Bosko groans.

  “Sixteen women. Round up and make it an even fifty stabs, Nico. Pretty please,” Adrianna says with a bit of theatrics in her voice, making me want to roll my eyes but out of respect for her, I refrain.

  This fucker killed sixteen women? He deserves to be tortured not stabbed. Again, I keep my mouth shut out of respect and instead thrust the knife into Bosko’s stomach as instructed. Bosko screams against the gag. I quickly pull back and thrust it inside him again. A woman’s scream breaks my attention.

  “Um… Who is screaming?” Adrianna asks.

  I turn in the direction of the scream and find two women huddled in the corner of the room. One of the women has her back to us and her face is buried in the other woman’s shirt. The other woman is staring at me in horror.

  “Fuck. Let me call you back,” I say, gesturing for Vinnie to end the call.

  “You better!” Adrianna yells as the call is disconnected.

  I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes. How the fuck did none of us notice, not one, but two women in the damn room? The room isn’t even that big. It’s the size of a fucking shoebox. Never had I made such a big mistake.

  I open my eyes. The woman is still staring at me but at least she looks less scared. I hold up one finger, indicating I’ll be with her briefly, and then look at Bosko.

  “Who the fuck are they? Your next victims?” I ask through clenched teeth. He mumbles something through the gag. “Take it out of his mouth.”

  Vinnie yanks it out and Bosko coughs.

  “Redhead is my woman. Brown-haired woman is just nosey neighbor,” he says, wincing in pain and gesturing with his chin at the two women.

  “You have a woman?” I scoff. “Did you drug her?”

  Bosko lowers his eyes to the floor and shrugs.

  “She is just ass t–” I don’t allow him to finish his sentence. My jaw connects to his face. There was just something about him talking about her like a piece of meat that pissed me off.

  “Either of you speak English?” I ask, looking back at the women. The woman with brown hair nods slowly. “I apologize for the inconvenience but I need you two to go wait out in the car.”

  “No!” The redhead yells, turning to finally look at me. “I want to go back home. I’m tired of asshole men.”

  “Home?” I ask, but judging by her accent I’m guessing Russia or Poland.

  “Polska,” she replies.

  A plane ticket to Poland? That’s money well spent.

  That takes care of one of them, I think, moving my attention to the brunette.

  “I don’t suppose you’re from Poland too, are you?” I smirk. I already know my answer based on her facial features.

  “No,” she whispers, and not a single word more.

  “Would you mind going outside to wait for me? I’ll be out there shortly,” I offer her a smile but she looks skeptical of me. Not that I blame her since she just watched me stab Bosko.

  Motherfucker. Such a huge fucking mistake is going to cost me big time. I don’t hurt women– ever– so hopefully this woman can be bought off. If not, I’ll have to bring her back to the compound which I’m sure will only make life rough for both of us.

  “I didn’t see anything,” she says, standing up carefully and then helping the other woman to her feet. The redhead whispers something into the woman’s ear. Her eyes widen and she looks at me.

  “I told her who you are and that it is best to obey you,” the redhead states as though she is an advocate of mine.

  “I see.” It’s all I trust myself to say to her. I look at Gregg. “See to it that they wait outside until I’m done.”

  “You got it, Boss,” Gregg replies. “Ladies, this way.”

  He gestures to the door. The redhead grabs a woman’s jacket off the bed and leaves the room without protest. The brunette looks at me then Bosko then back at me. She slowly approaches me.

  “You can kill dirtbag and me but don’t you dare hurt her. Just let her leave,” she whispers. Her hazel eyes are so intense I feel like she is staring through my soul. She seemed so meek with her soft words; however, her fiery look is a threat.

  Did a timid mouse just threaten me? I chuckle to myself looking her over.

  Looking at her now I realize she’s really attractive. She has pretty eyes that complement her olive-colored skin and dark hair. She has lush lips that aren’t covered in lipstick. Actually, she doesn’t seem to have on any makeup. She’s just naturally pretty.

