Chapter 4 #2
“What is it?” He glanced around. “We have to keep moving.”
“We have to get here.” I held up my phone.
“Franchi’s Bistro?” The skin between his eyes crinkled. “Not that we could even afford to eat there, but now is not the time to be craving Italian food.”
“Trust me.” I grabbed his hand. “Do you have money for the subway?”
“I have a few dollars.”
“Good.” We ran toward the corner of the street. “If we can get there, I can get help.”
I think…
Twenty minutes later, we stood at the hostess desk in a dimly lit, upscale restaurant, facing scrutinizing glances from well-dressed men and women who knew we had no business being in their presence.
“You thought it was a solid idea to bring us to the one place Bello is sure to find us?” Chance asked. “This is practically a private club for men like him.”
“I’m banking on that.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Can I help you?” The beautiful brunette woman in a stunning but revealing red dress looked me over, not hiding her judgments against my faded jeans and long-sleeved black shirt.
“I’m meeting Milo Accetti here.” I tried to look into the restaurant to see if I could spot him. “He’s expecting me.”
“He’s expecting you?” She pressed her full, red lips together. “Where? In your dreams?”
“He told me to meet him here,” I said. “I left my phone in my car or I would text him.” I stared past her shoulder, frantically searching for him. “I’m already late, and I don’t want to see him in a bad mood. Do you?”
“Hmm…” She glanced down at my worn running shoes. “Maybe you should leave.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked. “Call the cops?” I motioned toward the room full of diners. “Somehow, I don’t think your clientele will appreciate that.”
“I could have security remove you.”
“You could, but then I’ll have to tell Milo you’re the reason I missed our date.” I shrugged. “Just tell him Sable is here to see him. If he doesn’t know who I am, then you can call security.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said. “But if Mr. Accetti isn’t expecting you and I interrupt him for no reason, you’ll be sorry.”
“Noted.” I shot her an obnoxiously fake smile as she walked away.
“Sable?” Chance asked. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Saving you.”
“By provoking Milo Accetti?” His jaw tightened. “You were there when he said he would kill me and make you watch.”
“If we went back to his club.” I waved around the room. “This is not his club.”
“It’s still his territory.” He shook his head when he saw the uptight hostess heading back toward us. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
The hostess approached us, eyeing me with more contempt than when I had first arrived.
“Mr. Accetti will see you.” She turned her back to us. “Follow me.”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Just trust me,” I said to my brother, even though I wasn’t sure what I was doing.
We walked through the crowded restaurant and to a secluded room with three tables spread out.
Milo sat alone with his back toward the wall, facing the entrance.
I read once, or maybe I saw it in a movie, that gangsters liked to see who came toward them when they were eating.
No one wanted to get shot in the back, I guessed.
Milo poured wine into his glass as we reached his table. Once we were in front of him, he looked up but didn’t say anything.
“Should I bring your guests’ menus?” the annoyed hostess asked.
“Not yet, Anna.” He flashed her a charming grin, but I had seen the devil in his expression when he threatened to kill Chance. “I’ll let you know if I need anything.”
“Whatever you need.” She bit the corner of her lip. “I’m around.”
He watched as her incredibly fit backside swayed away from the table with the rest of her obnoxious self before looking at me. As much as I hated to admit it, he looked even sexier than he had last week. He had grown out the stubble on his jaw, shaping it into a light, perfectly manicured beard.
The thin, silver hoop in his left nostril caught my attention as it shimmered under the dull lighting in the room. He didn’t have that last week. I liked it.
“Are you going to tell me what you’re doing here, or are you going to gawk at me all night?” He smirked. “I don’t mind if that’s what you came here to do, but did you have to bring him?”
“I have a proposition for you.” I fought the urge to wriggle my hands because I wanted to appear as confident as possible.
“That’s interesting, because a week ago, you didn’t want anything to do with me. You refused when I offered to get you home safely. What’s changed?”
More than I wanted to admit, but for whatever reason, my desperation brought me to him. Being here was either the most brilliant idea I had ever come up with, or one of the most absurd plans I’d ever hatched.
“Sit down.” He pulled out the chair next to him and pointed for me to sit. “It’s impolite to proposition me when you’re standing over me.” He waved his finger across the table at the chair facing him. “You sit there,” he told Chance.
When I took a seat, the intoxicating scent of his cologne swirled between us. It was comforting in an odd ‘I want to be taken care of by a killer’ kind of way.
“What was so important that you had to interrupt my dinner?” He glared at Chance. “What did you do now?”
“He got into some trouble with Romeo,” I said. “Someone came to our apartment, but we managed to get out using the fire escape.”
“What kind of trouble?” The muscles in his face tightened.
“Well, he?—”
“No.” Milo held up his hand. “I want to hear it from him.”
“This is none of your business,” Chance said.
“Why the fuck are you interrupting my dinner if it isn’t my business?” Milo leaned across the table. “You have three seconds to tell me before I throw both of you out of here, and then whoever you’re running from will catch up to you. ”
“Chance.” I ran my shaky hand through my hair. “Answer his question.”
“I borrowed money and I can’t pay it back,” Chance said. “Bello sent someone to collect.”
“How did you think you were going to pay it back?” Milo sipped his wine. “This money you borrowed from a loan shark.”
“I thought I could make a profit from a side business.” Chance glanced at me. “It didn’t work out.”
“Would this side gig be as a drug dealer?” Milo shook his head. “The business you were conducting in my club like it was your office?”
“Your guys took the drugs, and now I can’t pay Bello back,” Chance said with a sigh. “I thought I would turn a profit.”
“So, it’s my fault that you’re a waste of space?” Milo asked.
“No.” I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the anxiety brewing in my gut. “Chance was wrong, but now we’re in trouble and we can’t pay him back.”
“This isn’t your debt,” Milo said. “I could hand him over to Bello and your life would be a lot easier. Maybe you should consider that.”
“That’s not what I want.” I tapped my hand on the table, losing the battle to control any nervous tics. “I need your help.”
“What is it you think I can help you with?” he asked. “I already spared him once. I told you there were no second chances.”
“This isn’t a second chance.”
Bello and three men entered the restaurant, giving me seconds to convince Milo to help us.
“Please,” I said .
When Milo followed my gaze to the men who were about to seal my fate, a devious smirk crossed his lips. “What do you think I can do for you? What are you going to trade for my help?”
Out of desperation or pure anxiety, I grabbed Milo’s face and pressed my lips against his, kissing him with everything I had. My toes curled when he relaxed into me and gripped my arm, pulling me closer to him and swirling his tongue inside my mouth.
Maybe my plan could work.
Milo released me, licking his lips like a hungry wolf setting his sights on his prey. I willingly stepped into his den of torture, and there was no turning back.
“I should let you and your brother fend for yourselves.”