Chapter 38
DANIKA
“But, how ?” It’s the third time Sachi has asked me the same question, making me laugh because I’ve told her how I ended up married. I’ve told her twice, in fact. She’s still dumbfounded. “It’s only been a week.”
“Ten days, technically.”
She glares at me, then reaches for my hand and looks at the rings. Again. “I can’t wrap my head around it.”
“I know, and if roles were reversed, I’d say the same thing.”
We’re sitting together on the bed of my studio while Sante watches TV in the living room. I wanted privacy for what was bound to be an awkward conversation. Sachi’s handled it well, but I can tell she’s worried about me.
“Sach, I know it seems crazy, but I really do care about him. And I swear I’d tell you if I was being coerced or in danger.”
“What if you can’t? What if he’s love bombing you and six weeks from now he becomes a monster but you’re scared to leave by then?” She’s dead serious, and I love her for it.
“Then we should probably have a code phrase—something I could say that only you would know was a cry for help.”
Her eyes light up. “Like what? It’d have to be something we’d never say ordinarily.”
It only takes me a second before I have the perfect idea. “I’ll tell you that I’ve decided to take up Crossfit.” There is no way in a million years I’d ever, ever voluntarily say those words and mean them. As I’ve noted before, I’m an artist, not an athlete.
Sachi nods approvingly. “Perfect. I’ll know immediately that you need my help, that, or you’ve been abducted by aliens.”
I purse my lips. “And if that’s the case, I’m not sure there’s much you can do.”
She narrows her eyes. “Don’t underestimate the powers of a BFF.”
We both giggle, and I wrap my arms around my bestie.
“Thank you, Sach. Love you bunches.”
“Love you, babes.” She pulls back, her eyes cutting toward the living room. “Sooo … the hottie in the living room?”
“Married.”
“Cool.” She nods. “You hungry? I’m starved.”
I grin and lead her out to the kitchen. We sit at the bar and munch on some snacks until Tommy comes home. I lean around Sachi to give him a huge grin and wave. When I look back at my friend, she’s staring at me, a soft smile lighting her eyes.
“You really do adore him, don’t you?” she whispers.
“Yeah, I kinda do.”
Tommy comes directly to the bar and presses a kiss to my cheek, then gives my best friend a smile. “You must be Sachi. It’s good to meet you officially.” He extends a hand, and she shakes it.
“Hurt my best friend, and I’ll kill you.” The words tumble from her lips in one quick breath without a smidgen of humor. Not even a trace.
I laugh nervously. “That’s Sach—did I tell you she minored in performing arts in school?”
Sachi grins broadly, and we all laugh together. When I get down from the bar chair, I pretend not to notice her glare daggers one last time at Tommy. I know he wouldn’t hurt her, but I’m not so certain about Sach. It might be good for him to know she’s team Dani all the way.
“It’s getting late. We could give you a ride home. I’m not crazy about you walking.” I’m probably being paranoid, but lately, I’ve got good reason.
Tommy stands behind me and wraps his strong arms around me. “Sante’s heading out. He could give you a ride.”
We all look at Sante who’s stretching after getting up from a loungefest on the couch.
“Yeah, I want to hear about the meeting, but you can call me later.”
Sachi shrugs. “Works for me.”
We say our goodbyes, and the two of them head out.
“So what happened? What did Biba say?” I ask eagerly the second we’re alone. I’m desperate to end the torment of having a psychopath after me and my family.
“He’s going to think about it.”
“For how long?”
Tommy stares back at me with a blank face.
“Ugh, that’s so annoying. Doesn’t he realize how many lives he’s toying with?”
“I’m sure he does, and if he delays a minute longer than necessary, I’m sure that’s exactly why. Fucking with people is his favorite pastime.”
I groan. “He should really take up golf or something.” I sit at the bar again while Tommy rummages in the fridge.
“How did things go with Sachi? Between her and your gran, my balls are in serious jeopardy.”
“Stay on your best behavior, and you have nothing to worry about,” I tease him.
He arches a single brow at me, then takes a large bite out of an apple. My brain glitches for a second.
What did he ask me? Oh, yeah!
“Things were good with Sach. It was great to just hang out like normal for a bit.”
“You’ll have normal again, soon, little thief. I promise.” His words are spoken with such sincerity that my throat tightens.
I nod to give myself a moment. “I know.” And I do. I’m confident Tommy will get rid of this awful Reaper character, and Biba can go back to ruling his corner of the jungle and forget I ever existed. Again.
