the boss orders it. Just because you know her doesn’t change a thing.”

“No,” I said. “I guess it doesn’t.”

“I’ll still cut that bitch’s throat.” He grinned at me. “And then I’ll fuck her as she slowly dies. How fucked up would that be?”

I turned to him, grabbed the back of his head, and slammed his face onto the top of the bar.

He recoiled, gripping his nose, blood dripping down. “What the fuck!?” he screamed.

“Fuck you, Boris.”

“You fucking cunt.” He tried pushing me but I was up and out of the way already. “You broke my fucking nose.”

The guys were all looking, and some were even laughing. It wasn’t unusual for two mafia guys to get in a fight like that, although they might not like it when they found out that I did it to defend the new hated ADA’s honor.

I turned and quickly left the bar. I didn’t bother to look back or to answer any of Boris’s insults. It didn’t matter. I fucking lost control and that was a mistake. Now Boris was going to go bitch and moan to anyone that would hear about how I smashed his nose for talking shit on the ADA. They were all going to find out that I knew her, and some of them were going to question my loyalty.

I got into my car and started the engine. I started driving, not sure where I was going.

They were right to question me. I was questioning myself. I’d never in my entire life wondered whether I was loyal to the mafia or not. I grew up in the mafia. They gave me my work, gave me my life, and I owed them everything. I would die for the mob if I was ordered to, but this was suddenly turning me. It was insane.

All for a girl I hadn’t seen in a long time.

It was too late to take that shit with Boris back. Everyone was going to know that I knew her and there were going to be fucking rumors floating around. Some men were going to question my loyalty, and I was going to have to crack some more skulls to squash that shit. I knew I dug myself a fucking hole as soon as I smashed Boris’s piggy face into the bar, but it felt really fucking good.

As I drove, I realized that I was near Sadie’s hotel. Without really thinking, I had gravitated toward her, despite there being a million other places I could have gone to.

I pulled into the parking lot and stared at the lobby for a few minutes, trying to decide if it was a good fucking idea. She hadn’t called me, though I knew she knew who and what I was. I didn’t want her to find out about it that way and planned on telling her eventually.

I saw the look on her face when I walked into that courtroom. I saw the shock, followed by the disgust. She turned away and did her best to remain professional, but I could still feel the tension in her body the whole time. I wanted to get the fuck out of there, but I wasn’t some pussy that had to run from my situation. I sat there with the rest of the guys, studying our opposition and putting out a show of strength.

Nobody gave a fuck about Evgeni. It was more about intimidating the opposition than anything else. And I could tell Sadie was fucking intimidated, not to mention thrown off at seeing me.

I got out of my car, slamming the door. Fuck this, fuck sitting like a little bitch in the parking lot. I marched into the lobby, got on an elevator, and rode it up to her room.

I walked down the long hallway and stood outside of her door for a minute, brooding. I knew this was a bad idea, and for a second I was paranoid that someone from the mafia followed me. But no, I was careful, and Boris wasn’t talking that fucking fast.

I knocked on the door and waited. I could see that there was a light on inside, and I heard someone shuffling around, but then nothing happened. I waited a minute and knocked again.

She was dodging me. “Sadie,” I called out. “It’s Gage. Open the door.”

No response for a minute.

I sighed. “Sadie, please. I just want to talk to you. If you don’t like what I have to say, I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again. I promise.”

Another short pause. “Are you alone?”

She sounded scared. “I’m alone, I promise.” I stepped back. “Look.”

After another few seconds, I heard the door unlock and it swung open. “Come in,” she said.

I stepped into her hotel room. She was wearing yoga pants, a plain white T-shirt, and her hair was piled in a messy bun on the top of her head. She looked ready for bed, but fucking gorgeous at the same time.

We walked into her room and she crossed her arms, staring at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not something I typically lead with.”

“You’re in the fucking mob, Gage.”