Page 6 of Bite and See

“I’m so sorry, Daddy,” was all she was able to say as she gripped his hand and held it against her tear-stained face.

Lorena wasn’t sure how long she’d been there, but it must have been some time because a nurse came through saying that visiting hours were over and she could come back later if necessary.

Lorena looked outside the window and saw that the sun had indeed set.

She slowly got off her aching knees and kissed her father goodnight.

She walked to her car, fumbling for her keys, when she caught a glimpse of a shadow leaning on her car.

Lorena froze, pretended that she hadn’t seen the silhouette, and grabbed her mace instead of her keys. She kept her pace the same.

Right before she was about to whip out her spray, she heard a familiar voice.

“Lorena.”

It wasn’t a question. The man knew her and was making it known.

She looked up. She recognized the tall, gruff older man in the parking lot lights. The lamp light shone brightly on his aging bald spot.

“Sonny?”

The man smiled and stepped farther into the light, showing himself as he flicked his cigar toward an empty parking space.

Lorena only recognized him from the few times she’d met him with her father.

She didn’t know his last name, just that he was a notorious mob boss her father had dealings with years ago. That, and he was a shifter.

Her father had told her all about shifters and their dual existences. He was even friends with quite a few. Lorena had always found it fascinating but kept her distance for her own safety. Most of the ones she knew weren’t bad. They just lived a different lifestyle than what suited her.

She’d seen him more often when she was young, but maybe only once in passing now that she was older. Her father claimed to not be involved with him anymore, though they had been acquaintances. Lorena wasn’t sure if she could call them friends.

Knowing of his business, Lorena was still cautious about why he was there in the dark, waiting for her beside her car.

Sonny must have sensed her suspicion. He held up his hands, showing there was nothing in them, but didn’t step toward her.

“I just came to see how your father is doing.”

Lorena kept her fingers on the mace inside of her purse. “That was kind of you. But if you really want to know, he’s not good.”

“I do. I heard about what happened, and my heart broke. I came here to see if there was anything I could do to help you out. I know he’s all you have left, and I certainly don’t want to see a good man’s life cut short because of some fool. They don’t make them like your pop anymore.”

She wasn’t sure what the flattery was about, but if Sonny was offering to help, she also wasn’t going to pass that up either. Lorena knew that he had the money for what her father needed. The question was what exactly he wanted in return for it.

No matter the relationship or circumstances, nothing was free, especially with a mob boss. She might as well take her shot.

“He needs life-saving treatment from the best neurologists. And surgery to reduce the swelling of his brain. He needs a lot to save his life right now, and it all costs more than I can afford. If I can’t accept the payment terms, they told me he doesn’t have much time left.”

Sonny rubbed his dimpled chin as if in thought. “My, that is quite the dilemma. I can help you out with the financial sort of things if that’s what you want.”

Lorena’s heart perked up, but she stayed wary. “It is. It would mean a lot to me.”

He clapped his hands together. “You know, it just so happens that I have a little job that you would be perfect for. I’d make the pay better than anything else. Enough, in fact, to get your father the help he needs.”

There it was. Sonny needed a job done. Was this the only reason he’d offered to help in the first place?

Doesn’t matter. I can’t just not accept it. Whatever it is, I have to do it. I know Sonny will make good on the money, at least.

“What’s the job?”

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