I nod and step around her as CJ follows. Once I’m through the threshold and the door is clicked closed behind us, I try to relax, but it’s pointless. The same squeaky wooden floors run the entire length of the foyer to the hall. The stairs still have the chipping white paint they did when I left, and the outdated pictures of kids that actually look happy decorate the walls. The only difference is the numerous live plants dotted in every corner and on top of every table, I can see. Colorful flowers overflow the vases as Ivy spills out of ceramic pots.
It’s a nice touch to liven the place up and make it seem welcoming if you didn’t know the kind of shit that really happened within these walls.
As the blonde starts up the stairs, I move back to the door and flip the lock. “Go down the hall, all the way to the kitchen, and guard the door there. It leads straight into the alley. If she tries to run, shoot her.”
CJ’s eyes widen slightly with my demand, but he doesn’t question me. He starts down the hall I indicated, until he disappears right in time. The woman I met at the door descends the stairs first, taking the first few slowly until finally, another woman appears behind her.
And now it all makes sense.
Her face is riddled with scabs, her hair is matted and unwashed, and her clothes are dirty.Shedefinitely looks like the type of person to be involved with Clyde and even Raymond. If I had to guess, it’s either meth or heroin.
“Amy?” I question with a smile. It’s fake, but she doesn’t need to know that.
Her eyes dart around, looking for something, and I guess it’s CJ. No doubt the other woman mentioned him, and now it has sweet Amy here on edge.
“That’s me.” She returns my fake smile, doing her best to keep the twitching of her body under control. “Can I help you?”
I nod. “Clyde sent me.”
As soon as his name leaves my mouth, her eyes grow wide, and she tries to run to the kitchen. I grab her knotted hair before she can get away and jerk her back to me, watching as she crumples at my feet. “Now, Amy, you and I both know why running isn’t smart, right?”
She nods, looking up at me with tears in her eyes.
“Look, I’ll pay whatever debt she has,” the blonde interrupts. “Just leave. Please.” Her begs are desperate, and as much as I would like to do that because I can’t stand even being here, I can’t. I need to show Clyde I’m still trustworthy and can finish a job. Even if it means coming back to the very place I hate the most.
I turn, intending to give her a reply, but I don’t get the chance. As soon as my eyes meet hers, her hand shoots out, curled into a small fist, and connects with my face. “Run Amy!” she screams, but I can’t get them both at once.
I decide to go for the blonde since CJ is at the back. He can deal with the junkie.
As Amy scrambles away, I step closer to the blonde. When my chest brushes her, she immediately moves back, never stopping until her back hits the wall. She looks around for an escape, but there isn’t one. I have her pinned.
I grab her throat in one hand and squeeze while bringing my nose to hers. “What’s your name?” Instead of an answer, she spits in my face.
Her saliva clings to my lips and runs down my chin, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make my cock hard. Jutting my tongue out, I lick up every drop I can, then run it over her lips. “That isn’t an answer.”
Her chest heaves as my grip tightens. “Lily.” She finally chokes out, knowing she has no other option. “Lily Ciccone.”
“You just made a mistake,Lily.” I squeeze her neck tighter, using my grip to pull her head from the wall before slamming it back.
The picture frames shake, threatening to fall, as a soft scream bubbles from her throat.
“My issue isn’t with you, it’s with your sister. Do you understand that?” I ask, leaning close to her ear so I know she hears me.
She shakes her head as much as she can. “She’s my blood. My family. Her debt is mine, so let me pay it.”
When I click my tongue and give her a head shake of my own, she brings her knee up, ready to ram it into my dick, but I lift my leg, blocking hers.
I smile. “So noble, but so stupid. You want to see what happens to bad girls, Lily?”
Her mouth opens on a silent scream, trying to take more air into her lungs as her face starts to pale. I drop my hold, then grab her bicep and lead her through the hall and to the kitchen.
I’m expecting to see CJ there with Amy, but neither are in sight. The backdoor is wide open, with the harsh air swirling inside. With Lily’s stunt, I was angry, but now I’m full-blown pissed.
“Where did she go?” I yell, turning my face to Lily.
She moves her free hand to shield her face and shakes her head. “I don’t know!”
“I don’t like liars.”
