I did as she said wondering what she was going to do.
She cupped my face and brushed her nose against mine.
“There’s a man sitting across the bar on the left. He came into Gullimi’s last night. Your name was dropped a few times. He’s watching us now,” she whispered.
Fuck. “What does he look like?”
“Thin, longish hair, and a mole on his chin.” Her eyes flicked up past mine then back to focus on me.
“What’s he doing now?”
“Still watching. Another guy just joined him. They were both together last night.”
“Hey, I don’t want you hanging around bars like that. It’s dangerous.”
“You almost sound like you care.” She giggled, running her fingers over my cheek.
I wondered how the fuck we must have looked to everyone else here.
Amelia would not be happy if she saw me like this.
“I do care. If you need money, you let me know.”
“I don’t need or want anything from you.” She went to move away, but I pulled her back and bent low to her ear.
“I don’t care if you want it or not, and I’m being serious.” From inside my jacket, I took my wallet and gave it to her. I took her hand and closed her fingers around the hard leather. There were five hundred dollars cash in there and about ten grand on the credit card. “Get gone for a while. Use the cash first. It’s enough to get out of Chicago and stay some place safe. Password for my credit card is 0100. Take everything on there.”
“Luc—”
“Maria, I’m serious. You glued up to me like this just made you a target.”
“I know.” She held my gaze. “He, um… he took out his phone the minute I walked up to you. Maybe he’s talking about you, maybe he’s talking about me. Or both. Risky. But you take risks when you love someone.” Her voice quivered.
My lips parted, and all I could do was stare. She loved me. I felt even worse now because I couldn’t return the sentiment.
I’d known Maria for years. It had started wild and always stayed wild. It was just sex, nothing more, not even a date. She usually worked at the diner Claudius and I liked going to. When she saw me, she knew what I wanted. I should at least have some level of feelings for her to consider her mine at one point or another. But no. Not even now. Yet there was Amelia, who I’d only known for months.
“Maria, I…” There was nothing I could say that wouldn’t make me sound like a jerk.
“I didn’t say it for you to tell me back.” A little smile tugged at the corners of her delicate mouth. “You’d be lying, and you’ve never been a liar.”
“I care about you.” I had to say something, and that was the truth.
She leaned in again and brushed her lips against my cheek. “Be careful, Lucian, and thanks.”
She stepped back, still holding my gaze, then moved away from me.
I watched her until she left the bar, going through the large oak doors. The hair stood up on the back of my neck as I now felt like I was being watched.
Please be okay, Maria.
Later, I’d send someone to check on her. Right now, I had to take care of these guys.
I stood up and walked out back to where the dumpsters were. I hid in the alley way behind the metal door.
Just as I predicted, a man came through matching the description of what Maria had given me. As I’d walked out of the bar, I didn’t need to look at him to get a picture. Doing it this way was enough. He stepped out and looked around with confusion on his stupid face.
The stupid look was the first to go when I slammed the door shut and jumped out at him. The fool tried to draw his gun, but he was too late. The fucker didn’t get a chance to because I drew mine first and shot off his middle and forefinger. He screamed, and blood spurted from his hand.
