Dominic
I leave the hotel room and make sure the door closes behind me. I just need five minutes without this stupid woman whining at me. You’d swear she thinks she’s some important Don the way she carries on.
The door opens almost immediately, and I stare at her. My face goes red. “Did I not just say to sit tight?”
“I’m not staying up here by myself while you get food. I’ll gamble or something if you don’t want me near you,” she says stubbornly.
I let out a deep breath and count to five in my head. “You are supposed to stay safe.”
“Didn’t you say I’m safer with you?”
If I were the kind of person who hit women, she’d be knocked out.
I turn and start walking. There is obviously no point arguing with her. I hear her hurried footsteps trying to keep up. I could slow down and take smaller steps, but she can work for her right to irritate me constantly.
We reach the elevator and take it down to the ground floor. I follow some signs toward the casino while Sofia tries to fall into step with me.
“Can you slow down a little?” she asks. “You’re always striding everywhere as though you are in a hurry.”
“I am in a hurry,” I say, “that’s the point.”
We find the casino, and nearby is a place called Bistro58. It looks like it serves good food, so I divert to walk there. Sofia follows, and a hostess comes to us. “Table for two?”
I look at Sofia, then sigh. “Yes, a table for two, please. Somewhere private.”
She leads us to a table in the back, and I pull the seat out for Sofia. “Here.”
She sits with her back to the entrance of the restaurant. I sit opposite her and wait for the waiter to come over.
“Two glasses of a decent red wine,” I say. “And we’ll have two specials, whatever they are.”
“You want me to read you what’s on special tonight?” the waiter asks. His name tag reads Todd.
“No, Todd, just order them. Thank you,” I wave him off.
The waiter leaves quickly, and Sofia looks at me. “What if I don’t want the special?”
“Do you have money? “I ask. “Are you paying for dinner?” “No, but what if I have allergies,” she argues.
“Do you argue… just for the sake of arguing?” I ask her, then hold up my hand. “Just keep your thoughts inside your head, and don’t let them spill out of your mouth so often, okay?”
“Wow! Sexist much,” she rolls her eyes. “So, when we’re done eating and you go scout, can I go gamble?”
“No, I scout, and you go upstairs to the room and stay there.” I shake my head. “This isn’t a holiday.”
She stops talking and thankfully stays that way when the wine, and then the food, arrives.
The special is a fish dish, and I dig right in. I’ve always liked fish. She doesn’t seem to mind either as she eats, licking her lips.
I sip my wine and look around, keeping an eye out for anyone who may look suspicious. I enjoy the food, though, and now that Sofia is quiet, I’m content in her company.
At least she’s gorgeous to look at. While she’s distracted, I study her face. If I had to be with someone, I’d be with her. I’ve taken on a role in my family, which means I don’t really have the pleasure of regular relationships because everyone needs to see me as a stone-cold killer. I can’t be seen to let my emotions get mixed up in anything.
If you don’t think with a clear head, you’re going to get killed. I have spent years honing my skills, including training with elite military specialists from across the world. I don’t have time for pansy-ass emotions and getting my panties in a bunch.
Sofia looks up suddenly and sees me looking at her. Her eyes widen. “Is there something on my face?”
I shake my head. “No, I was just looking at you. That’s all.”
She looks at me as though I’m the creepiest thing alive, and I realize now that all I want is a cigar. I flag the waiter down and slip him a hundreddollar bill. “Organize me a cigar, and I’ll tip you generously.” Todd nods and hurries off.
“Cigar? Really?” Sofia asks. “You can’t smoke in the room.”
“I’m going to be scouting outside for a while. I can smoke then,” I say, wiping my mouth on my napkin. “Hurry up and finish so we can get going.”
Sofia’s shoulders drop. I know she doesn’t want to be cooped up in the room, but it’s the best place for her right now.
Todd brings me the bill and the cigar and places them on the table.
There’s a hotel box of matches with it, and I smile. “Thank you, Todd.”
I pay for the meal and tip him a hundred dollars. “There you go, don’t spend it all on a girl. They just break your heart.”
Todd nods. “Thank you so much, sir.”
I stand and offer Sofia my hand. I mean, I do have manners.
I let go of it as soon as she’s up, though. There’s something about touching her that gives me goosebumps. I don’t like it.
