Chapter 17
Samson walked Delilah to her door. It was strange for him. He’d lived so many years of his life in a way that would see a moment like this play out differently than it was about to. And it was the first time in a long time when he felt more than the cavernous emptiness.
He lifted his eyes up, wondering if God was at work, but he found it hard to believe. The only good he could have anymore was what he could make for himself. And the good he wanted right now was standing in front of him.
“Thanks for breakfast,” she said. Her smile was shy, and he knew she’d let him kiss her. He wanted to. Desperately. But he wanted to show her that he wasn’t the man she had thought he was, so he took her hand and kissed it instead.
“Can I call you?” he said.
“I’d like that. A lot.”
She was watching him. Waiting. His heart pounded as he leaned closer, telling himself to wait, but the way she looked at him made it impossible. He finally gave in, pushing her against the wall as he kissed her. Her arms wrapped around him, one hand moving into his hair as his hand scrambled for the doorknob, but when he found it, his fingers splayed, and he pulled away from her.
He kept his eyes closed while he regained control. He couldn’t risk looking at her yet.
After taking a step back, he opened his eyes. She was looking at the floor, her hair tousled like his must have been.
He smoothed his hand over his head. “I don’t want it to be like this,” he said, then added with a small laugh. “Actually, that’s not true. The things I want to do to you.” His lips drew into a thin line, and he looked away. “Sorry.”
She reached out but didn’t touch him before clasping her hands in front of her. “I can’t say I’m disappointed you’re struggling.”
“Let me guess, you’re totally cool and unbothered right now?”
“I never said that. And no one is more surprised than me.”
He let out a slow, controlled breath as he reached for her hand, running his thumb across her fingers. “I’m glad I changed your mind about me.” His voice dropped. “Even if it’s killin’ me.”
A message dinged, and they both checked their phones. An annoying distraction, but a necessary one.
“It’s mine,” Delilah said, reading the text. “It’s Luca. He said there’s some kind of emergency. I’ve gotta go.”
“He didn’t say what’s wrong?”
“No. Just told me to meet at his place.”
She looked more concerned than afraid, and he wondered if she knew more than she was telling him.
“You want me to give you a lift?” he said.
“Uh.” A splash of fear crossed her face, then it was gone. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“You sure everything is okay?”
“Positive. But I appreciate the ride. I’d hate to be stuck waiting for the bus.”
“My pleasure. If there’s anything I can do…”
“I know. It’s fine. Someone’s probably quit and he needs to run through his options.”
“He’d send you an emergency text for that?”
She shrugged. “He can be dramatic sometimes.”
“You don’t think he’s worried about you spending time with me and he wants to make sure we’ve parted ways for the day?”
She bit her lip. “Maybe. But if that’s the case, you can leave him to me. I can handle him.”
“You sure? I can be very persuasive.”
“No kidding.” She put her hand on his chest. “But it’s probably best if we take a breather, and also if you leave Luca to me.”
“Whatever you say.”
All the way to Luca’s place, Delilah swapped between his emergency and getting her head around what had happened with Samson. She was supposed to be preparing to leave him behind, but that seemed impossible now.
“You sure you’re okay?” Samson said, resting his hand on her leg as he drove.
If she could get through today, hopefully tomorrow would bring some answers.
“I’m worried about Luca.” And she was worried about Samson.
If this emergency didn’t involve Marc, then hopefully that meant they were in the clear with him. But if Marc wanted Samson dead, he would have been disappointed that her information hadn’t given him his desired result, and it would be even worse if Luca told him that she’d spent the morning with Samson.
“I hope you know you can talk to me,” he said.
“I know.” She was on the verge of telling him everything, but first she had to come up with a plan that didn’t threaten Luca’s safety or the security of his restaurant. If that were even possible.
“I might be able to help.”
“Thank you,” she said. “But let me find out what his emergency is first.”
“Even if it’s illegal. You can tell me.”
“It’s not.”
