Page 51 of The Sting of Love
He arrived this morning. He came as soon as I called him, and when he got here, I told him what was going on.
He’s the only person who’ll know I’m here and that she’s here too. That’s how I’ll keep it, regardless of how much I trust the others. She’s a liability and I have to make sure I keep her safe from everyone.
“No… she’s not,” I answer.
He frowns. “Son, this is… well, I’m not going to say I agree with it, but it was the safest thing to do.”
I knew he would see things my way, and the person I’ll be trusting to take care of her when I’m not here is him.
“Pa, I have to get back out there. You couldn’t have been more right when you told me to watch my back. Not even a week later, and look at me hiding my girl to keep her safe.”
A slight smile lifts the corners of his mouth. I’m not sure what he would be smiling about, then I realize it’s in regard to how I referred to Willow. I keep calling her my girl.
“I didn’t realize this would be how I’d meet her,” he states.
“No, Pa. It was just a slip of the tongue. I have to let her go when this is over. I can’t keep her.” Even if I wanted to, she hates me. I saw it in her eyes, and she wishes she’d never met me.
She meant what she said, and she has every reason to be pissed as fuck.
Pa sighs. His lack of comment is enough to tell me he agrees.
“I’ll take care of her. I have men on the lookout around the perimeter. They’ll be able to tell me if trouble’s on the way.”
“Thank you. I’ll call when I’m on my way back.”
He rests a reassuring hand on my arm and nods. “Be careful, son.”
I nod and leave him.
When I get outside, I take one last look up at the second-floor balcony. That’s where her room is. She’ll see that what surrounds us is the sea. Except for the thin strip of road leading into the woods, that’s it. As a child, that was why this house was such an adventure. It was the beach and the sea and nobody anywhere for miles.
I’ll aim to get back tomorrow. It’s difficult to think of tomorrow or ahead amidst so much uncertainty.
I head to the car.
* * *
It takes me six hours to get back to the city. I called Gibbs on the way. He’s supposed to be waiting for me back at the office.
Traffic was a bitch, and then a storm blew in, slowing me down even more.
I park in front of the office, wary and careful. I feel for my guns before I get out of my car, making sure I can get them quickly in case one of the bastards who want me dead comes for me. Normally, Lois and Saul wouldn’t be far away, but since they are, I’m flying blind. This is the first time in a while that I’ve had to go it on my own. Back in Chicago, everyone has each other’s backs.
I screwed up big time, and because of that, everybody is spread out. I still want to achieve this goal of mine to run the business here, but who knows what will happen now. I’ve got Amadeo on my ass and Mario playing chicken with me.
That fucker. I can’t wait to get my hands on him. I will skin his ass alive and hang him out to dry for what he’s done.
I walk in gritting my teeth. The place has been quiet since I got rid of the staff. It’s just the few club staff now who are getting things ready.
My office door is open, and I hear talking. When I get to the door, relief washes over me but only to some degree. Inside with Gibbs are Alex, Dante and Gio.
They stand like the unit of fearsome capos they are, all looking similar with the tattoo of the cross on the side of their necks. It’s a reminder of their fallen ones. Claudius has his on his cheek. I have one inked on my heart for my mother.
“Jesus, look at him. You look like shit,” Dante says with a chuckle, and Gio nods in agreement.
The lightheartedness makes me more relieved because it means they aren’t mad or here in the capacity as my seniors.
“I feel like shit,” I say.
