The Irish and the Russians?
Fuck, they’ve been here all along.
White-hot rage burns through my veins that the Irish played me for a fool. They’ll fucking pay for this. Yanking my phone from my pocket, I call Claudio’s number, and the moment he answers, I order, “Get the men. We’re leaving, right fucking now.”
My senses are on high alert as I shove the device back in my pocket, and sparing the girl one last glance, I say, “Until next time, kitten.” Before she can reply, I stalk to the door, and yanking it open, I leave the VIP room.
The air is thick with tension. It doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel right at all.
The Duffys were here all this time, which means they don’t want me to know.
It’s a fucking trap.
My heartbeat speeds up, and all my senses sharpen as I keep glancing around me while I walk down the hallway and weave my way through the tables. My men fall in behind me, with Claudio by my side. When I hear my name being called from somewhere at the back of the club, I reach behind me and pull my gun out, finding comfort in the solid steel touching my skin. My men instantly do the same, knowing to follow my lead.
I’m not gonna let myself get caught in a fucking Irish trap.
I’ll make them fucking bleed for even trying.
And when it’s over… I’ll find that girl.
Harper
The door snaps closed, but my heart still thumps in my chest. And I still feel his breath on my skin even though he’s not even here anymore … and for some reason, a small trickle of disappointment seeps through my bones.
What the hell is wrong with me?
One minute, I’m smacking a customer on the head for touching me, and the next minute, some Mafioso storms into my hideout, totally overwhelming me.
And I let him.
I let him come close, despite knowing the risks. Despite instinctively knowing he’s a bad guy, I wanted him to touch me.
My skin sizzled when he tried to touch me. My body responded to every word he said, and it made me lower my defenses. Not that I think a tray would’ve protected me against a man like him. I swore I could see a gun sticking up from underneath his jacket.
He’s definitely someone I need to watch out for … and I don’t think this will be the last time we meet.
Marcello.
At first, I thought he was kidding when he told me his name, but now I can’t stop hearing him say it, and it makes goose bumps scatter on my skin.
When he saw me hit that guy in the face, I knew I was in trouble.
I wonder why he chose to follow me and what he planned to do if he had his way with me. A part of me wishes he didn’t just leave out of nowhere like he had some place to be, but that’s foolish to even consider. He’s not some ordinary guy, that’s for sure.
I’ve never felt this way around any man. Like I was out of breath, wanting to gasp, my body shaking with need as he inched closer and closer until I wanted to close my eyes and be swept away by him.
I lost myself in the moment—and I cannot allow it to happen again.
He’s one of them—the men from the PI’s document. I’m sure of it.
The investigator was right. These are some very bad men, and I’m in too deep already. I gulp and take in a deep breath to calm my nerves, but nothing helps. Something’s not right. After he mentioned those Irishmen, his eyes flickered with a fervor I’d never seen. He went from a hunter pouncing down on his prey to looking pissed off and stalking out of here in mere seconds.
For a mafia guy to do that must mean some bad shit is about to go down.
And now I’m going to be a part of it.
I have to get out of this club.
With the tray still in my hand, I march to the door. Right then, a loud bang makes me jump back.
What the … gunshots?!
“Dellucci! Show yourself!” a loud voice yells from inside the club.
Another bang follows, and I lower myself to the floor, huddled behind the door.
“DELLUCCI!” another one yells. “Time’s up!”
Suddenly, loud bangs are all around me. The club is being hit right now, and I’m fucking right beside the fire. My heart beats out of my chest as fear ripples through me.
Fuck!
What the hell is happening?
Panic flows through my veins as the other girls scream from inside the club. Are they dragging them away? Or worse? And what kind of dirty plans do they have?
Just the thought makes my heart almost thud right out of my chest.
Oh my god, I need to get out of here or hide.