Her sudden appearance was just something else I hadn’t been expecting.
Tonight was going to be a very long night.
CHAPTER 18
Anna
The bastard thought I was lying.
Still.
He thought I was in on whatever stupid crime the bartender asshole had been involved him. I wanted to tell Jaxon what I thought of his beliefs, but I was still shaking.
Violence and murder had been a part of my life since my earliest memories. However, bloodshed had been infrequent unless someone had been out of revenge.
My father had been cutthroat, yet less so than my grandfather. But in his ability to treat everyone fairly, he’d garnered more respect, which had meant fewer incidents of betrayal amongst his soldiers. By the time I was ten years old, the soldier who’d followed me everywhere, to school, to the playground, and to my doctor was more like a big brother than my own flesh and blood one.
He’d helped keep the loneliness at bay, especially since my mother hadn’t had the time of day for me.
As I sat hugging Zorro’s neck while staring at the lifeless body of a man I’d barely been introduced to, I was struck by how similar this was to certain events in my teenage years during a time of upheaval when other members of the Five Families and the Camorra tried unsuccessfully to oust my father from the position ofIl Capo di tutti Capi. Boss of all bosses.
It was a horrible time I’d never forget.
When I looked away from the bartender, I closed my eyes, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. I was aware of a presence less than a minute later. The moment I allowed myself to open my eyes, the sight of the handsome prince crouched in front of me was both frightening and alluring.
“Would you like to tell me how you met Damien?”
The question was so far removed and so full of accusations that I had to get away from him. Jerking to my feet, I was determined to do just that when he moved quickly in front of the door, preventing me from leaving.
I glanced down at my hands and arms, realizing they were splattered with blood. I rubbed my hands on the stupid shirt, no longer caring if I had the job. The reminder of the very life I’d fought to leave was too much. I’d go work at McDonalds.
His second-in-command was amused at the entire situation, leaning against the wall and watching the two of us interact as if it were a comedy show.
Jaxon also stood, moving directly in front of me. Just then, two other men waltzed into the room. They were huge men, theirmuscles bulging through their suit jackets. I also knew the type, security guards who would do anything to keep the person they were assigned to protect alive.
They’d obviously handled cleanup duties before and came prepared, ordering a crew of four who were in what looked like Tyvek jumpsuits. They carried huge bags with them and I knew exactly what was inside.
Cleaning supplies to cover up the murder. If I had to guess, I’d say the body would be dumped in the Gulf within an hour.
“Damien? You mean the man you murdered?” My question was laced with acid and Jaxon didn’t like my tone very much.
The others in the room seemed surprised, even shocked that I’d dare talk to the boss that way. I wasn’t here to please the man. I just wanted a long, hot shower.
“He betrayed me.” Jaxon’s chest was heaving, his voice dropping several decibels.
“I’m beginning to wonder why everyone doesn’t.”
I was certain he was about to get very angry with me when he took my elbow into his hand, leading me from the room. He stopped in the hallway, pulling me to face him. “While I understand you’re distraught from having your partner turn against you?—”
“Let’s get one thing straight. He’s not my partner. I don’t know him.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
You bet I knew how the methods of interrogation worked. I’d been forced to watch my father handle one that had turned uglyquickly. He’d done so to teach me a lesson. But this was Jaxon being an arrogant jerk. I took a step away, rolling my hand down my outfit. “While I realize you probably go for the chicks with little upstairs who prefer wearing clothes like this, I’m only doing so because I was given the uniform to wear for my night of orientation. Remember the second job I mentioned when you cornered me earlier?”
Jaxon looked at me skeptically.
“She’s right, boss. Ms. Prince asked me to hire Ms. Scavo.” The manager I’d met before had been brought into the room. Even he was terrified.
