Page 15 of Stolen Compliance

“I think you’re fine. I mean…” Her cheeks flame. “I think we all have weird days where nothing goes right.”

“Yeah. But still, embarrassing myself in front of a pretty girl? My friends will never let me live it down.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret.” She winks, and I lower my face, acting bashful.

“Well, I will let you go. I’m sure you have class or something.”

“Actually, I was headed to the food court; the coffee from earlier is wearing off already.”

“Really? Me too. If it’s alright with you, do you mind if I walk with you? I mean, we’re going the same direction, anyway. Don’t want you to think I’m stalking you or anything.”

She bites her lip and looks up at me coyly from beneath her lashes. “I’d like that.”

We walk down the last few steps together. “I’m Teo, by the way.”

“Teo…I like that name. Different. I’m Amanda.”

“Nice to meet you.” When she offers her hand, I take it and give it a little squeeze, running my thumb across the top before letting it go.

She can’t hide her interest as she flushes and tucks her hair behind her ear as we walk. The food court is in the middle of campus, while her class is at the far end, clear on the other side of the school, so it’s a nice little walk to our destination, plenty of opportunity to maneuver her into my trap. There’s a bit more risk with the potential of people seeing us together, but it’s one I’m willing to take.

“Let’s go this way,” she says. “It cuts down on the walking time.”

It’s the same suggestion I was going to make, having scoped out this route while I waited for her to finish class. She’s practically begging to be taken, walking right into danger without a second thought…

We slip into an alley between two buildings, and while it’s more secluded, it still comes with risk being broad daylight. We’re the only ones around now, though, and unless I want to drag this out longer, it’s the chance I’ve been waiting for.

Letting her walk ahead of me, I pretend to “trip” over something and crash into her, causing her to stumble.

“I’m so sorry,” I tell her, unable to help the grin that slips across my lips as I grab her from behind, one hand going over her mouth and the other plunging the needle into her neck.

The sedative is fast-acting, meant for moments just like this. She stumbles as I withdraw the needle, pocketing it and shifting her so I can walk her off the path.

To everyone else, it might look like I’m simply helping a friend who might be drunk or high, not knowing her stumbling around is her body trying to fight off the drugs as I force her in the direction of the campus health clinic.

Of course we’re not going to the clinic but the parking lot.

Luca opens the door to the nondescript van we bring out for missions like this. It’s less flashy than other vehicles, more suburban mom than rich sophistication.

He helps me get the girl into the backseat, and as soon as the door is shut behind me, the driver takes off.

Dominic looks over his shoulder at the girl who is quickly losing consciousness and then to me. “Boring,” is all he says.

I snort and relax into my seat, shoving the knocked out girl over to Luca when her body tilts my way.

Whatever. I got the job done without a fuss or a mess; that is a win in my book.

Idon’t ask questions when we drop the girl off. Honestly, I don’t want to know at this point. The idea of what I’m going to do turns my stomach. I didn’t agree with what we did to Lio, making him pay for his brother’s sins.

This? This is just as disgusting. Actually, it’s worse as I listen to Dominic mutter about auctions. At least Il Padrone treated Lio as part of the Family… eventually. This is robbing an innocent of his entire life.

No matter how much I harden my heart, it doesn’t stop the blackness from coating my soul. My hands are already drenched in blood that will never go away, to lose myself in this pitch-dark existence… Will I ever survive to be a Boss? Part of me worries about whether it’s even worth it.

As we pull up to the fucking palace Sergio owns, I jump out and dash inside. Thankfully, the package I had delivered same day is already in the foyer waiting. As soon as I make it to my room, I start to pull off my clothes, needing to hurry.

Gone is the suit I habitually wear. Instead, I slide on jeans, a shirt that proclaims surfing is life, and then add a backwards hat and sunglasses. Hell, I even grudgingly put on the running shoes that I try to scuff up a bit. Glancing in the mirror, I snort at the sight. There’s no way anyone would tie me to today’s excursion now. I put a windbreaker over my arm and jog back downstairs.

Dominic and Teo are lounging in the foyer, locked in their will they-won’t they battle. Normally, it interests me. Right now? It just makes me fucking tired.