I lead her toward the front desk. “You go to the elevator and get upstairs. I’ll scout outside and be up in ten. If you see anything unsettling, run. I’ll find you.”
She nods and walks away. I watch her get onto the elevator and turn to leave the building. As I walk toward the entrance, two men in suits walk in. There are a lot of men in suits in the hotel waiting area, but these two are definitely South American, and the bulges where their guns are holstered are unmistakable. So much for my cigar.
I pocket it and turn around, heading for the elevator. I glance back and see the one thug holding up his phone as though reading something. It dawns on me.
The reason they keep finding us is that they’re tracking her. Something on her is giving her location.
Dammit, I’ll have to get her out of here first, then we can take care of that problem.
I take the stairs to the fourth floor, it doesn’t take me long, and I rush to our room. “Sofia, open,” I call through the door. “And hurry, they’re here.”
The door opens quickly. “How did they find us?”
“We’ll deal with that shortly. Come, we need to get out of here.” I
grab my duffel bag and lead her out. I lead her to the other end of the hallway, where there are stairs. We hurry down, but I stop her from exiting through the ground floor entranceway. I lead her behind the stairs to the staff exit. “Through the back,” I say softly.
We make our way through, and there’s a wiry teen standing just outside. “Hey, you can’t be here.”
“Yes, I can.” I show him my gun, and he holds his hands up. “I’m not looking for trouble, kid, just a way out the back.”
He points to another door at the end. “Out there, and to the right is the parking lot.”
I take out a hundred-dollar bill and hand it to him. “Keep your mouth shut.”
He hurries away, and I lead Sofia out of the building and to the cars.
I break into a sleek black truck and hot wire it while Sofia climbs in. “What’s on you?”
“What?”
“What do you have on you that you’ve had since they picked you up at your father’s house?” I ask.
She touches her earrings, and I turn her head. “Something has a chip, and it’s tracking you.”
“I’ve been wearing these since I got my ears pierced years ago. I don’t change them out. They’re diamonds from my father.”
They’re small studs, so I doubt they’re big enough. “What else?”
She runs her hands over her body as though trying to remember something. She runs a hand through her hair, and then her face lights up.
“The clip.”
She hands it to me, and I put it on the dashboard. It’s got a cheaplooking crystal on it. I smash it with my gun, and it crumbled, revealing the tracking device.
“Who gave this to you?” I ask, tossing it out the window.
“Bruno did,” she says worriedly. “When he arrived with my father, he said it was just a little gift to remind me where I come from.”
“He’s the one who is betraying your father,” I growl, putting the truck into gear. “Let’s get out of here.”
Sofia
Dominic drives effortlessly through the back roads. We’re not rushing now that we know I can’t be tracked anymore. I’m livid that Bruno would betray our family like this.
“We need to warn my father,” I say to Dominic. “He needs to know.”
“We will. Don’t worry,” he growls. “Nothing worse than betraying your family.”
“Bruno is second in command. He wants to be Don,” I explain. “He thinks my father is too soft. Ha! Wait until my father deals with this betrayal.”
We’re on the freeway now, and Dominic turns the radio up. “We need to get somewhere safe. With Bruno being in on everything, I don’t trust even my safe houses.”
I sit forward. “I have friends in New York. Carmila! Carmila lives in New York. We can stay with her. Her family isn’t mafia, and they’re not involved in this mess. We’ll be safe there.”
“I don’t think so. It’s too risky.”
“Bruno doesn’t know Carmila,” I insist. “He doesn’t know who she is or where she lives. I made friends with her online before I came up here.
We’ve been friends for three years. We can hide in plain sight.”
I can see he’s thinking about it, and I say, “If it’s not safe when we get there, you can just bundle me up and drive me somewhere else.”
He sighs. “Fine, what’s the address?”
I give him the address, and he nods. “I know that area. I’ll get us there.”
It’s dark out, so I hope we’re not going to wake her. Knowing Carmila, though, she’s at a party or hosting one. She’s a wild child, and I love her to pieces. I know we’ll be safe with her.
As predicted, a party is in full swing when we arrive. “I don’t think this is a good idea,” Dominic says.
“It’s a perfect idea. No one would think to look for us at a party,” I say and climb out of the truck before he can change his mind. He grumbles and follows me, carrying his stupid duffel bag of weapons.
