PROLOGUE
Valentina
“Are you sure you don’t want Roger to walk you to your car?” Carla asked as I struggled into my rain jacket, groaning since I’d left my apartment without my umbrella.
Roger was the wonderful man who’d given me a job at his diner without any hesitation. He was also the kind of guy who didn’t take shit from anyone. Maybe that’s why he and I got along so well. I adored the happy couple, two people madly in love, enjoying every day as if it was their last.
If only I could find someone who’d keep me warm at night.
“Stop worrying. I’ll be just fine.” I tried to keep from grumbling even if I was in a pissy mood. Two customers had refused to leave after finishing their late dinner, debating the final quarter of the Miami Heat game as if they could force a change in the score.
On top of hanging around for an extra two hours, they’d tipped shit. Maybe that’s why my mood had dropped into the toilet. AllI wanted to do was to get home, check on my sleeping princess, grab a glass of wine, and crawl under the covers.
“You have the mace I gave you. Right?” Carla was one of the sweetest people I knew, more like a mother hen than a friend, although at times she was both.
I grabbed my purse, riffling through the oversized vinyl bag until I was able to prove the can’s existence. “Now, stop worrying. Two blocks. I’ll even take the shortcut.” I blew her a kiss as I always did when she worried about me and headed out into the night.
Ugh. The rain was chilly even though the humidity was thick. As luck would have it, I’d had to park an extra block further away on a night when thunderstorms hadn’t been predicted. Wacky Miami weather.
I dug for my keys and tried to stay close to the building. Maybe the shallow eaves would keep me from getting soaked. That brought a smile to my face since my clothes were already plastered to my skin.
As usual, I cut through the alley for the shortcut I’d mentioned, the stench of rotting garbage and piss tamer than normal. Still, I wrinkled my nose and tried to keep from taking a deep breath. I was almost at the end of the grimy, dark passage when I heard a noise that prompted a full stop. A trickle of fear skittered down my spine.
Very slowly, I turned my head, trying to stay calm while the creepy-crawlies lingered. Seeing nothing except for the usual ugly shadows and dumpsters, I pushed forward.
Until I heard another noise. This time the sound was unmistakable.
Someone was pleading for their life.
“Please. I didn’t say anything. Nothing. I swear to God.”
The man’s voice echoed and it was close. Blinking rain from my eyelashes, I noticed two figures near the end of the alley. While there was no moon and only the ugly fluorescent streetlight, I could clearly see what one man held in his hand.
A machete.
Oh, my God.
Without making a sound, I slipped behind the dumpsters, pressing one hand over my mouth to keep from screaming.
“You should have thought about that before crossing the Delgado family.” The man’s voice was deep and husky, zero emotion in his threat, but I heard every word.
“I didn’t say anything, I swear to God.” The other man was wailing as the assailant dragged him further into the alley. Even with the commotion, no one would dare try to help. People in this area of the city were used to seeing violent crimes. I wasn’t.
Terrified, I hunkered even closer to the brick wall, praying to God one of the residents in the building had called police. My cellphone. If I could grab my cellphone…
There wasn’t a chance of saving the man’s life.
In the dim light that would linger in my mind in weeks or months of nightmares, I witnessed my first murder as the assailant swung the machete down and across the man’s face and chest with a slow and easy rhythm.
Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck.
I watched in horror as the severed head tumbled to the pavement, rolling as if a bowling ball. Coming in my direction. Nausea swept through me, thick with bile.
The assailant stood over the dead man, taking a deep whiff. Was he enjoying the stench of the blood he’d released? I watched in continued horror as he laughed softly and picked something up off the ground.
The tiniest gasp, the sound strangled and whispered left my throat.
Instantly, the monster lifted his head, slowly turning it in my direction. Then he took several steps closer, taking his time as if stalking his prey. When he was only a few yards away, he stopped.
