25. Margot
Chapter 25
Margot
I t’s been a week since the incident at the club. Massimo and I have fallen into somewhat of a routine. He’s gone by morning, and I hardly see him all day, but at night, he comes to me, using my body and burrowing his way into my bloodstream.
I would never admit it to him, but feeling his body on mine and the euphoric haze he leaves me with has staved off the nightmares.
Still, flashes of the man they called Russo, lying dead with eyes lifeless and blood pooling on his forehead, haunt me. I haven’t told Massimo, not because I think he’ll blame himself, but because I don’t want him to think I’m weak. What happened that night was a normal occurrence for him. It might very well become one for me too. The thought sends a flare of panic up my spine until it’s gripping my throat.
I jerk to the left, ignoring the shouts from the crowd on the busy New York sidewalk until I reach the edge of the curb. I bend at the waist, wrapping an arm around my middle as I claw at my neck with the other.
“You okay?” Daniele’s feet appear in my line of sight, his large hand coming to rest on my shoulder.
Fuck .
Heat creeps up my neck, coloring my face as I straighten. Rubbing my hands down the front of my jeans, I meet his gaze before looking away. His concern is almost worse than if he had laughed.
“Absolutely fine,” I reply, turning and marching toward the store we’ve come to a stop in front of. I’m on a mission to find a dress, and the quicker I do that, the sooner I can get home and curl up in the library with a book.
My vision is tunneled, focused on my destination rather than my surroundings, and I only make it five steps before I collide with a pedestrian. “I’m so sorry.” I grimace when I realize just how crowded the sidewalk is. My eyes drop to the hand on my elbow, a hand with a familiar scar across the thumb. The one I used to trace with my fingertip . “Ethan?” I whisper, sure I’m imagining him, even as my gaze jumps around his face. He’s still as handsome as I remember but my body doesn’t react like it once did. Still, I find comfort in seeing him again after all this time. “I thought…” That Massimo had killed you . “How… What are you doing here?”
A sad smile ghosts his lips before his focus shifts over my shoulder. He releases me, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets, a shutter coming down in his eyes. “Hey, M.”
I step toward him, reaching out for the lapels of his worn leather jacket, but he takes a step back and my arms fall limply to my sides. “I’ve been trying to text you but my messages aren’t…” I trail off, the desperation in my words obvious to my own ears.
Scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck, Ethan looks at the ground. His embarrassment matches my own. “Yeah.” He drags out the word before continuing, “Your husband paid me a visit and blocked your number.”
“Oh.” Of course Massimo would do that . I was right about him and I’d do well to remember that. Seeing Ethan now reminds me of the life I’ll never get back. I want to tell him that I’m sorry, that I still love him and probably always will, but the words won’t come.
I turn away, my eyes stinging with unshed tears that I refuse to shed. Over my shoulder, I call, “Well, it was nice seeing you. Take care.”
I reach the curb as a white van with blacked-out windows pulls up. The side door slides open, revealing a man wearing a balaclava and dressed in black. He steps out, his eyes locked on me. I stare at him, shock rooting my feet to the asphalt. Everything around me distorts, the once vibrant city now muted. My mind screams at me to run, but I can’t move.
In one swift motion, I’m dragged behind Daniele, screams filling the air as three of Massimo’s men appear with their weapons drawn. Daniele speaks into his phone, his words urgent as he demands for the car to be brought to our location. My pulse pounds in my ears, frantic and uneven as I try to process what’s just happened.
Tires squeal and I peer around Daniele just in time to see the van swerving between cars as it speeds down the street before driving onto the sidewalk and out of view.
“Get on the floor,” Daniele barks to the man from the van, authority in every word. “Keep your hands where I can see them.” His arms are lifted and I imagine his gun trained on him.
I dart a glance around Daniele, finding Angelo kneeling beside one of the attackers, now face down on the ground. He secures the zip-ties around the man’s wrists with practiced precision.
Within seconds, one of our blacked-out SUVs roars to the curb, ignoring the honking of the vehicles it cuts off. Another man jumps out, walking to the back of the car and opening the trunk. Three of Massimo’s men carry the man on the ground, shoving him inside.
I look around at the bystanders staring. Some have their phones out and are recording, others are no doubt calling the police. Holy shit . This is my first real glimpse at the danger of Massimo’s world. Someone nearly took me and if they’d have been successful, there wouldn’t have been a damn thing I could do to escape. Is Massimo safe, or was it just me they’re targeting?
In the chaos of my thoughts, my attention jumps to Ethan. His slack jaw tells of his shock and likely mirroring my own. Will he be safe? I should have paid more attention to my surroundings. Massimo has told me people are after him, and yet, I’ve relied on others to keep me safe. What if somebody with ill intentions had seen Ethan talking to me? I left to keep him safe and now I could have put him in harm's way without even thinking.
“Get in the front seat, Margot,” Daniele commands. His voice is calm but I don’t miss the undercurrent of steel. He doesn’t look at me, his focus is on the surrounding buildings, surveilling them. A chill runs down my spine, the cold efficiency of how Daniele has handled this situation a reminder of who he is.
I rush to the car, climbing into the passenger seat and shutting the door behind me. Renato has the car moving before Angelo and Daniele have had time to fully close their doors. I’m slammed into my seat, the air knocked from my lungs as we travel at speed toward the outskirts of the city. The sound of horns blaring and people yelling follows in our wake.
The muffled yells from the man in the trunk blend with the hum of the engine, his panicked thuds a haunting soundtrack for the life I find myself trapped in. Being married to Massimo isn’t the only threat I face. Today has shown me that his enemies are watching and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
I squeeze my eyes shut, leaning my head against the cool window as the city passes us in a blur and I try to douse the wildfire of dread in my stomach. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. But what’s the alternative? Death?