Chapter 23 Celeste #2
It’s one thing for me to go down for what we’re about to do, intervening with an investigation, killing their suspect, the basics but I don’t want anyone else getting the heat.
I’m not worried about us getting caught, we’re well protected by the system but it's a nuisance having the police poke around and making the girls nervous.
“Yes, of course. I’ll go check on the event downstairs and the girls. Let me know if you need anything.” She hesitates for a moment, staring at me as if it’s the last time she’ll see me before she takes her leave.
I’ll be back. No one can take down the Reaper so easily. They tried but failed miserably.
“You sure you want to go through with this, cuz? We’ll have a tracker on you and will get you in and out. We can figure something else out so you don’t have to.” Antonio speaks with so much worry.
“Yeah, we can have him followed. You do not have to subject yourself to what he might bring. We don’t know what he’s capable of and we cannot lose you if something goes wrong. Your life is worth so much more,” Larson tag teams.
Their concerns are valid and I hate that I caused them so much stress but this is what we do. Leaders don’t sit back and let others do all the work. They get their hands dirty too.
“My life is not more than Samantha’s or any other women he has tortured. I’m sure of it. It’s the only way to find Samantha. This has to be done,” I snap back at them, not meaning for it to come out as hard as it does.
But it’s true, they have a family and Samantha has a daughter who’s waiting for her to come home. No matter what happens, she’ll get out of there. Even if that means I’m left behind or dead.
After another hour and a half, we begin to prepare for everything to go into full swing.
Samson activates the tracker that he’d injected in my arm yesterday so they can locate where I’ll be brought and we map out how long they hold back before they come in for us.
They can’t come in too quickly or it’ll tip him off and he’ll get away.
They’ll hold back a little before they begin to follow as well as make sure they aren’t being followed by the FBI.
Once I’m taken, there’ll be no doubt that Alaric will notice my absence and he’ll go into full FBI and boyfriend mode to find me at whatever cost. The headlines came out revealing that I’m the heir to the Italian Mafia and without a doubt, he knows my true identity, even though my last name was a clear indicator.
Maybe that will be the one thing that’ll keep him away from me.
Maybe this is the end of us and he won’t come looking.
But the look I saw tonight, while I danced, told me that I’m his and that won’t be the case.
I can’t think of him right now. I need to go into this with a clear mind. Without checking my phone for any possible texts he may have sent, I slide it over to Antonio. Samson hands me over a different one. The guy seems smart and he may think it’s weird that I don’t have one on my person.
Getting up from my seat, I grab the bag that had the clothes I have on now and shove the costume I was wearing in there along with deodorant, a wallet with a fake ID, and other things dancers keep in their bags for their shift.
Antonio hands me a wad of cash as my payout and we go through all the motions of the plans one more time.
“I love you, cousin. Come back to us alive or I swear to god, I’ll come to the afterlife and bring your ass back.” Antonio wraps me up in his embrace, squeezing me like it’s our last time.
“You can’t leave me with this ass for too long.
If I have to hear anymore about how he can’t find a good girl but yet constantly ghosts them, I might have to join you in the afterlife.
I would prefer to stay though, sorry. Hurry your crazy ass home.
” Larson grabs me from Antonio and gives me a hug before a hand smacks the back of his head.
Glancing at the clock, I step away from them.
It’s show time. I should be nervous, things can go incredibly wrong fast but I’m not.
My father had always told me that fear can hold you back and drown you from opportunities.
A normal person probably thinks I’m absolutely mad for throwing myself in the den ready to be eaten alive.
But it’s part of my world; you have to make sacrifices and risk for those you care about and strike fear into those who cross us. Kill first, ask questions later.
“I’ll be fine. If shit hits the fan, look for me like you did in Italy.
We may have done thorough research on this guy but things could be altered and shift to the unexpected.
I’ll crawl back, even if death is knocking at the door waiting for me.
We have other matters to tend to before the devil himself takes me.
” I smirk before gathering my things and head to the door.
“Tracking is officially on and working perfectly. He just left through the front doors, no doubt going to be waiting for you to leave. Your man is by the big bar getting a drink. Try to avoid him at all costs so he doesn’t intervene. Good luck.” Samson nods.
Leaving my family behind, I head down the elevator and make my way through the crowd.
I spot Alaric, pausing in place getting a good look at him and a wave of guilt washes over me for not letting him know what's going on. There’s a possibility that I won’t come back from this and he didn’t get to say goodbye.
Instead, he’ll believe he was ghosted by the Mafia heiress, shoved into the darkness that we swore we would pull each other out of.
But instead, he’ll drown since I won’t be the star to guide him out.
This is for the best, I try to tell myself, and duck amongst the people as he turns in my direction.
I make my way to the side door, quickly slipping out without being noticed.
Hopefully his undercover men didn’t catch me in the act.
The door shuts behind me and a cold breeze swirls around me, causing goosebumps to cascade up my spine.
Looking around, the alley is empty other than a stray cat scurrying in the opposite direction.
Pulling my bag to my chest I head towards the opposite direction of the main street.
He’s not dumb enough to take his next victim too close to the crowd and bouncers lingering at the front of the club.
Approaching the end of the alley, I cut right, quickening my step as any female would with how late it is.
The feeling of being watched and followed begins to creep up my body, automatically making me hyper-aware of my surroundings.
The sound of footsteps echoes from behind me and when I twirl around, no one is there.
He sure does have a sense of dramatics. I roll my eyes and turn back around, making my way down the vacant street.
He’s taking longer than I’d expected but he likes to play with his prey, making little noises to make the panic rise.
He wants them scared and once he gets them, he wants them to beg and plead to let them go but he won’t.
He never does. In his eyes, you’re a sinner far from saving and there’s no cure for what the devil has instilled in you.
Turning into another alley, it’s vacant with water puddles scattered around the ground and ragged cloth hanging from vacant broken windows.
My steps begin to slow down, anticipating that at any moment he’ll make his move.
A splash from behind me catches my attention and before I’m able to turn to look, a needle pricks my neck causing my body to collapse to the ground, losing all feeling and control.
The last thing I hear is a cynical laugh before my vision blurs and the darkness begins to pull me in welcoming me home as an old friend.