Luca walked in from the doorway, scanning the room, his eyes landing on me.
"Why not just finish him?"
I flicked ash from my cigarette. "Julian was never my real opponent. Carmine still has influence in the family. The old guard still listens to him. If I kill Julian now, it'll only make things messier."
Luca didn't comment. He glanced at the blonde. She shrank back further. Luca gave her a polite smile and gestured.
"Miss, when he wakes up, you two can continue."
I didn't bother with any of this. I turned and left the mansion, got back in the driver's seat, finally able to breathe in the enclosed space.
I rubbed my eyes. My temples were throbbing.
This past week had been a nightmare.
First Frank's assassination attempt, then two moles in the organization.
Julian's ambitions were growing. That's why I had to teach him a lesson tonight.
Crisis averted. Evidence of Julian's attempt to murder his own brother was solid. Even with his leg completely shattered, the old guard couldn't say anything now.
No matter how unhappy Carmine was, the Don's position would never go to a crippled idiot.
But I was still restless.
I'd handled everything, killed who needed killing, beat who needed beating. The calm that should follow violence never came. My chest felt tight, like something was lodged there, couldn't go up or down.
I checked my watch. 10:46 PM. Drew had reported that during my absence this week, Chloe had switched to day shifts.
So in about ten minutes, it would be Chloe's quitting time.
I don't know why I thought of that. I'd been deliberately not thinking about her all week. Every time her face appeared in my mind, I buried it with work. But it was like a spring—the harder you pressed, the higher it bounced back.
I started the car, told myself to go home. But the steering wheel didn't listen. The car headed in a familiar direction. I drove aimlessly through the New York night for twenty minutes before finally surrendering—parking in the shadows of the alley behind the club.
I was furious with myself for this lack of control. Hadn't I already decided to stay away from that woman? Hesitation was unforgivable in my world.
I lit a cigarette, told myself I'd leave after finishing it. Then, before I was halfway through, the back door of the club opened.
Chloe walked out. She wore that old jacket, hair in a simple ponytail, makeup mostly gone, face bare. Liam walked behind her.
My hand clenched the steering wheel, knuckles white.
I stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, told myself to start the car and leave. But instead, the car slowly slid out of its spot, keeping a safe distance, following them.
They walked side by side under the streetlights. Liam walked onthe side closer to the road. When cars passed, he unconsciously moved closer to Chloe.
What a considerate gentleman. I wanted to floor it and run the bastard over. But I didn't. I'd already decided to give up on Chloe, so it didn't matter who she walked with. None of my business.
But my body refused to obey. I killed the headlights and coasted along, half a block back, like a shadow. Until they stopped in front of a run-down apartment building.
From this distance, I couldn't hear what that lowlife was saying to her. But I watched them move closer and closer. Until Liam suddenly reached out and pulled Chloe into his arms.
Fuck. How dare he?
What drove me crazier was that Chloe didn't push him away. She actually leaned into the bastard's shoulder.
This was definitely a heartfelt confession.
