Page 58 of One Wild Night

It opened up into a dirty alley that spilled onto the street right beside the parking lot. Just as we got to Lib’s car, I heard a horn honking frantically and looked up to see a black SUV parked in front of the diner. In the driver's seat was the other man from last night, and he was waving agitatedly to his friends in the restaurant. "Hurry! They saw us!"

We both jumped into her little Kia Soul and she peeled out of the parking lot as fast as she could. The SUV, which I could finally see was a Lincoln Navigator, pulled into traffic right behind us, doors being hastily slammed shut as they went.

Libby was swerving in and out of traffic, trying to lose them, but nothing was working. Whoever it was that was driving got brave at one point, and he tried to pull a pit maneuver on us. She kept the car under control, though, and was able to make a sharp left-hand turn while the SUV was beside us on our right.

By the time they could turn around and follow us, we were well ahead of them. Not knowing what else to do or where else to go, I directed her to the mansion. I knew there would be men there that would protect us—protect me—from whomever it was that was after me.

When the car pulled through the gates and on to Carlo's property, I felt a small wave of relief pass through my body. It wasn't enough to calm my frazzled nerves, though. I had unanswered questions that kept spinning through my head. Who the hell wasthat? Why were they after me? And what the fuck did they want?

I never heard Libby get out of the car, nor did I see her enter the mansion. I was frozen where I was as the adrenaline from the chase finally drained from my body. All I could do was sit there and shake while asking the same three questions to myself over and over again.

"Trixie, sweetheart, you need to come inside and tell me what happened so I can help you." I heard Carlo's voice before I saw him. When my eyes finally focused, I noticed he was leaning into the car through the now open passenger door beside me. "Come on. Let's get you out of this car and up to your room," he coaxed as he offered me his hand.

Without hesitation, I took it and allowed him to help me from the car. "Where's Libby?" I asked when I finally found my voice. After a quick glance around, I didn't see her outside anywhere, and I was suddenly worried about her.

"She's fine, Trixie. Peter is setting her up in a guest room as we speak." Breathing a sigh of relief that Libby was okay, I allowed Carlo to lead me into the mansion and up the stairs. He left to ask one of his men to make me a cup of tea, and when he came back, I told him everything that happened...from the feeling of being watched, to the two menacing men last night at Cherries, to today in the diner and the subsequent car chase.

When I finished telling him everything, he looked livid and was swearing under his breath. I couldn't help but think that the old saying‘if looks could kill...'was coined from him. He looked like he was ready to murder a person or four. "Trixie, you're safe now. I will not let anything happen to you, I promise," he said as he pulled out his phone.

Before I could even respond, he’d hit a number on his speed dial and put the phone up to his ear. "Ryan, drop whatever it is you're doing and get back here now! I have an important job for you."

Dammit all to fucking hell! Why did it have to be Ryan?

Chapter 21

Ryan

"What’s up, boss?" Jamieasked as I slipped into the Escalade.

"You know Ihatewhen you call me that," I smirked. We were about to head over to Frankie’s. I'd paid his debt with the Rivera Brothers, which meant Frankie was working directly for me now. He had a good eye that would be quite valuable with the events that had gone down lately.

Frankie had had a few unfamiliar faces in his bar last night asking about the Valenti family, and he had apparently gathered some interesting information. Something told me one of these unfamiliar faces was Paul Jenkins, so I was heading downtown to see what Frankie had found out.

"I know," Jamie sniggered, pulling into the traffic just as my phone began to ring. I looked down at the caller ID in shock. It wasn't like Carlo to call unless there was an emergency.

"Ryan, drop whatever it is you're doing and get back here now! I have an important job for you," Carlo spoke firmly as soon as I answered.

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