“I’m just saying. I can help him navigate his way through if he needs it. I don’t want you to be scared to tell me because you’re worried he’ll get arrested.”
“I’m not. I just know he wouldn’t want me bringing anyone in on his problems.” That didn’t mean she wouldn’t try to convince Luca that telling Samson was their best course of action. “I’ll mention it to him, though.”
“Good.”
When Samson pulled to the side of the road, he turned in his seat and took her hand. “You want me to wait here?”
“No. It’s okay. I’ll call you later.”
“You will?” His soft smile was inviting, but she kept her distance.
“Yes.”
“Today?”
“If that’s what you want. Or you can come to the restaurant tonight. I’m working a shift.”
“Will you serve my table?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want the other customers to see me favoring you over them.”
“That would be unprofessional.” He smirked.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Anything you need, you let me know.”
She nodded, pressing her lips together to control her emotions. She’d struggled for so long on her own, relying on herself more than anyone else, and now she had this man who would do anything for her.
Before getting out of the car, she kissed his cheek. His hand went around her wrist in a vice grip as she pulled away, but he didn’t hold it for long.
It took all of her willpower to get out of the car and get to the front door of the apartment building without looking back. She knew he’d stay where he was until she’d gone inside.
When she pushed the buzzer for Luca’s apartment, the door unlocked, and she pushed inside, focusing on the elevator. She’d have plenty of time to figure out what to do with Samson later. Right now, Luca needed her. She just hoped she had a solution for him.
Luca was standing in his door when she arrived, and she noticed how white his face was.
“Come in,” he said without looking at her, then limped away.
“Are you okay? What happened? Did you hurt yourself?”
“I’m fine.” He turned to sit in a chair and looked across the room.
She followed his gaze. “Oh,” she said, crossing her arms when she saw Marc was there. This wasn’t going to be good. He’d probably accuse her of giving him false information. “At least you didn’t break into my place this time. So what is it now? I hope you’re not the reason Luca is limping?”
“And what if I am?”
“I’m fine,” Luca said. “We just had a little misunderstanding.”
“Then why call me?” Delilah said. “You think I was lying when I said I was done with this? Marc, you said you’d leave us alone if I gave you the information you were after.”
“You gave me bad intel.”
“I told you what Samson said. That’s all. It’s not my fault if your guys are useless. Besides, not only will I never willingly help you again, but you said all you wanted to do was scare him. You lied.”
“What can I say? I’ve got a business to run.”
“Not with my help.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“I think you should leave.”
“It’s not your house.” Marc looked at Luca and raised is eyebrows. “You have anything to say?”
“He’s fine,” Luca said. “He can stay.”
“Then I’ll go.”
“That’s not a good idea,” Marc said.
“Why not?”
“Luca tells me you’ve become very attached to Samson lately.”
“Why? Because we had breakfast? We ran into each other. I was doing Luca a favor.”
Marc laughed. “How’s that work?”
“Customer relations. Samson brings in a lot of business.”
“You were right, Luca. I can see it in her face. She truly believes she’s different to him. Is that what you think, Delilah? That you’re special? Do you really believe Samson likes you more than all the others? Because I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but that man doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
“Is there a point to your rambling?”
“If circumstances were different, I might be tempted to take lessons from the guy.”
“You don’t have anything better to do than talk about my love life?”
“I only want to save you from the pain of being cast aside like all the rest.”
“So you’re here as a Good Samaritan? Thank for your kindness. Now you can go.”
“One good turn deserves another.”
“It’s not going to happen.”
“I’m afraid it is.”
“You’re wasting your time, and you know it. If Samson’s only interested in me for one thing, as you believe, then you would know he’d never tell me anything important. I’m sorry, Luca, but this has gone too far.”
Luca looked at the floor and nodded lightly.
