Page 24 of Pieces Into Place

She takes a step back, affronted by my statement. “I’m hardly the one who is hurt here, Janitor.”

Operating on pure instinct, I grab her by the shoulders and spin her around. With her back to my front I wrap one arm around her waist as my other hand goes to her throat, effectively restraining her movement and giving me the ability to control the airflow to her lungs. I’m clenching my teeth with barely restrained anger as I lean in and growl in her ear, a warning she will need to heed around me. “I am a patient man. I don’t hurt people who don’t deserve it, which makes you lucky right now. Make no mistake, Olivia. If you come at someone like that again, make sure you finish the job or you may live to regret it.”

Olivia squeaks behind my grip as her eyes pool with tears. In that moment, I almost feel sorry for her, but the truth is she’s lucky it was me instead of someone else who she had provoked. The thought of it chills me – if it had been someone else, she’d be sprawled out on the ground right now in all the darkness a good punch can accomplish.

Reluctantly, I release my hold on her and step back, giving us a safe distance from each other. She faces me with shock in her eyes and fingers still clasping where my hand had just pressed hard.

“Who are you?” she questions with a shaky voice.

“I can be a force to be reckoned with,” I hiss, as I take a menacing step forward. My eyes narrow and my jaw tightens as I spew out the words that will irreparably damage any possible reconciliation between us. “It’s clear why you’ve been alone for so long.”

Olivia’s face crumples and her lips tremble as she silently turns away from me, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Once she’s gone, I look up at the sky and take a deep breath, feeling the heavy weight of what just happened in the air around me. There was no sense of victory in our exchange. Only guilt and regret for speaking such harsh words and ruining any chance I had of being forgiven.

My fingers fidget anxiously against my phone before finally unlocking it and sending a desperate text to an old friend. Almost immediately there is a response, but I already know there is no way out of this situation. I’m screwed.

I watch Henry’s shocked face from across the table as I relay the details of today’s events. I finish telling him what happened in the parking lot, sit back, and take a long sip of beer. I know I’ve messed up. Not only have I blown my cover, but I’ve managed to get into a physical altercation with my client. The woman who doesn’t even know she’s my client. What a fucking mess.

Henry’s face is beet red as he unleashes on me. “What are you doing, Kane? You’re supposed to be blending into the background and keeping an eye on her, not trying to anger her to the point of physical assault.”

I nod in acknowledgment. He’s right, and he’s not telling me anything I don’t already know. “It is less than ideal,” I offer placatingly.

“Less than ideal? Are you fucking joking? This isn’t your first assignment. What is going on between you and this woman?”

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “She gets under my skin. There’s something about her. It’s like I can’t control myself.” I take another long gulp of beer, the amber liquid coating my sore throat from my earlier interaction with Olivia. “I fucking hate her, Henry. You should’ve seen it. She came at me like a polka-dotted tsunami.”

“You don’t hate her, Kane. That’s not the problem,” he says sternly.

I shake my head in rebuttal. “No, I really do. She’s been horrible to me since the day we met. I can see why people want this woman dead.”

He laughs as he shakes his head and he starts to relax. “People want her dead because of who her family is.”

“Well, that’s not why I would kill her,” I joke. “She’s honestly a detestable person. A small, mean, horrible person. She’s like a chihuahua.”

“Hey, me and the missus have a chihuahua. Let’s not bring Taco into this,” he jokes. Then he releases a deep sigh. “We just do the job we’re given,” he says before pausing. “It’s not up to us if the person is worthy of protection. You know this.”

“I do know this,” I reply.

Henry’s eyes narrow as he lets out an exasperated sigh. “You need to tell me if you can’t do the assignment,” he says accusingly.

I recoil in surprise at his insinuation. “I can handle it, Henry,” I reply defensively. “I’m not going to let you down.”

He nods slowly and reassuringly; although, his expression remains serious. “Good, because intel tells us that the Profaci family is making a stronger effort to find her.”

“Any indication they know where she is?”

Henry shakes his head. “No, but it might be only a matter of time before they figure it out. We need to talk to her about this as soon as we can.”

My mouth twists into a grimace. “Can’t wait for that conversation,” I mutter sarcastically.

“You won’t have to wait long,” he says as he rises from his seat, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and angling his head toward the entrance. My eyes follow his gesture and I see Olivia standing there, her eyes searching for something or someone. She pauses when she spots us and Henry waved her over.

“What is she doing here?” I ask, disbelief filling my voice as I watch her make her way to our table.

“I called her,” Henry said calmly. “After I got your text, I knew it was time to intervene. So, I dialed up her number and explained who I was. She sounded hesitant at first but once I mentioned your name she agreed to come out and meet me.”

“Watch out for her left hook,” I caution. “She hits like Mike Tyson.”