Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 49774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 249(@200wpm)___ 199(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 249(@200wpm)___ 199(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
Movement near the door scared her. Holding the book tightly, she stared at the man from the diner last night, the same one that had been harassing Rachel. Well, not really harassing, but in a way, yes. She didn’t know if asking for dates would constitute harassment. Rachel said most guys wouldn’t be a problem, but, seeing as Daniel was who he said he was, she didn’t want to get involved in that life.
“You’re alive,” he said.
Glancing down at herself, she nodded. “It certainly appears that way.”
He tilted his head to the side. “I don’t get what he sees in you. He barely knows you, and yet he’s determined to keep you alive.”
She didn’t say anything as he walked into the room.
He shrugged. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. If you stay tense like that with a gunshot wound, you’ll hurt later.”
She tried not to tense, but, seeing as she was now alone with a man she didn’t really know, she couldn’t seem to help it.
He sat down in the chair near the bed.
Vincenzo had sat in it last night, watching her.
She didn’t know if he’d even been able to sleep.
“Do you know who we are? What we’re associated with?” he asked.
Staring at him, she nodded her head.
“Ah, so you know you’re dealing with one of the deadliest messengers the mafia has?”
“You’re a deadly messenger?”
“Not me. I’m the bodyguard to the messenger. Vince is…”
“Vince is the deadly messenger?”
“Yes. He has a knack for hurting people. For making them talk. For getting them to divulge all of their secrets, really. You know how it is?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have a clue what you mean.”
“Well the longer you stay here the higher the chance is that you’re going to find out. I’d be careful around Vince. Nothing ever ends well with him.”
“Why are you telling me this? Do you just want to scare me?”
“I want to prepare you.”
“Prepare me for what?” She didn’t like this man. He made her nervous.
“For what is to come if Vince doesn’t get over this little obsession he’s developed with you.”
She stared at him, not really sure what to say.
It seemed in the past few hours she’d not been able to say anything of any real relevance in her mind. Between Vincenzo and Daniel, her life was in danger.
“He’s part of the mafia, Arika, but he’s not one of the most important families.”
“He told me that if I knew too much it was dangerous for me. I don’t want to know anymore.” She didn’t want to die.
“You’re scared?”
“I just want to get well and go back to my life.”
“Too late for that, I think. You’re involved now. Whether you like it or not, you’re not going to walk away. You see, Vince is someone special.”
She noticed he kept calling the man who was taking care of her “Vince” and not his full name.
She rather preferred Vincenzo. It sounded less threatening to her.
“He’s the one the mafia sends to get a message across.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat, seeing the joy in Daniel’s face.
“You get off on scaring people?” she asked.
“I get off on doing my job. It’s why I was placed with Vince in the first place. I keep him safe. Of course, that bastard is even more sick in the head than I am. I admire him. He’s known as the ‘Mafia’s Beast.’ He gets the job done. When he comes to call, there’s going to be a lot of pain and a lot of death. He’s got a reputation for torture. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. I once saw him cut a man’s dick off and shove it in his mouth. He then taped his mouth shut while he proceeded to cut another body part off him. It was a work of art, I tell you. Fucking disgusting, but so damn good to watch.”
Tears filled her eyes.
She didn’t want to be here, and this man was making it impossible for her to be comforted by what he was saying.
“This man will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Right now, you’re a distraction. If I was you, I’d use whatever it is that has him so enthralled to keep him that way, otherwise it’s not going to end well for you.”
He leaned over, patting her leg.
She couldn’t help but flinch at his touch.
The last thing she wanted was for him to touch her.
He laughed, the sound of delight spilling from his lips.
He got up and made his way toward the door.
He wants you to be afraid.
That fucker just got off on terrifying you.
Watching him leave, she saw the swagger in his walk, and she hated it. This man was a fucking bully. Thinking about Rachel, she didn’t want to be another woman scared.
“How did he become this beast?” she asked.