“Sofia!” Carmila shouts when she sees me. She runs over and hugs me. “Oh, it’s so good to see you. I didn’t know you were coming. And who is this handsome guy?”
Dominic looks down at her with a cocked eyebrow, and I place a hand on his arm. “This is Dominic. We need your help, honey. Can we stay here for a day or two?”
“Are you in some kind of trouble?” Carmila asks, wide-eyed.
“A little, please. We won’t be a bother.”
“Well, if you’re staying, let’s get you changed and ready for the party! This way, guys!”
My tanned friend leads us into the house, and I deposit Dominic in one room to shower and change while I go with Carmila.
“Is everything okay?” she asks as I shimmy into some of her clothes.
“Yeah, it’s just family stuff,” I say, smiling. “Thanks for doing this. You’re literally the best.”
“It’s no big deal,” she grins. “Come on, head out. I need the bathroom, and then I’ll come to do shots with you.”
I smile and walk out. I recognize some of the people from previous parties and greet them enthusiastically. I glance around and see Dominic sitting in a corner with a soda. I walk over to him.
“Why don’t you have a drink with me? And come dance?” I hold out my hand.
Dominic snorts and sips his soda. “No thanks, I’m not the dancing kind.”
I sigh. “You know what, Dominic? We’re not on holiday, but you don’t have to be a killjoy.”
I look behind me when I hear Carmila’s voice and say, “I’m going to have a drink and enjoy myself for the first time in days.”
Dominic shrugs. “I’ll be here watching out for you and the guys who want you.”
I shake my head and walk to Carmila, who hands me a red solo cup filled with something that looks like beer. I lean toward her and whisper, “What is it?”
“Cider,” she says. “Don’t worry, it’s good.”
I take a sip and nod my head. “It is good.”
A song comes on that I recognize, and Carmila raises her hands in the air. “Woohoo! Let’s go dance.”
I follow her, and we spend the next hour dancing. I actually get hot and feel like I’ve gone for a jog. It’s nice to relax for once, and I laugh at all the jokes Carmila tells me.
We go to where the drinks are. Carmila and I smile at each other. “Let’s do shots,” she says.
I shrug. “I’ve already had quite a bit to drink.”
“So, where have you been the last couple of days? And where are you going to next?”
It’s an innocuous question, but I remember how Dominic wouldn’t tell me where we were going because it was dangerous, so I say, “Oh, we’ll decide once we’re on the road. We’ve been all over the island, really.”
Carmila nods and holds out a shot for me. “Here you go.”
I shake my head. “I’m actually exhausted. I think I just need to catch my bearings and my breath.” I smile at her. “I’ll be back.”
She drinks her shot and sets mine down. I walk to where Dominic is sitting. I might as well check on him. I glance around and see Carmila slipping inside. She must need the bathroom again.
I sit next to Dominic, letting out a large breath of air. “You sure you don’t want to dance? It’ll keep you fit.”
Dominic shakes his head. “No, you look like you’ve got that covered, Princess.”
I sigh. I give up trying to get him to call me Sofia. I cross my legs and relax. My body is sore from the dancing, and I feel a bit ill from drinking so much so quickly.
“You’ve had a drink with me before,” I point out. “Why not now?”
“I trusted the places I got drinks from then,” he shrugs. “I don’t know what’s in these drinks. I see your friend wants you to do shots with her.”
“I declined,” I say. “I’m not a complete idiot. I think I’ve had enough to drink.”
We both watch as Carmila comes back and talks to a few of her guests. I smile, content with where I am.
“This is the first time I genuinely feel safe,” I comment. “Even with a killer beside me.”
“Don’t let your guard down,” Dominic warns me. “You don’t want to be caught off guard.”
A few guests come over, and one of the taller men says, “Why are you two sitting at a party? Come drink with us.”
Dominic holds up his soda. “I’m the designated driver.”
“I have had enough to drink for now,” I grin at the guy. “Maybe in a bit.”
He shrugs, and the little group goes back to the drinks table.
I try to look at things from Dominic’s perspective, where the danger would be. There are many ways to get into the property, but we’ve gotten rid of the tracking device. It’s not like they know what truck we drove here with or that we were even driving a truck. This is a safe space. I can feel it.
I clap my hands together. “Well, when I prove you wrong, I’ll happily have you pay for a few shots for me when this is over.”