I knew what he was doing. It was an amateur tactic — keep me talking while he moved his men into position. But I was smarter than him and was already moving to counter his moves. With Jessica safely out of the way, I moved as quickly and quietly as I could through the kitchen, slipping through the door that led to the back of the house. From there, I circled back around to the living room. Keeping just behind the doorway, I peeked out and saw Don Lorenzo’s men creeping toward the kitchen, guns raised, ready to shoot. Don Lorenzo himself, was standing near the front door — the cowardly little prick.
They were within a few feet of the kitchen doorway when I stepped out from my hiding spot and fired two quick rounds, each bullet catching one of Lorenzo’s men in the head. The bodies hadn’t even hit the floor yet before I was across the room, the barrel of my gun stuffed in Lorenzo’s mouth. His eyes were wide and his face was flushed. And for the first time since I’d met him, I saw actual fear in his eyes.
“Here’s the deal,” I said quietly. Slowly. “You’re gonna turn around and walk out. You’re gonna get into your car, drive away, and forget that you ever fucking knew me or the girl. You got that?”
The mob boss narrowed his eyes, that defiant look of dark anger back on his face again. To emphasize my point, I jammed the barrel of the gun a little further into his mouth and clicked back the hammer.
“Do you understand,” I said. “Nod if y
ou do. Otherwise, I’m about to decorate that wall behind you with your fuckin’ brains.”
Lorenzo’s eyes widened slightly, but I could see he was turning it over in his mind, wondering if I’d actually have the guts to do it. My preference was to avoid killing a mob boss, if at all possible. Doing it would bring a heat down on me that I didn’t want or need. But I’d gone this far already — I would take it to the limit if I had to.
Finally, the light of defiance left his face and he nodded. Reluctantly.
Slowly, I lowered the gun but kept my face inches from his. “Remember,” I said, my voice low and menacing. “You’re alive right now because I chose to let you live. If I ever see you or your goons sniffing around me or her again, I’m not going to be so generous. Now, get the fuck out of here.”
The mob boss turned and walked out of my house — surprisingly with no last parting insult or threat. He got into his car and drove away, leaving the corpses of his three men behind. I watch, waiting until I see his taillights fade into the distance until I start to relax and let my guard down a bit.
“It’s okay, Jessica,” I said. “We’re safe now.”
And as I heard her footsteps approaching me from behind, I hoped that was true.
9
Jessica
Chance Carter
Jason looks into my eyes and the way he looks at me, the way his eyes seem to stare into my soul, I know I’ve found a man I can trust. This isn’t just some crazy, meaningless night that almost killed me, this is the night that’s going to change my entire life. The connection between us, the way we respond to each other, the way our bodies connect in soul-tingling pleasure, that’s something real. That’s something you don’t give up. If I were to lose Jason now, after all we’ve been through, I’d die.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I say.
“I’m not sure,” he says. “There’s something about you, Jessica.”
I smile, a little awkwardly, and I can see there’s desire in his eyes. I’m surprised, given the amount of pleasure we’ve already indulged in. If he’s ready to go again, I’ll be amazed.
“Come with me,” he says, stretching out his hand toward mine.
I take it and he leads me out of the house and back to his motorcycle. Already getting used to the powerful machine, I don’t even hesitate as he gets on and I hop on behind him. I put my arms around his waist and something about it feels so right. He revs the engine and a moment later we’re back on the road, the cool air rushing around us.
He takes me out of the city and I’d have liked to ask him where we were going but the noise was too loud. I just hold on to him as we leave the city and take a highway that rises up into the mountains, heading toward the coast. Finally, he pulls up at a place where the road ends and kills the engine. We’re on a huge cliff, high above the ocean, and the sun is just beginning to rise above the horizon. The scene is breathtaking.
“Wow,” I gasp. “I never knew there could be anything so beautiful.”
He looks at me, again with that powerful gaze that seems to know exactly what I’m thinking, and says, “Neither did I.”
I blush.
“You up for a little fun?” he asks.
“Fun? After the night we just had, I think I’ve had about all the fun I can handle.”
He gives me a very sly look, as if to say he’s got better ideas, and says, “I think you could be persuaded otherwise.”
“What did you have in mind?” I say.
“Well, you’re going to have to trust me,” he says.