Page 88 of Caged Bliss

Davide’s already there along with Seamus Quinn and Emilio. They’ve got guys spread out all over the neighborhood.

“Not a peep,” Seamus says. “You guys sure it’s happening today?”

“Might not be until tonight,” I admit. “My source wasn’t specific. But I trust him.”

“He better be right.” Seamus gets comfortable behind the wheel of his car. “It’s hot out and I can’t run the damn AC all fucking day.”

We get into position. And nothing happens.

Waiting is the hardest part. It gives me plenty of time to think about my day with Claudia. I gave her all of my attention from the moment we woke up to the moment we went to bed, and it still doesn’t feel like it was enough. I could’ve spent an entire lifetime with her like that, in and out of bed, sleeping with each other, sharing our feelings, laughing at jokes that aren’t funny, basically just enjoying each other.

It was a good fucking day. Now she knows where I stand, and I’m not going to hold myself back anymore.

This thing we’re building, this is what I want. She and I together for real. When I say she’s mine, I’m not faking it—she’s mine, my obsession, my new drug. She’s the space between heartbeats, the silence in my veins, the quiet in my head, and I’ll do anything to keep her.

Even if it kills me.

The day passes. We rotate in and out to avoid getting fatigued. I check in with Claudia, and even though I tried to keep today’s operation from her, it’s obvious she figured it out on her own. “Go over to Stefania’s. I bet she’d be happy to get her mind off things too.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“Trust me, it’ll be fine. And I’ll be fine too. I’ll see you later tonight, okay?”

Claudia sighs, but she doesn’t argue. And when I get off the phone, there’s even more waiting.

“Don’t you dare fall asleep on me,” Davide says over the phone. He’s parked down the block and watching through binoculars.

I’m stationed on a roof across the street. I can see the windows, but there isn’t any movement. Seamus is watching the back door, and he reported spotting a couple of teenagers kissing in the alley and a homeless guy taking a piss next to the dumpsters. Otherwise, nothing.

“I’m the last person you need to worry about right now. I’ve been wired all afternoon.” It’s past five now and the sun’s just barely starting to sink across the sky. “It’s going to happen soon. I can fucking feel it.”

“You keep saying that.”

“And it keeps being true.”

“Tell you what. Let’s make a bet. I’m saying nothing happens today, and I’ll put a hundred on that.”

“You’re on. A hundred says today’s the day.”

“Keep your eyes open.”

Every time a car comes close to the shop, I sit up straight and grab my rifle, but it’s always a false alarm. Late afternoon turns to twilight which turns to full night, and I’m fighting back despair when I check my watch only to see that it’s nearly midnight.

This can’t be right. We were fucking careful. There’s no way the Serbians found out about that guy we took out—he wasn’t even directly involved in this operation. I had my best people clean the site up and do damage control. And he was so sure that Tommy was going to make his break for it today, but nothing’s happened.

Time slips by, and that’s when I hear it.

A deep, low rumble. Like a truck coming down the street. At least, I think it’s one of those big garbage trucks until I get a better look, and an annoyed laugh rips from my chest.

An armored car comes to a grinding halt in front of the shop.

My phone rings. It’s Davide, and he’s laughing when I pick up. “Twelve-ten,” he says. “Technically, it’s the next day.”

“Fuck that. You’re not winning on a technicality.”

“I’ll take my hundred whenever you have a chance.”

“Asshole. Hey, something’s happening. Message Seamus and make sure he’s ready.”

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