  Fascinating. I don’t think she’ll be easily paid off. She’s too down-to-earth for that. So it looks like she may be coming back to the compound with me… This should be fun.

  Chapter Five

  Mia

  Clearly, something in Chicago had caused me to lose my mind. How in the hell could I just threaten a gangster like that? Never, in my wildest dreams, did I picture myself in a situation like this. I probably should have minded my business when I heard the woman screaming but that’s just not who I was. If someone needed help, I’d help.

  Now, look at you, I mutter to myself, looking around the S.U.V. that I was currently detained in.

  The four men in black suits had escorted the woman and me out of the motel nicely. They even said please and thank you; however, their presence screamed danger. These were the kind of guys you avoided like the plague, not get into a car with or threaten!

  “The boss will be down shortly,” the guy in the passenger seat says, looking away from his phone and back at me.

  I’m too scared to speak so I settle for a nod. He chuckles softly and then turns more so he can see the woman next to me.

  “Do you have identification? Like a passport or driver’s license?” he asks her.

  “No. I have no such things,” she replies, rolling her eyes.

  At first, her words seem sarcastic but then I realize she is being serious. She doesn’t have identification.

  “Alright. Not a problem. Will just take a little longer to get you out of the country,” the guy groans and faces forward. He starts typing away on his phone. “We’ll get you into Warsaw. You do the rest. Understood?”

  “Understood,” she says, smiling. She turns slightly in her seat and looks at me. “I’m finally going home.”

  My heart breaks. It took a situation like this for her to go home. What kind of life had she lived up until now? No identification and dating a killer. That’s a shit way to live.

  “I’m very happy for you,” I smile.

  The guy in the driver's seat looks up in the rearview mirror. Our eyes connect and I instantly lower mine to my lap.

  “Sorry,” I whisper.

  “For what?” he asks, laughing.

  His laugh sounds genuine but that doesn’t stop my racing thoughts of being killed by him or the guy next to him. Anxiety floods through me like a broken dam. My stomach twists into knots and I suddenly feel like everything I ate is about to make its ungraceful appearance.

  “Um… for…. I’m just sorry.” My eyes are locked on my lap. I refuse to look elsewhere. It is the safest thing I can do until I can figure out how to get myself out of this mess.

  “Babysitting is not for me,” the passenger groans.

  “It isn’t my fucking cup of tea either, Vinnie,” the driver replies, laughing.

  “You know he’s going to flip the fuck out once we are back,” the passenger– Vinnie– attempts to whisper. Guess he missed the memo that we’re in a car and there is zero privacy.

  “Fucking understatement,” the driver murmurs.

  “We are better off out here,” Vinnie says, glancing out the window towards the motel. He shakes his head and then goes back to whatever he is doing on his phone.

  “Can I get what little stuff I have from in there?” the woman asks.

  “Yeah,” Vinnie replies. “What all do you have?”

  “It’s not much. Stuff in bathroom. And backpack on table,” she replies.

  “Got it.”

  An awkward silence fills the car. It’s enough to make your skin crawl. I want to look out the window but I’m too scared too. Hell, at this point, I’m even terrified to breathe too loudly.

  Vinnie suddenly turns in his seat. My fingers instantly reach for the door handle. He turns on the dome light and looks at me.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, being in this vehicle means you’re safe,” he rolls his eyes and then holds up his phone to the woman. “Say cheese.”

  He doesn’t wait for her to smile or anything. He simply takes a picture and the flash goes off, blinding the hell out of me and probably the woman too.

  “Your stuff is on its way down here. Your plane leaves tonight at ten. You’re now Hanna Nowak. Date of birth April 22nd, 1980. Memorize it in case you get questioned once you land,” he says, facing forward.

  And just like that, she’s Hanna. Who the hell are these people?

  “Are you staying here too?” Vinnie asks.

  I assume he is speaking to me since Hanna has already spoken. However, he isn’t looking at me so I don’t want to piss him off.

  “Brunette, are you staying here too?” he growls.

