Vanished in Chicago (Vanished)

As much as I wanted to spit on his shoes and walk away, I thought of my mother, who devoted her life to this asshole, even knowing she would never be anything but his mistress. The side piece he went to when his Queen wasn’t putting out. I realized this was the chance to put her in the front. Give her the spotlight. Move her from the slums to the Castle. So, I shook his hand and sat back down. If only I had realized it was my grandfather who really gave the order to elevate me.

From there, he gave me the file on the entire DeSantis Family from city to city. By the end of the meeting, it was determined that our best bet was for me to kidnap Romeo DeSantis’s daughter, Anabella, and only return her in exchange for his territory. A better man would have qualms about doing such a thing, but my blood is made of mud and shit. I don’t feel it. I don’t give a shit. The Pruszków Mafia, though now based in the U.S., does not suffer fools.

I looked up as much as I could about the family, but there were no pictures of his daughters. He is smart; I give him that. So, I spent hours, months outside of his home watching people come and go. Then I saw her walking out of the front door one day, books and a case of some sort in her hands, walking down the street. I looked around, shocked at first that she didn't have a shadow. You know, some inconspicuous, dumb fuck tailing her to make sure she doesn’t get taken. Yeah. She didn’t have one of those.

She walked down the streets of Lincoln Park, unaware that I had my sights locked on her and she had just become my target. From afar, she seemed normal. Average aside from her head full of blonde curly locks that draped down her back like a curtain or breadcrumbs leading to the finale. I operated on this theory for a week. Then one day, she goes into a Starbucks on the corner of Fullerton and Damen. I still don’t know why, but something propelled me to get out of the car and go inside.

I walk in and stop, taking note of every face in the room, making sure I am seen. The word is spreading about my new position, and though I am aware of the whispers and the shock that the gutter rat is now the Prince, I also know my grandfather under no uncertain terms let it be known. So, I give the room a minute to feel my presence before I spot my prey and walk toward her. Oblivious to the danger that has settled on her, her back is to the room as she engages very animatedly with the boy behind the counter. My jaws clench when I see his eyes drop down to her chest more than once. I actually find myself reaching for my piece before I remember where the fuck I am and that she isn’t mine. Yet.

I stand behind her, not close enough to touch her, but close enough to smell her hair, and fuck, that is a mistake. She smells like little girl cakes and cinnamon. Christ. How the fuck is she out here unprotected? I am lost in my head and my pants, to be honest. So lost, I don’t notice she has turned around until she runs right into me, her drink splashing on my shirt.

“Oh my gosh. I am so sorry. I didn’t see you.” Her voice washes over me like a rainstorm on a quiet day, and I physically convulse for a second, digging my nails into my hand to keep from slinging her over my shoulder and walking out. I bite my lip, watching her bite hers as she tries to wipe my shirt off with these flimsy ass napkins. She is close enough to touch, and if she doesn’t back the fuck up, that is what I will do.

“It’s ok little Tink. I have more in the car.” The words come out grittier than I mean them too, but my cock is thumping against my thigh since I don’t have him contained in boxers or briefs. She licks her lips and looks at me, and I know I am fucked.

“Tink?” she asks, wrinkling her cute little nose at the name. Fuck, this girl is dangerous. It might just be me, but I swear everyone in here is silently getting off on the tension between us, and my trigger finger is getting twitchy, unable to take the attention shifted to her. “That is not my name,” she says sassily, putting her hand on her hip.

“So, what is your name, little girl?” Her cheeks flush, and her head dips before she jerks back and looks at me.