So we wait.
And we wait.
And we wait some more.
We don’t leave the apartment, and we jump to attention every time Tommy’s phone chimes.
My new clothes arrive. I have a small panic attack at the enormous mound of packages, then put on a fashion show that ends in both of us naked.
Two endlessly long days pass before we finally get word.
Biba has agreed to the plan, and the meeting is in three hours.
Chaos erupts.
Tommy paces while going from one phone call to the next.
Every clipped word has me more on edge than the next.
Keeping myself from asking questions has never been such a challenge.
I want to know what’s happening, but he’s on an impossibly short timeline.
From what I can gather, they’ve been given the time and location of the meeting, and now they have to figure out how Tommy can position himself safely for the shot. I pray he can get this done safely.
What a wild fall from grace that I considered myself to be so law-abiding a mere two weeks ago, and now I’m desperately hoping my husband will come back alive from his mission to kill a man.
I’m so worried about him that I have to look out the window at the city below to keep myself from throwing up.
Ten minutes of calls, fifteen minutes to gear up, and Tommy is ready to go.
This could be it. This could be the last time I ever see him alive. His work is dangerous on any given day, but this is exponentially worse, and I’m terrified.
I throw my arms around him and squeeze. “I love you, Tommy Donati,” I force past the storm of emotions clogging my throat. I’d been feeling those three words dancing in the back of my mind for days and can’t let him go without making sure he knows. “Please, come back to me.”
Tommy kisses me with such intensity that it feels as though he’s trying to pack a lifetime of devotion into his goodbye. Tears pour down my cheeks.
“I love you more than you could ever comprehend, little thief. You’re my everything.” He gives me one last kiss on my forehead, and then he’s gone, leaving me to battle my fears in a war zone of silence.
He has two men outside the apartment rather than one.
I kind of wish they were in here with me so that I’d have someone to distract me.
Instead, I pace and check my phone every few minutes to see if by some merciful miracle time has leaped ahead of itself.
All I achieve is a slow descent into madness because with each minute that passes, every minute thereafter stretches that much longer.
As if time itself is reluctant to arrive at that dreaded hour when Biba and Reaper are scheduled to meet.
I manage to survive until the half-hour mark—a mere thirty minutes left—when my phone rings.
It’s Gran. I was instructed not to tell a soul what was happening, so I’ve kept myself from calling anyone because I could never hide my current level of distress.
But the time has almost arrived, and I could desperately use this distraction, so I decide to answer.
“Hey, Gran. How’s it going?” I figure best not to devolve into tears before I even say hello. They’d panic.
“Hey, sweet girl. It’s me and your mom. I’ve got you on speaker,” she says in the most Gran way ever.
My eyes well with tears. “Hey, you two.” The words fade as my throat seizes shut, but in a strange twist of events, they don’t seem to notice.
“Listen, we called because we got word that something’s going on. We were worried and wanted to check on you and Tommy.”
“What do you mean, something’s going on?” Adrenaline dries up my tears and focuses my mind with an eerie precision.
“My cousin called to check on us. He said there’s some big meeting about to happen with Biba and some other guy. He wanted to make sure we weren’t in trouble again. You know anything about that?”
“This is your Slovak cousin? The cousin who got you the gun and isn’t part of Biba’s crew?”
“Of course he’s not. None of my family runs with that lunatic. Sorry, Petra,” she adds the last part for my mother’s sake.
“It’s fine, you’re right,” Mom mutters.
I’m not paying one bit of attention because I’m stuck on wondering how on earth Gran’s cousin found out about the meeting.
Did Biba intentionally leak the info? No that doesn’t make any sense.
Why would he put himself in danger like that?
Regardless of how the information got out, there’s a solid chance The Reaper could have gotten wind that Biba plans to double cross him.
If that’s the case, he might not show up, or …
he might want to make a statement and take down the shooter before the meeting takes place.
Oh, God.
“Did your cousin know where this meeting was taking place?” I demand.
“What? No, I don’t know. He didn’t say. Dani, what’s going on?”
“I’ll explain later, I have to go.” I hang up and dial Tommy’s number.
No answer. I didn’t really expect him to answer, so I try not to read into it.
He’s got more important things to focus on than his phone.
I dictate a text telling him everything I’ve just learned and send it.
There’s nothing more I can do except pray that he and his men have the situation covered.