“Luca’s done everything you’ve asked because you seem to think he still owes you, Marc. But I owe you nothing. Luca, I’m verbally resigning from my position at your restaurant. Thank you for looking out for me. I’ll get my stuff out of the apartment by the end of the day.” She had no idea what she was doing or where she would go, but being in Samson’s presence had given her strength to do what she needed to.
“I think you should stay,” Marc said.
“Staying would be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.” She glared at him and turned to go.
“If you walk out that door, there will be consequences.”
She stopped. “You’re threatening me now?”
“There are dangerous men who need Samson out of the way. If you don’t get on board, there is a price to pay.”
But she was less worried about what would happen to her and more worried about what they were planning for Samson. Maybe if she could get Marc to give something away, she could warn him.
“Why do you even need me? Don’t you guys blow up cars and things? You can’t come up with your own plan to take care of him? It’s not like he’s surrounded by bodyguards twenty-four-seven.”
“He may as well be. We’ve tried hit men, explosives, poison. Somehow he always knows. He’s always ready. When we send gangs after him, he tosses them aside like they’re rag dolls. It’s unnatural.”
She scoffed. “Sounds to me like you’re making excuses for being incompetent.”
“He’s untouchable. I need you to tell me how we can get to him.” He pulled his gun and walked up to Luca, pointing it at his head. Luca flinched but didn’t move.
“What are you doing? Are you crazy?” she said. Lifting her hands in a defensive gesture.
“Tell me what I want to know, or Luca dies.”
Luca’s lips trembled, and tears dripped to the floor. “Please, Delilah.”
If only she’d asked Samson to come up here with her. “I thought you considered Luca your friend,” she said carefully.
Marc sighed. “I don’t have friends.” He raised his weapon and smashed it across Luca’s head. Delilah jumped toward her cousin, but Marc pointed his gun at her. “Stay where you are.”
Luca moaned and tried to sit up but collapsed again.
“I need to call an ambulance,” she said, pulling out her phone. She’d call Samson first. He was closer.
“Put it away or I shoot.”
She looked at Luca, then slid the phone back in her pocket. “Don’t do anything you can’t take back.”
“I could say the same about you. If you don’t tell me what I want to know, Luca will need a hearse, not an ambulance.”
“You can’t do this.”
Marc shifted his arm and pulled the trigger. Delilah screamed and Luca cried out, grabbing his leg. This time, Marc let her go to him.
She pressed her hand against the wound. “Stop it,” she whimpered. “Leave him alone. You’re a monster.”
“I’m glad you finally recognize that. Maybe now you’ll cooperate.”
“Please. I don’t know anything.”
Marc shrugged. “You could be telling me the truth, or you could be trying to protect Samson. Unfortunately, there’s only one way to find out which.”
He aimed, and Delilah screamed. “He has family!”
“Barely. I know from reliable sources that there’s no love lost between him and his dad. There’s not much we can threaten him with there.”
“He has a daughter.” Her throat collapsed against her breath. She hadn’t meant to say it.
Marc shifted back a step. “What?”
“Please, leave us alone.”
“Samson’s daughter is dead. She died in a car accident years ago.”
“Please go.”
“If she’s alive, then where is she?”
“I don’t know. I swear.”
“Then that information is no help at all.” He aimed again.
“With her grandmother!” Delilah yelled, laying her body across Luca’s.
“Samson’s mom is dead. You must mean his dead wife’s mom.”
She couldn’t speak past the sob she was holding onto.
Marc lowered his weapon. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Go.”
“You only have yourself to blame. If you would have shared that information at the start, none of this would have happened. It’s your own fault.”
“Luca’s debt is settled,” she said. “Leave us alone.”
“Same deal as before. If your intel is good, I won’t need you anymore anyway. But if we have a repeat of your previously shared secret, or if you warn him that you’ve told me about his daughter, I’ll come back and finish the job I started. That includes you and everyone else I can think of.”
He slid his gun into its holster and left the apartment.
Delilah pulled her phone out and called an ambulance before collapsing to the floor in a heaving sob.