Page 51 of Mafia and Gold Digger

And once I’m away from him, the corner of my lip tugs up. That fucking worked. But he didn’t need to make me promise to find her. Because it’s not a promise. It’s a fucking guarantee.

* * *

I’m pissed.

I roll my shoulders to try and lessen some of the tension, but it’s futile. My hand smacks into the wall outside the apartment building where one of her friends lives. Emerald’s nowhere to be found, no matter where I look.

I’m agitated. I’m livid. No one is around to see the lapse, but that doesn’t make it better.

I want Emerald Fiorelli. I knew the moment I kissed her that there was no going back. There was no pretending. She’s fucking mine.

But tracking her down is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

I’ve always known that she’s a smart girl, and this just goes to prove it. Staying hidden is pretty hard when you’re up against someone like me who has limitless resources. But whatever approach I take, I’m no nearer to finding her.

She’s disappeared off the face of the earth according to airline passenger manifestos, phone records, bank records, and every other database I’ve hacked into.

Where the hell is she?

I press my head to my forearm, leaning against the wall. It’s been weeks since I started looking for her, but she’s like a ghost. Gone…

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

EMERALD

It feels like fall is rushing in. There’s a coolness in the air signifying the end of summer, and the leaves on the trees are a beautiful haze of reds and oranges. I sit in my shabby motel room in a small town in Illinois, looking at the awful orange walls—a throwback to the seventies—which is probably the last time this place was painted.

I still haven’t managed to find a job. I didn’t think it would be as hard as this. I mean, I’m well-presented and I’ve got experience. I’ve already used up all the money I brought with me because I’ve only had the cash that was in my purse. I can’t risk using my bank cards in case Carmine uses them to track me down.

I’ve been making money for the last week by playing chess games in the park for money. The old guys are always up for a little wager, and I think I manage to brighten up their days and bring a little glamor to their games.

Getting dressed in one of my shimmery dresses, I head out to get something to eat. While I’m out, I see a sign in the window of a small pet supplies store advertising a job vacancy.

Tottering into the shop, I shoot a beaming smile at the old lady who looks like she’s the owner. She’s surrounded by seven cats. “Hi. I’m Emerald.”

“Hello, dear. I’m Winifred. How can I help you?”

“I want to apply for the job please,” I announce.

She runs her gaze over my sparkly dress and ridiculously high heels. I’m not very good at packing in a hurry and just grabbed the first things that came to hand to take with me. “Er, really?”

“Yes, really. I need the money.”

“Have you worked in a pet store before, dear?”

“No. But I’ve worked in a casino.”

Winifred looks me over. “Do you have any, um, more casual clothes?”

“No.” But that shouldn’t be a problem because my dresses are more than presentable.

“I’m not sure you’re the sort of person I’m looking for.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, that outfit...”

I look down at my dress. It was one of my best steals last month—two hundred dollars’ worth of pure glittering sequins. “Are you saying that you don’t like it?” My voice dips in disappointment.

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