  “Yes,” I reply softly.

  “Room number?”

  “Twelve.”

  “Got it,” he mutters, turning off the dome light. “For fuck’s sake.”

  “You better be nice to that one, Vinnie,” the driver chuckles, looking up at me in the rearview mirror. Again, I lower my eyes. “I have a feeling she’s going to be someone important.”

  Important, I repeat to myself. He couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m literally a nobody. A nobody from nowhere.

  “Think so?” Vinnie seems shocked by the driver’s words.

  “Oh, yeah,” the driver replies, showing Vinnie his phone.

  “I’ll be damned,” Vinnie laughs. “Didn’t see that coming.”

  “Me neith– Fuck, here comes Boss.”

  They both hop out of the car and rush to greet the boss at the bottom of the steps. There are several men behind the boss. It reminds me of a scene out of a mob movie. Intimidating beyond words; however, there’s something sexy about a man with a lot of power.

  What the fuck is wrong with me? I scold myself. How could I find him sexy after watching him stab a man, in cold blood?... But the man he stabbed did murder women so technically wouldn’t the guy being stabbed be the bad guy?

  “They won’t harm you,” Hanna says, patting my hand.

  “How can you be so sure?” I ask, facing her.

  “They live by code. No women or children hurt. Ever.”

  Her words are somewhat comforting. It’s nice to know that thugs can live by a code. I guess there is hope in this world after all– sarcasm.

  Chapter Six

  Nico

  After dealing with Bosko, I spent a few minutes talking with Adrianna. She surprisingly was understanding and said she trusted me to handle it the best way I saw fit. I told her I planned to send the one woman to Poland and the other woman was probably coming home with me. That earned me an earful on how I should respect women and not be a man-whore. Once she stopped lecturing me, I explained that wasn’t what I had meant at all. She seemed amused and then hung up.

  “Mick and Leon take the redhead to the airport. Tech will meet you there with her documents and money,” I announce. “See to it that she gets on that plane. Don’t leave the airport until an hour later. I don’t want any loose ends.”

  “You got it, Boss,” Leon nods.

  “Understood, Boss,” Mick replies.

  All of my guys stare at me. Undoubtedly waiting for my orders for what to do with the brunette. I had already texted Gregg that the brunette was off-limits and anyone who fucked with her would have to answer to me. What more did I need to fucking say?

  “Keys,” I say to Gregg, holding out my hand. His eyebrow raises but he doesn’t question me out loud. He simply places the keys in my hands. “I’ll drive back to the house.”

  “Boss?” several of them ask with confusion all over their faces. It’s hard to not laugh when they look so lost.

  “A few stay back for clean-up. Two cars go with Mick and Leon. The rest escort me back to the house.”

  With that, I walk over to the S.U.V. that Vinnie and Gregg got out of. I unlock the doors with the key fob and open the brunette’s door. She seems frightened out of her mind.

  “You can ride up front,” I smile and offer her my hand. She stares at it like it’s a snake. “I don’t bite, Miss…”

  I purposely allow the word Miss to linger, hoping she’ll finish my sentence. However, she doesn’t say anything, just carefully places her hand on mine. I help her out of the car, close the door, and then escort her around to the passenger side. All eyes are on us but no one is saying a word. They know better.

  I open the passenger door and she climbs in. When I close the door, she damn near jumps out of her skin. I offer an apologetic smile but she’s looking down. Her chest is rising and lowering at a quick pace.

  Fuck, I think, realizing that my plan may blow up in my face before I even get in the car.

  “Boss, is everything okay?” Tommy asks. Leave it to my youngest enforcer to have the biggest balls.

  I turn and face my guys.

  “Why are you all still standing here?” I growl. That’s the fire they needed lit under their asses. They acknowledge me and then scramble to carry out my orders. The redhead is escorted to another car along with her belongings that were taken from the room.

  “Here’s her stuff, Boss,” Paulie says, bounding down the steps with a hot pink duffle bag, a purse, and a pink phone.

