Page 1 of Her Guardian
CHAPTER 1
Sarah
I’m in my bedroom, hunched over my mic, trying to keep some excitement in my voice as I give my listeners a reason to tune into my next podcast. I’m not on video, thank goodness. My blonde bob is a disheveled mess, I’m not wearing makeup, and I look like I haven’t slept well in a while.
It’s because I haven’t.
“If you enjoyed this recap of the Mafia Prince Murders, make sure you tune in next week! I’m planning a deep dive into all the testimony, trial evidence,andthe verdict!” I lean a little closer. “That’s all for this week. As always, I’m your host Sarah Parker and these have been… yourTrue Crime Minutes!”
I hit the button to end the podcast, lean back, and reach for my disposable vape. The taste of strawberries and cream floods my mouth as I pull it into my lungs and exhale. A short moment of comfort settles in, once I feel the rush of nicotine.
I’m trying to quit, but I’m not there yet.
“What the hell am I going to do?” I groan, taking another draw from my vape and exhaling it above my head in a cloud. “My podcast isdying. I only have one sponsor left. The money I won in Las Vegas is about to run out.”
Speaking my woes into the ether is a rather new thing for me. I used to text my best friend, Lea, but she recently got married. Now her life is all about her incredible husband Massimo and the baby that’s on the way. She didn’t even make it to the altar before she got knocked up.
I would have bet every dollar I had thatLeawouldn’t be the first one to get her cherry popped. Much less the first one to get pregnant. Then again, I never expected to be a virgin at twenty-two with absolutely no prospects, but I’m okay with that.
The wedding, she can have all to herself. I’m never getting married. Everyone at Lea’s wedding probably thought it was the only thing on my mind when I dove for that bouquet, but that wasn’t because I’m eager to walk down the aisle. I just wanted to catch my best friend’s wedding bouquet.
“I should check my email,” I mutter, leaning forward and saying a silent prayer to Cthulhu that I’ll miraculously have new sponsors appear. My prayer goes unanswered. “Damn, Cthulhu, I think we may have to break up. You’re not doinganythingfor me.”
Cthulhu is the latest on my list of deities to try, because the others just didn’t seem to be working out, either. Maybe it’s time to give up on worship entirely.
What is in my email? Another ad for OnlyFans. I’m not there yet. A weirdo asking if I’ll sell him feet pics, based on how attractivemy picture is on the cover of my podcast. I shake my head as I delete it. I’m definitely not there yet.
“There’s only one thing to do.” I spin my chair around, stand, and walk over to my closet. “I have to go back to Las Vegas.”
A twinge of concern makes my stomach tighten, but I shrug it off.
I’m fairly good at counting cards, so I can win some money at the casino. Massimo’s family owns it, and if I don’t get too greedy, he doesn’t throw me out. Lea hadthe talkwith me after I got too greedy one night when I had one free cocktail too many. Now I know there’s a line, and I won’t cross it again.
“Hopefully, Lea will forgive me for the surprise visit,” I sigh, as I put my suitcase on the bed and start packing. “But I’m running out of options, so I have to do this.”
Massimo and Lea are still in newlywed bliss, despite preparing to be parents. I think I’ve gone from trusted confidant and emotional support Sarah to… the annoying best friend. And I hate that. I really do. Lea and I have been closer than sisters since we were kids.
But she’s moving on with her life, and I’m stuck in a rut. It’s hard to move on after everything that happened, even if she was a lot more involved in it than I was. Well, most of it.
Almost a year and a half ago, Lea went on vacation to an island paradise her grandmother went to when she was our age. Lea’s grandmother made Lea swear she would let the island guide her on her adventure. Boy, did it ever. She got taken captive by a Mafia prince.
And now they’re married. But not before my best friend stabbed a hitman and confronted a Mafia king to save Massimo’s life. I was riding shotgun via my phone for a lot of it. I helped, too. I used my connections as a true-crime-junkie-slash-true-crime-podcast-host to find a hacker named Cadence and we basically saved the day.
Well, the guys with guns saved the day. But I helped, and because I helped, I was a guest of honor at a Morandi family party. I even got an IOU from Massimo’s father. One favor, whenever I’m ready to cash it in. It’s better than any chip you can win in Vegas, but I’m notthereyet, either.
Or maybe I am.
“Okay, I think that’s everything,” I mutter, shoving my laptop into my bag and looking around the room. “Yep, I’ll stop at a motel tonight and get to Las Vegas around noon tomorrow. Perfect.”
I’ll have a room at the casino, free drinks, and I’ll win some money. I know I can get a room at Salvalagio for free because the other option is crashing with Lea and Massimo. They have plenty of room, but they’d much rather have me in small doses, I’m sure. Staying at their hotel is practically a favor to them.
With everything packed, I send a text to let my mom know I will be out of town for a few days and walk outside my house. I get into my car and fumble with my keys when my phone lights up with a message from Lea.
Lea:SM just announced his retirement, effective immediately.
I stare at the phone in disbelief. Salvatore Morandi is retiring. That means Massimo is going to be the head of the Morandi crime family. Better known in the true crime circles as the Dirty Vegas Mafia. The Morandi family isn’t fond of that name.
“Wait a minute,” I say, tapping my steering wheel and puffing on my vape. “If Massimo is in charge, and I still have a favor… that meanshehas to grant it.”
