Page 35 of Saving You Losing Me

“A new guy in town. Michael Santobello. My mom’s preferred choice as boyfriend of the year and my last one.”

“Wow.” Her eyes widen. “No wonder Atom looked pissed. I had one hand on the alarm because if looks could kill, that new guy would be dead by now.”

My earlier euphoria vanishes quicker than my heart dropped when Michael walked in and I hate the bad vibe crushing my happiness. There is a storm heading my way. I’ve felt it for days and it’s on a collision course to destroy any happiness I’ve found and pull me back into a world I desperately want to escape.

“Well, that’s interesting.”

Alice interrupts my depressed thoughts and I glance at the door that is swinging closed behind another customer.

“He doesn’t usually eat here?”

I hold my breath because Dominic Riley heads inside Joes and scans the room. His gaze rests on Michael’s table and as he heads over to them, I wonder what the purpose of their meeting is.

Dominic Riley is a crook in a designer suit. He runs a huge business in town but has his sight set on the governor’s office. Many consider him to be the most powerful influential man in the entire state and here he is in Easy Joes bar, meeting two men whose vibes are way off. Something extremely ominous is happening, and I hate the premonition surrounding my soul that this will not end well for me.

CHAPTER 18

ATOM

The moment he walked in, I realized he was trouble. The way he searched for Clara and the hard gleam in his eye as he waved her across heated my anger. I know the type of guy. Entitled, conniving and not to be trusted. A man who gets what he wants despite the obstacles in his path and he wants my woman. It was obvious to me.

I shamelessly listened in on their conversation and saw Clara was uncomfortable. He put her on edge and I’m guessing it was because I was watching their interaction.

Razor’s expression said it all. He warned me, so I had some understanding of the situation before he walked in, but now it’s obvious. I may have to fight for Clara and from the look of this man, he doesn’t play by the rules.

He is with Emilio D’Angelo who’s a small town crook with high aspirations and deals in drugs, prostitution and intimidation. I’m curious about what this supposed pillar of the community is doing with him.

Then Riley walked in and my suspicions were confirmed. Shady men doing shady deals right under our noses.

Their voices were low and guarded and despite trying I couldn’t make out a word of their conversation.

Razor nods to the door.

“You ready, man?”

He is on edge. They all are and I cast a glance at Clara, who is no longer smiling as she works.

I shake my head. “We will have another.”

I wave to Alice, who heads across to take our order, and she jerks her head at the next table and pulls a face.

She scribbles something on her pad and hands it to me.

I read the word on the page.

Trouble!

I nod, my expression grim because somewhere deep down inside me, I can tell this is the beginning of a fight I may not be able to win.

I take her pen and write.

“Tell Clara I’ll be back after her shift. Wait for me.”

She nods, and after I place the money on the table, I signal to my club.

We head out in silence and as the door swings behind us and I sit astride my bike, in the mirror I catch the three men watching us, their expressions grim.

We headto my home and when we are crowded into my small kitchen, Razor growls, “Word on the streets is MichaelSantobello is close with D’Angelo and they are setting up a security business.”

---