I still don’t look at Pepper, even though my story is done. I don’t want to see that same horror on her face.
“And then what?” Her voice cracks from lack of use.
I turn and put a finger to her lips. Stroke her soft cheek. “Cops came. I got tangled up in social services for a bit, and then Don Tacone sorted it all out. Got us a new place to live. Paid our rent, gave me a job.” I chuckle, remembering. I’d thought it was a real job back then, but the old man was just preserving my dignity. “My job was to be Nico’s bodyguard—not that he needed one. But from then on, I was his shadow. Stuck to him like glue. He may not have wanted a best friend, but he got one.” I lean my head against Pepper’s. “I didn’t want to tell you that story. I already know what you think of me.”
Pepper reaches her hand to cup my cheek. We stand there, heads together, each of us touching each other’s faces. “What do you think I think of you?”
Pain ratchets up in my chest, nearly knocking the wind out of me. “I’m soulless.” It’s hard to speak. The words shudder out of me. “A monster.”
Pepper chokes and I realize she’s crying—for me. She shakes her head. “I don’t know what else you’ve done, Tony, but what happened then—that was self-defense. You were a scared boy who did what he had to do to save his mom’s life.” Tears run down her beautiful face, killing me. I want to crush her in my arms, consume her. “Stop judging yourself.”
I do crush her now, gathering her up against me like she’s the life force keeping me breathing.
And she is.
“Pepper.” I pull away and interweave my fingers with hers. “You’re the only one I’ve told that story to. You’re the only one who’s ever asked. Or cared.”
She points at my chest and holds her finger there, then turns her hand to touch her own breastbone. You’re that for me, or something like that. It doesn’t matter. I don’t need words. We communicate on a much deeper level. A beautiful, healing level.
I take her hand and we walk back to the car and that’s when I see him.
A pair of sunglasses and ball cap. The wink of binoculars looking right at us. Someone’s watching. Could be a fed. Could be a hitman. Hard to say for sure, but I’m not sticking around, especially not when Pepper’s involved.
I unlock the car and open Pepper’s door, trying not to show the changes in me—the rush of adrenaline pumping through my veins.
I get in and start the car, gunning it. Behind us, the sunglasses gets in a gold Lexus SUV and follows. It speeds up on me until it’s just a couple cars behind, and when we’re crossing the giant Memorial Bridge, the Lexus shoots forward and tries to slam into the side of my much smaller BMW.
Hitman, then.
I shoot forward and it only catches my tail end, spinning us to the side, but not over the edge. Pepper screams, which scares me almost as much as the attempted murder.
“No screaming, baby. Hang on tight, I’ll get us out of this.” I zoom around several cars, shooting forward, braking hard, swerving.
The SUV follows closely behind, right on our tail.
“Who is that?” Pepper shrieks.
We get off the other side of bridge and I take my shot at speeding around the traffic on the highway. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him close up yet. Someone who wants me dead, apparently.”
“Why?”
“Good question.” I keep driving like a madman, creating a little distance between me and him. Would Junior have put a hit out on me?
Seems unlikely. I don’t think we reached that point. Besides, he’s more of the do-it-himself type, especially if something’s personal. But maybe he wants me dead without Nico’s blame.
I don’t know who else it could be, but in my line of business, enemies crawl out of the woodwork. Just months ago someone showed up and tried to kill Stefano at a poker game.
I keep screaming down the highway, pushing it over one hundred miles an hour. Pepper hangs onto the door handle, gasping and whimpering.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry this happened with you. But I promise, I’m not going to let you get hurt.”
She doesn’t answer, just huddles against the door, leaning away from me.
I keep my eyes on the rear view mirror. When we hit the Vegas exit, I lose the guy.
Which is good, except I’d rather have my eyes on the guy who wants me dead than wait for him to pop out at me.
I skip valet parking and park the Beamer myself in Nico’s private parking area. Pepper tumbles out of the car and my chest aches at the way this went down. Being with me put her in danger. Now she’s scared.