Protected By the Monster

“Through here,” Don Leone said, leading us toward the back doorway. There was a short hall to the right with two more doors, one standing slightly open to reveal teal-colored tiles and a white porcelain sink in surprisingly clean condition.

The left back door opened into a kitchen, barren granite countertops, simple off-white linoleum floor, a large stainless steel refrigerator next to a gas burner.

And sitting at a long white table was a blonde girl with bright blue eyes and one of the meanest scowls I’d ever seen in my life.

She stood as soon as Don Leone stepped into the room, arms crossed over her chest. I stared at her, my heart beating fast. She has thick lips, a small nose, tiny round ears, her hair piled up in a messy bun on her head. She wore a tank top that showed off just a hint of her round, firm breasts, and her skin-tight yoga pants suggested she kept herself in shape.

The girl was fucking gorgeous.

“Uncle Luciano,” she said, her voice dripping with anger. “You can’t just keep disappearing. I told your other guy, what was his name? Dino the Dinosaur? Whatever, I told him I’m not staying and I’m telling you—”

Don Leone held up a hand and she stopped talking, but she looked like he’d slapped her.

“Clair,” he said, “please, just a moment more. May I introduce you to someone?”

“I keep telling you, I’m not staying,” she said. “I know Uncle Fazio left me a lot of money, but—”

“This is Luca,” Don Leone said like she never started speaking at all. “Luca’s going to stay with you for a while, make sure you’re safe.”

She threw up her hands. “You’re not listening to me.”

He smiled at her, the pained expression of a man that had to deal with an unruly, frustrating child.

“I’m listening, Clair,” he said. “But you’re not comprehending your situation.”

“So, what, I’m a captive?”

“Consider yourself a part of the witness protection program,” Don Leone said with a delighted little smile.

Roberto snorted a laugh and leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

She glared at Roberto then looked back at her uncle.

“Please,” she said. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do. I know your business is dangerous. But I haven’t been involved in any of this in my entire life, and I barely even knew Uncle Fazio, and—”

“Luca,” Don Leone said, interrupting her. “Come introduce yourself to my niece. Luca is an important lieutenant, one of our best, you’ll be in good hands.”

I grimaced a smile and stepped forward. “Good to meet you,” I said.

Her eyes flashed to mine for the first time. She made a face, looked back at her uncle, then looked at me a second time. Her gaze lingered longer, her mouth parting ever so slightly, the pink tip of her pretty tongue licking along her plump bottom lip.

“Nice, uh, to meet you, too,” she said, then looked back at Don Leone. “Like I said, I appreciate this, but I’m not staying.”

“You’re staying,” Don Leone said with an air of finality, his words sharp and solid.

Clair took a step back, a look of surprise in her eyes.

“You’re staying,” Don Leone said again, though softer that time. “This is a temporary measure, just until we’re sure that you’re safe. But believe me when I say, right now, you are most definitely not safe, not in this city, not in this country. You don’t truly understand the blessing and the curse you’ve been given, but right now, you’re one of the biggest targets in the whole city.” He stepped toward her, rapping his cane on the floor three times. “So do not misbehave and do not make Luca’s job more difficult.”

“And what’s his job?” she asked, her voice still somehow dripping with venom, despite the fear in her eyes.

“He’s your bodyguard,” Don Leone said.

“Babysitter,” she said.

“I prefer bodyguard,” I said.

She shot me a look then turned back to her uncle. “Please—”

“Luca will get you anything you need,” Don Leone said, already turning away. “He’ll stay here with you, sleep in this house, make sure you’re safe at all times until we can figure out what to do with you.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, dread already filling the pit of my stomach.

This was going to be a very, very boring job.

And a very frustrating job, if her attitude was anything to judge it by.

“Good,” Don Leone said, limping out, leaning on his cane with Roberto by his side. “Spend what you need to spend, get her whatever she wants. Make sure she’s safe and comfortable. You have your sidearm?”

“Yes, sir,” I said, and glanced back at Clair.

She stared at me, her mouth hanging open.

I looked back at Don Leone and forced myself not to smile.

“Very good,” Don Leone said. “She’s under your protection for now. She is the most important thing in this city at the moment, and I suspect the Jalisco know about her. They have men in Chicago, and they’ll have heard about what Fazio did.”