Chapter 20
20
For the past few weeks, I’ve had Julian or Emilio watch Pippa’s every move when I’m unavailable. Her day-to-day life is mundane, and they’ve complained about being bored as fuck, but I always want eyes on her. Pippa might believe she’s safe, but she’s wrong. Cernach and her piece-of-shit father make her a target.
My point was proven when Emilio called fifteen minutes ago and told me Pippa fled her building like a goddamn serial killer was chasing her.
I swerve into the no-parking zone in front of Pippa’s building and sprint up the stairs. When I reach her floor, she’s standing by the door, back to the wall, body trembling. She runs into my arms the second she sees me.
I hate that she’s in danger, but love that it drags her to me.
That she knows I’m her security blanket.
That she needs me.
“Baby.” I clutch her tightly, running my hand down her back.
Her breaths are ragged as she shoves her face against my chest.
“Let’s get you out of here.” I press a soft kiss to the top of her head and inch away from her. Running my hands down her sides, I make sure she’s good to walk before guiding her toward the stairway and collecting her purse from the floor before handing it to her.
“What about my apartment?” she asks, stopping me. “Emilio is in there with the men.”
“Emilio will make sure your apartment is cleaned.” He’ll do a lot more, but I don’t tell her that. Mainly because I’ll join him in that activity. For now, I’ll take her to my office so she’s safe.
She chews on her lip. “Should I pack a bag?”
“Wait here.” I hate that I have to separate from her.
I rap my knuckles against her apartment door twice, and Emilio steps into the doorway. He nods, and I enter. Both men are alive. Bleeding yet alive.
“What should I do with them?” Emilio asks.
I immediately recognize the Razzo brothers. “They’re useless bookies.”
I kneel so I’m at Fred, the eldest’s, level. “You come near Pippa again, and you’ll deal with me.” I stand and shove the heel of my loafer into his stab wound.
“Sorry,” Fred sputters. “I didn’t know she was yours. We just wanted our money.”
“Now, you do.” I lift my foot to shove it into his face.
He cries out, cowering in pain, while his brother whimpers beside him. They’re bleeding all over Pippa’s floor. I’ll pay her landlord to fix it as well as approve her to break her lease. She’s not sleeping another night in this dangerous shithole.
I leave the apartment, capture Pippa’s hand, and lead her out of the building. Later, I’ll have her write out a list of belongings to grab from her apartment and pack them for her. I help her into the Range Rover before joining her.
Pippa’s phone rings, and she shuffles through her new purse for it .
“It’s my mom.” She accepts the call and surprisingly puts it on speaker. “Mom, now’s not really a good ti?—”
“That son of a bitch left!” she screams through the phone, interrupting Pippa. Her sobs creep out from the phone’s speaker.
“Who?” Pippa asks, and it’s that moment I see the red mark across her face. I hold in my anger, waiting until she’s off the phone.
“Your father! He’s gone!” Her voice heightens. “Two men came to the house yesterday, threatening all of us. I came home today to find him and all his things gone. He finally answered my hundredth call and told me he had to flee New York and is never coming back.”
Pippa rubs her cheek. “You know how Dad is. He’ll leave for a few days and return when he’s out of money.”
“He’s never packed his bags like this before. He always leaves his shit. This time, it’s for real.”
“Mom,” Pippa says around a sigh.
“Please come over. I need you here. Lanie needs you.”
Pippa’s shoulders slump. “Okay, I’m on my way.” She ends the call and peers over at me. “Can you give me a ride to my mom’s?”
“Did one of them put their hands on you?” I cup her chin in my hand and clench my jaw. My blood boils. I scoot in closer to examine her face, and she winces as I caress her cheek.
“I’m okay.” She clasps her hand over mine. “Can we leave? She’s probably on the verge of a breakdown right now.”
I nod, start the ignition, and head toward her mom’s. There’s no need for the address. I have it memorized.
During the drive, I make Pippa recite every detail of what happened with the Razzo brothers. They might think they got away with their behavior now, and I planned to be semi-lenient with them, but now knowing they put their hands on Pippa, I won’t have any mercy on them.
I want to shield Pippa from my dark side for as long as I can. I warned her I had one, but she hasn’t seen it to its maximum level yet. The longer I can hide it, the better.
Her mother’s split-level home is in the suburbs, twenty minutes from the city. Most of the landscaping is dead, but it does have a fresh coat of paint. I park in the driveway behind a bright red VW Beetle and follow Pippa into the house.
Lanie is comforting their mother, Enya, on the couch. Enya’s face is red, tearstained, and her shoulders are slouched forward. The woman looks like she hasn’t slept in weeks. Pippa dashes to Enya, hugging and telling her everything will be okay.
I crack my knuckles, unsure why Pippa is lying to her.
Nothing will be right in Enya’s life for a long-ass time. Her husband left her in a mess. Paul might’ve skipped town, but that debt didn’t leave with him. People will continue to show up at their doorstep, wanting their money.
As Pippa sits next to her, Enya’s gaze flicks to me. “Who are you?”
“Damien,” I say simply. I’m never one to elaborate on that question.
“Are you her boyfriend?” Her gaze slips from me to Pippa. “I didn’t know you were dating.”
“He’s my friend,” Pippa explains.
That sure as hell stings.
Boyfriend sounds so fucking juvenile anyway.
I’m just hers. Her protector. Her lover. The one who’ll do anything for her.
While Pippa works on consoling Enya, I fish my phone from my pocket and start making calls.
“Two of my men are coming here to change your locks and install an alarm system and video surveillance,” I tell Enya thirty minutes later. “They’ll also walk you through how to work everything.”
Enya holds up her hand. “Who’s supposed to pay for that? I can’t afford it. I can barely make ends meet as it is.”
“I’ll help,” Pippa says, stroking Enya’s arm.
“You won’t be billed,” I assure her.
Enya’s green eyes widen, and she thrusts her chin forward. “ You’re paying for it?”
“Yes.” I shove the phone into my pocket.
“What happens if you break up?” Enya motions between Pippa and me. “Will you have your men come here and rip it off my wall?”
Pippa sighs. “No, Mom. Don’t be dramatic. Damien is doing something nice.” She glances at me and mouths, “ Thank you .”
I wait for Julian to arrive before leaving. Pippa stays behind, and I instruct Julian to escort them anywhere they go.
“I’ll be back,” I tell Pippa, kissing the top of her head.
Enya and Lanie stare at us in curiosity. I don’t blame Pippa for not telling them about us. It’s complicated, and her mother grew up similar to my life. Different organizations but same dynamics.
I return to Pippa’s apartment, where Emilio is watching TV while the Razzos are tied up with tape over their mouths. I sent him a text, telling him not to help them.
I screw a silencer on the end of my Glock. Freddy attempts to scoot away when I approach him.
“You touch things that are mine, you die,” I say before pressing the barrel against his temple.
His body jolts when I pull the trigger.
I don’t kill his brother yet.
I want him to sit there and have to stare at his dead twin for a few hours .
Think about his stupid actions.
Then, either Emilio or I will put a bullet through his idiotic brain.