Chapter 21 – Rae #2
“Now get out of here, so we can get some sleep,” he barked. “It’s a mercy you didn’t wake Franky.”
The cook’s snores punctuated the silence. There was no waking that man from a dead sleep.
I stumbled past my uncle and tripped down the stairs. Because I forgot socks, I had to shove my bare feet in my Converse, which were instantly soaked in the rain.
Not even the cold blast of wind that greeted me could put a damper on my spirits.
I raced through the rain, eager at the prospect of sealing my decision.
This would be a no-strings-attached, secret affair.
There was something decidedly delicious about the forbidden nature of it.
And when I saved up enough money to start over, I would leave Nico to his grand life without feeling bad.
My heart thumped double.
But it didn’t have a say in the matter.
I skidded across the slick, loose gravel, taking a bend too quickly. Scrambling to keep my balance, I blinked drops out of my eyes and stared at the house.
The monolith loomed above me. There was mockery in its sloped peeks.
I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at it.
Tonight, I was storming the castle. Claiming the prince, making him mine for the time being.
He wanted me, and why should I feel less worthy that I wasn’t born into the world of privilege?
The house defied my efforts with the locked doors.
I stood there, dripping, soaked through. Going around to the back, I intended to try the back ones, knowing they would be locked tight. While I could call Nico, that would not only take away the element of surprise, but it would deflate my resolve to be the acting agent in this saga.
The back patio doors were locked.
And I almost didn’t go to the sunroom. But a little voice inside urged me forward. I crept through the rain, now shivering as the cold soaked through my sweatshirt.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when the sunroom door swung open. Pressing myself against the wall, I watched a large, bent-over black shape leaving the space. My mind played a trick, and I had to swallow the scream, right before recognition took place.
Nico shut the door, then bent again. It was almost like….
No, it was most definitely like he was dragging a body. Because that was exactly what he was doing.
I clapped my hand over my mouth, trying to hide the gasp of surprise.
Nico’s head snapped in my direction, and I pressed back into the brick of the house. The shrubbery barely covered me. He moved, prowling forward.
Knowing what this man was capable of, I didn’t want him to discover me lurking. “Hi, there.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Rae. You should be asleep.”
“I know.” I stepped away from the house. “I couldn’t.”
A low, rich chuckle rumbled from him. “I know. I saw.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I came to find you, actually. But…clearly, you’re busy.”
Nico stepped into me. His body was warm despite the rain pelting against him. He reached out and brushed the back of his knuckles over my cheek.
“I’m sorry, baby. I have to deal with something tonight,” he rasped.
That touch skated across my lips, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.
It had to be the reason I blurted out, “Do you want any help?”
Nico snorted. “I distinctly remember your aversion to involving yourself in any family business.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know what I said. But I’m here.
” Peering around him, I looked at the lump on the ground.
It should be shocking to see a dead body.
I should be horrified, frightened to stand here in the dark with the person responsible for the situation.
Instead…I felt safe. “Did you stain any carpets this time?”
Nico shook his head. “No blood.”
“Oh, okay.” I was basically useless then. “Have a good night.”
“Rae.” Nico caught my arm and pulled me close. “You drove me crazy wearing my shirt. I would have come to you, would have broken into your bedroom, if I didn’t have this appointment.”
It was sick. It was twisted! And yet my stupid heart soared.
“You can walk with me to the garage,” he offered.
Join this monster for part of his unholy job requirement? I must have been more messed up than I thought, because I nodded.
Nico returned to his quarry, bent, and hefted the body over his shoulder. I fell in step beside him, not looking over as we strode through the rain.
“What happened?” I asked softly, curiosity getting the better of me.
Nico huffed. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“Yeah, I do. Now answer the question.”
I needed to hear him say it. I had to know this wasn’t a random act. That it was calculated and prompted by extreme measures. That knowledge would go a long way to calming my twisted morals.
“How much do you know about the mob?” Nico slowed to let me walk ahead on the narrow curve.
“Not much. Those movies bored me.” I stepped carefully so as not to slip.
“Movies,” Nico muttered. “It’s not the movies, Rae. This is real life.”
“I know that,” I snapped. “There’s a boss, and he makes deals, and he has underlings to do his bidding.”
“There’s a whole structure,” Nico explained. “Boss, underboss, advisor, captains, and soldiers.”
