“Don’t you have two other children who could actually benefit from your interference?” I question him.
“The drop has moved forward. Two days. I need you to make sure it all goes smoothly. Is it going to be a problem?” he asks, instead of answering.
“When have I evernotmade sure everything goes smoothly?”
“You’ve never had the distraction of a woman you actually care about before.”
“Again, I met her yesterday. Don’t go buying wedding gifts just yet.” I shake my head.
“Well, I’m not getting any younger, and you do need an heir.” My dad shrugs. “Bring Caitlyn to the house. I want to meet her.”
I laugh. I love my family. I really do. But what is it about the fact that I just met the womanyesterdaythat they don’t understand? Sure, I’ll bring her to my insane Russian mafia family’s compound, because nothing is going to scare her away quicker than seeing a house surrounded by armed men.
Chapter Sixteen
That eerie feeling that I’m being watched hasn’t left me all morning. I’m doing everything I can to not go into full-blown panic mode. My eyes continue to scan thediner. It’s been busier than usual, and a lot of men in really nice suits have been tipping me extremely well.
I have a feeling that these are friends of Neo’s, but that would be insane. Why would he send his friends here?
He wouldn’t. I know he said he’d be back to pick me up at the end of my shift, but I doubt he meant it. And I’m okay if he doesn’t. I can’t let myself fall into the trap of trusting a man again. No matter how good he made me feel with his tongue this morning.
A shiver runs up my spine at the memory, a much better feeling than the dread I’ve been carrying with me all day. I hate having to constantly look over my shoulder, wondering whenhe’sgoing to find me. Because I have no doubt that he will, and when he does, that will be the end for me. He’s told me multiple times that if I ever left, he’d find me and kill me because he wasn’t going to let anyone else have me.
Henry, my once sweet, caring, doting boyfriend turned rage-filled captor. I never thought I’d be that girl, the one who let herself be beat on. The thing is, it didn’t just happen. No, Henry was smart. First, he isolated me from everyone I knew. Then he slowly gained more and more control of my life, until I didn’t choose a single thing for myself. Not even the clothes I wore or the food I ate.
This is my chance to take back my life, even if it’s only for a short time. I get to make decisions for me.
I scan the diner again. He’s not here. He hasn’t found me. I breathe a sigh of relief and then my head turns towards the door when it dings.
Neo’s brother walks in. He smiles at me, but instead of coming to the counter, I watch him walk over to another man in a very nice suit sitting alone in a booth. Lex slides into the seat opposite him and the two start talking.
Maybe all these men are Neo’s friends, but why would he send them here?
I walk around the counter and approach them with a smile. My hand wraps tightly around my pen and notebook. “Hi, what can I get for you?” I ask Lex.
He tilts his head at me, a carefree smile on his face. “Caitlyn, how’s your day going?”
“Good, yours?” I reply because I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know him. I met him in his brother’s house while wearing that same brother’s sweatshirt.
Oh god, he must think…My cheeks flush at the thought.
“I got kicked out of college, so my days have just freed up.” He shrugs.
“Um, can I get you anything?” I try again.
“What’s good here?” Lex asks.
I lean in closer and whisper, “Absolutely nothing.”
He laughs. “I’ll take a coffee. Thanks.”
“And would you like anything?” I ask his friend, who has been sipping at the same cup of coffee for an hour now.
“This is Enzo, our cousin. He’s the grouchy one. Ignore him,” Lex tells me.
“I’m good. Thanks.” Enzo gives me a small smile, and I return to the other side of the counter. Pouring Lex’s coffee before delivering it to him.
I move onto the next table, where a new bunch of men have just sat down. “Good afternoon. Can I get you anything to drink to start with?” I do my best to smile through the anxiety.
