Dante opens the door with an aggressive look directed at the cop car. He looks pissed and it takes me by surprise, but it’s not directed at me. Still, I struggle to breathe, and my gaze falls to the floor. Fuck, I knew I shouldn’t have come here. This was a mistake.
I move to turn away and go anywhere other than here. I don’t care where, but his strong hand comes down on my shoulder, stopping me from leaving. “Come on in,” he says calmly. I look over my shoulder and see the female officers watching me. They look like they’re waiting to pounce.
It’s my last chance to decide. I know it is. I can go inside and risk whatever plan the familia has for me, or I can turn around and take my chances with the witness protection program. I look up at Dante and ask him the only thing I want to know. “Is Vince here?”
He gives me a tight smile as he answers, “Not yet.” As soon as I hear his answer I walk inside quickly, pushing my body against the doorframe to get the fuck away from the cops. My arms are still wrapped tight around my shoulders.
“Elle!” Linda yells from the dining room. She strides toward me and wraps her arms around me. “Are you alright, sweetheart?” she asks me, pushing the hair out of my face. A soft smile forms on my lips. Sweetheart.
“I’m scared,” I answer honestly. I really am. My body starts to tremble.
“It’s okay, we’ve got you now.” She pulls me in for a hug and gently pats my back. She doesn’t understand that that’s why I’m scared. I feel like a sheep that’s walked into a lion’s den. I open my eyes and see Anthony and Dante watching me closely, mumbling something to each other.
Dante walks toward us, and I pull away from Linda. I give her a tight smile as Dante tells her to go upstairs. She says something to him, a protest of sorts, but I can’t hear. It’s like white noise in my ears. I turn toward the window and look outside, only to see the cop car leaving, driving away to leave me to this fate I’ve chosen.
Dante stands next to me and puts a hand on my arm. “Come sit with me, Elle.” I look up at him and try to speak, but I can’t. The knot in my stomach grows larger and my skin turns to ice with fear. I nod since the words won’t come out.
He leads me to his office. Anthony falls in line behind me. I'm convinced it’s a sentencing. I’m being led to my death. Tears leak out of the corners of my eyes as I sit in the chair in front of his desk. Dante’s quick to come to my side as I put my hands over my face and sob.
“I swear I didn’t--” I try to speak, but a hiccup interrupts me.
He shushes me and pats my back. “It’ll be alright, Elle. We’re just waiting for Vince.” Hearing his name helps calms me down. Vince will take care of me. He’ll protect me. I know he will.
After a moment my breath evens out, and my head seems to clear. I feel tired and emotionally drained as well. “When will he be here?” I finally manage to ask.
Dante searches my face for a moment, and I see Anthony sit in the chair on the far side of the room. “That depends on what you told them,” he finally says.
“I didn’t tell them anything,” I answer back. A smile grows slowly on his face.
“I believe you.” He sits at his desk and pulls out a bottle of some brown liquid. “Would you like a drink, Elle?”
I scrunch up my nose. “I don’t like whiskey.” He laughs from deep in his chest.
“Good thing this is bourbon then. I’m sure you could use a drink.” He pours three shots, and gives one to me as Anthony reaches for his.
“Throw it back and I’ll get you a chaser.” He winks and tosses his shot back, so I do the same with mine. Ugh. It tastes awful.
I put the glass on the table and look at him straight in the eyes. “The chaser?” I ask. I could really fucking use it. I want to lick my dress to get this taste out of my mouth, but then I’d have to lift the hem up to my face, and that wouldn’t be ladylike at all.
Before Dante can answer, the door opens behind me and I turn in my seat to see who it is.
“Vince!” I get up from the chair, knocking it into the desk and run into his arms. He holds me tight, and I melt into him. Everything is better now. I nuzzle into his arms. The heat from the liquor intensifies the warmth in my chest.
I pull back and look up at him with wide eyes. “I didn’t--”
He kisses me on the lips, cutting me off. He pulls back and a small grin pulls at his lips. “I know, sweetheart.”
“Do they have anything?” I hear Anthony ask.
“Nothing. They were reaching.” Vince answers over the top of my head. He leans down and gives me a peck on the lips. I grip him tighter, and he rubs my back in soothing strokes.