My phone buzzes. Sal.
Any progress on the witness?
I stare at the message.
Following up on a lead, I type back.Will update soon.
I’m lying to Sal. Going against direct orders. Protecting a woman I should be hunting.
If he finds out, I’m dead.
But she kissed me like I was worth saving.
She saw through the muscle. Through the orders. Through everything I’ve done. And still touched me like I was hers.
That’s worth dying for.
I pull out my phone. Text Dario.
Sal knows she’s in town. Gave me orders to handle her. I told her to stay away until it’s safe. She’s okay. For now.
His response comes fast.
Keep her safe. Whatever it takes.
I stare at the message.
Whatever it takes.
Even lying to Sal. Even going against the family. Even risking my own neck.
Yeah.
Whatever it takes
Chapter Nineteen
STEVIE
I wake up with kiss-bruised lips and a moral emergency.
Not a small crisis. Not a ‘forgot to pay my electric bill’ crisis. A full-scale, DEFCON 1, I made out with a mob enforcer against my wall while wearing another mobster who I slept with’s shirt crisis.
I lie in bed staring at the ceiling, cataloging my sins.
Sin one: Felony breaking and entering.
Sin two: Petty theft of mob accessories.
Sin three: I slept with Dario.
Sin four: I liked it.
Sin five: I want to do it again.
Sin six: Frenzied makeout with the family’s violence concierge.
Sin seven: Liked that too.