My foot sank in a puddle. The shock of cold water made me shiver as I squelched long. “Okay. So who is this?”
“The underboss.”
The name they’d spoken at dinner. Enzo something. “Why would you kill your grandpa’s underboss?”
“He’s one of several on my list,” Nico spoke slowly, as we approached the garage. I shot him a look, and he met my gaze with a hard one of his own.
This man had a list.
“Why?” I breathed.
Nico dropped his load before a car bay. “He’s corrupt. A lot of them are. My grandfather has made them very rich men, but they’ve taken advantage of his age. They won’t like what changes I bring to the table, so it’s easier this way.”
“Oh.” I faltered. “Judge, jury, and executioner.”
“It’s not a glamorous world, Rae. Gunfights in the street, assassinations, and violence behind closed doors.” Nico just stood there, admitting his sins, and letting me see the brutal side of him.
I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight. “Better get this opened quick before someone sees you.”
His voice was gravel. “Your hand is shaking.”
“Yeah, well, I’m freezing,” I huffed.
It was partially true. I was also trying to grapple with this new piece of information. The severity of this moment squashed my libido.
“In the world of law and order, I’m the villain, Rae. I won’t apologize for the things I do.”
“So you just, what, kill people who stand against you?” I rubbed my shoulders.
Nico slid the door up and turned. In the harsh glare of the phone, he looked like some fiend caught on camera. “I won’t apologize for ending the lives of those who threaten my family.”
My insides clenched tight. The air left my lungs in a whoosh. I was standing in front of a protector. The stakes might be different, but what would it have been like to have someone with morals like that around? Nico would do whatever was necessary to keep his family safe.
“I’m not going to tell anyone,” I admitted.
“I know you’re not.” His smile was sad.
I quickly added. “Not because you’d kill me too. But because…well…I want you to succeed.”
He studied me for a moment. “Shut off the light, Rae.”
I did.
Standing there, I waited for him to load the body in the back of an SUV. Under the shelter of the garage, out of the rain, I didn’t warm up, but I didn’t grow any colder. The shaking stopped after a minute, and by the time he slammed the trunk, I was feeling better.
“You’re drenched.” Nico came up behind me, opening the passenger door. “I’ve got the seat warmer on.”
Right before I could accept the offer, my phone rang. I frowned and glanced at the screen. A number I unfortunately had memorized stared back at me.
I held up a finger and stepped deeper into the garage. The familiar smell of gasoline washed through me as I answered.
“I told you that I never wanted to hear from you again,” I snapped.
“Hi to you too, bitch.” The voice was slurred. Reed was probably drunk, maybe high.
“What do you want?” I ground out, knowing he wasn’t going to answer. I had called an old friend to wish her happy birthday. The way the gossip vines spread, a bunch of my old acquaintances probably knew I was in Boston now.
There was a fumbling, as if the loser I’d been dating before I left was fishing around for something. “I just called to say hi.”
“I swear, you ain’t got the sense god gave a goose,” I muttered. “No means no, jackass.”
“Okay, fine. I didn’t want to say hi, but heads up, Devlin is looking for his dope.”
I froze. Staring at the dark wall of car cleaners, I felt the rug slip out from under me. The world tilted, and I was in danger of falling.
“What did you do?” I hissed.
“Just told him I couldn’t move it while I was in prison,” my no-good ex muttered. “Figured you’d wanna know he’s lookin’ for you.”
“You asshole!” But the call beeped before I could finish.
“Rae?” Nico called from where he stood.
He wouldn’t have heard what my ex-boyfriend said. But he would have heard enough.
“I can’t come with you,” I stammered. “I have to go.”
Nico blocked the exit, his body soaking up any light. “Where are you going?”
Yes, where was I going? “To bed.”
I would figure the rest out later.
“Sorry, you can—” I gestured to the SUV “—manage without me?”
One slow, long nod. I skirted around the other side of the vehicle, called a goodnight over my shoulder, and took off into the rain.
Fear hounded my steps, and I was gasping and panting by the time I reached my uncle’s house.
This shouldn’t be happening. It was hard to believe it was real!
I came to Boston for a fresh start and to earn some real money.
I left so I didn’t get in this kind of trouble.
And now the small-town trash’s shit followed me.
I didn’t doubt the junkie race car driver for a second.
Of course, Reed would sell me out. At least he’d had the decency to call and warn me.