  “Pink looks good on you, Paulie,” I joke. He shakes his head and laughs.

  “Really brings out my eyes, eh, Boss?” he grins.

  “That it fucking does.” I laugh, hitting the hatch button on the key fob. He hands me the phone and purse and then puts the bag in the very back. He closes the hatch and then looks at me. “Ride with Mick and them to the airport.”

  “You got it, Boss.” He walks over to their vehicle, leaving me to finally face the music.

  I quickly walk around the vehicle, open the door, and climb in.

  “Sorry, you had to wait,” I say, handing her her phone and purse.

  “Thank you,” she whispers.

  “My pleasure.”

  “Am I really allowed to have this?” she asks, looking at the phone.

  I close the door and look at her.

  “You aren’t a hostage, Miss…” Again, I allow the word Miss to linger, hoping like hell that she’ll finally tell me her name.

  “Thank you.”

  So much for that fucking idea. I should have gone through her purse first and then given it to her.

  “What’s your name?” I sigh.

  “My name?” She sounds confused. “Didn’t you go through my stuff before you gave it to me?”

  “No, but I probably should have,” I laugh and start the car.

  “Seatbelt!” she blurts. I look over at her and she’s buckling her seatbelt. “I mean, you’re the boss and all. Guess you don’t have to put it on,” she whispers.

  Her words make me genuinely laugh. I can’t quite figure out her personality. She’s shy and scared but then out of nowhere, she stands up for what is right.

  “Yes, ma’am.” I put on my seatbelt, place the car in drive, and get on the road.

  “Where… Where are you taking me?”

  “My place.”

  “What?” she shrieks, causing me to almost swerve off the road. “Sorry. So sorry. Please, don’t crash.”

  I glance at her and then back at the road. She has a death grip on her seatbelt. Her eyes are closed.

  “I have no intention of crashing but please don’t scream again,” I reply calmly.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Why does that sound so fucking sexy? I grip the steering wheel and shift slightly in my seat to alleviate the pressure of my cock against my pants. Fuck, she’s sexy.

  I doubt she even knows how sexy she is. She seems to be one of those women who goes around her whole life not realizing how beautiful she is. She probably even dated a few douchebags, who made her think less of herself.

  Not sure why, but the thought of anyone mistreating her pisses me off. If I ever see anyone disrespecting her, I’ll kill them on the spot.

  What the fuck is wrong with me?

  “May I ask why your place?” she asks.

  “I figured you can’t be bought off with money.”

  “Oh. That’s true,” she giggles softly. “I won’t say anything. He’s a killer, right? That makes him the bad guy. Right? So technically you were being like a vigilante or something.”

  Her words had started off strong but finished weakly. I almost didn’t hear them. That’s how faint they were.

  “I wouldn’t call me a vigilante; however, I don’t tolerate women being hurt,” I tell her. “I do apologize that you had to witness that.”

  “Apology accepted. I guess,” she sighs. “I really don’t know anyone here, in Chicago. And, I really don’t want to start my fresh start being hunted down by you because I snitched. So couldn’t you let me go in good faith?”

  Chapter Seven

  Mia

  “Good faith,” he repeats and I nod.

  I don’t trust myself to speak at this point. I’m trying to strike a deal with the devil. A deal that may cost me my life if I break my end.

  “What’s your name?” he asks, glancing briefly at me and then back at the road.

  Up until now, I had tried to dodge the question but could I really avoid it forever? Probably not. I did not doubt the power and capabilities of this man. If he wanted something, he could have it with the snap of his fingers most likely. The way he carried himself could command an entire army without a word being spoken. He was pure alpha.

  “Mia,” I whisper, fidgeting with the seatbelt.

  “Mia…” he prompts me for my last name. I sigh heavily, close my eyes, and rest my head back on the headrest.

  “Mia Caldwell.”

  “Pleasure to meet you, Mia Caldwell. I’m Nico Santoro,” he says smoothly. I fight the urge to open my eyes and look at him.

 

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