I nod because I know she’s not thanking me for protecting her, but for letting her know she’s not alone.
“It’s time for me to end my pain.” I’m honest with her. She nods and this time when I turn away, she pushes forward and hugs me from behind. I pat her hands resting on my stomach. “Remember what I taught you.” I’ve worked with her a bit when Natale let me, training her to fight for herself.
I extricate myself from her embrace and walk out. My bag is already waiting for me by the door. I step out where my car is waiting too. Domino is leaning up against it.
“Thought you could leave without saying goodbye?”
“Nope, just didn’t want to kick your ass again.” I smile at him.
“Sure, if you say so.”
“Call or message if you need anything.”
“I shouldn’t need to but thanks for everything.” He reaches out his hand and I shake it.
As I pass through the gate, I try to think of anything but the fact I might not ever see them again. When I pull into my warehouse, I see the real estate agent has already placed the lockbox on the door. A moving company will come tomorrow to take care of all my stuff and put it in storage along with my car and motorcycle. I’ll be flying to Moscow under a new alias, then from there I will take a train into St. Petersburg.
After a quick shower, I step into my closet and slip into the dress I left out to wear tonight. A gold chainmail mini halter cowl neck dress. It has slits up the sides of the skirt, leaving little to the imagination. The front cowl is too low to wear a bra. No knives can be hidden there. The back is completely open to just above my ass. Nowhere to hide anything there either. There is a long gold painted chain hanging down my back from my neck to past my ass, almost to the hemline of the dress. I put on my gold spike high heels next. There’s a single strap across my toes and a gold snake wrapped around my ankle. The heels lift my five-foot-seven height by four more inches. I take a glance in the mirror and then head out into the night.
While I wait for the valet in front of the club, I take an inventory of the bouncers, bodyguards, and mafiosos either pulling up or waiting. This is the only club in town where all the local families and outsiders mingle. Italian, Sicilian, Russian, Chinese, Cartel, and Irish all mingle. The amount of guns in the place should intimidate me but it doesn’t. I’m not afraid to die. There’s always been the chance I’d someday meet my match.
The training I endured and survived taught me that death was always a strong possibility. People in my line of work don’t retire to the country, they are taken out by rivals who are younger and better than them. Vitaly wasn’t the only assassin to come after me through the years. He was just the only one that got as close as he did to me physically. Before him no one interested me. I try to chalk it up to the fact that I was emotionally at the end of my rope, but I know it was more. He was mine. If he hadn’t betrayed me, he would have been mine.
Finally, I arrive at the front of the line, and I step out and hand the valet my key. As soon as I round the hood of my Jaguar, all eyes turn to watch me. In this community, I’m known, and they all move back from me. The other bodyguards watch me carefully, worried I’m here for their protectee. They check me out to see if I’m packing. They are also anticipating a Morello getting out of the car. Not that I would ever bring them here, but they hope.
I’m expecting them to underestimate me like they usually do when I’m in an outfit like this. Obviously, there is no way to hide weapons in this dress, and that is exactly what I want them to think. I want the men to not expect what my true plans are, let them think I’m on the prowl for a quick fuck. They know of me, but they don’t know what exactly I’m trained in. They only know my position with the Morellos, not where I was before.
The man I’m questioning tonight won’t be able to turn down what he’ll think I’m offering. He’s the owner of the club. Not a member of any of the families, but I know he’s been trying to get in. The fool thinks he can be accepted if he only does the right thing. He thinks he’s special and smarter. That they want him. He doesn’t get that it’s all about family and blood. He doesn’t realize they make fun of him behind his back.
I step up onto the sidewalk. The bouncer lets me pass, his eyes moving over my body. I can feel all the eyes on me. It causes my skin to tingle with awareness. It also makes me miss Vitaly knowing his look would caress me.
I enter the darkened hall. The music thumps around me. The end of the hall opens to a brightly lit club. Bodies are moving on the dance floor. As I make my way to the bar, I watch everything around me. I count the number of doors leading from this room. My training never leaving me no matter how long it’s been. I take note of the hallways leading off here. I know most of them because in the past I would get a quick fuck in one of the bathrooms. Not tonight. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that again.
The bouncers strategically placed around the floor are watching me. The bodyguards who have already set up their locations to watch. I’m the calm shark moving through the waves of people amongst the frenzy of bull sharks watching. Bodies move out of my way, giving me space, knowing I’m more dangerous. Men admire my body until they see the myriad of tattoos visible in this dress. The Bratva ones, the Italian ones, and the ones I like. Vitaly never questioned me about the Bratva ink, and I wonder if he was avoiding the truth that was right in front of him. I’ve earned every tattoo on my body.
I step up to the bar. “What can I get you?” The bartender smiles at me as he takes in my cleavage. My breasts move with my body, the muscles I have keep them from sagging. They are obviously real.
Smiling back, I push my long hair over my shoulder and boldly check him out too. I’m not going to play shy or timid. I won’t submit to any man. Except one, but he’s a long way from here.
“Vodka, top shelf.” I slide my tongue across my red painted lips.
“Anatonia.” The heavily accented voice comes from behind me. I clocked him in the mirror over the bar as he made his way toward me, but I didn’t acknowledge him. I knew it would piss him off. He thinks all women are attracted to him, and I want him off-kilter. I want him to beg me for things.
I turn around and lean against the bar, cocking my leg so the split on the side opens and exposes the long expanse of tanned skin. I take him in, moving my eyes from his booted feet, up his black pants clad legs, to his shirt that he purposely buys a size smaller to make his muscles look bigger.
“Antonio,” I purr as I lean my upper body toward him. The cowl neck of the dress opens so he can look down it. He steps forward, his hands landing possessively on my hips. I look up his six-foot-two frame and try not to cringe from his touch. My body wants to rebel against another man touching me, but I need to get this information, and I won’t pay for it or offer anything to get it. He’ll give it to me.
“Hermosa, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Tonio?” He leans down and kisses each of my cheeks, lingering longer on the last one.
I pull away when I hear the glass settle on the bar behind me. I turn around, but his hands remain on my waist. I lift the glass to my lips and focus on the room behind me in the mirror. My gaze skimming over the crowd. I pause for a moment on a set of eyes the color of rich, melted chocolate. Eyes I’ve seen flare with desire but are now clouded with anger.
No, it can’t be.
He’s not here, I just wish he were. It’s my imagination getting away from me.
I shoot the glass, allowing the vodka to numb my feelings.
“You look as beautiful as ever. What brings you to my humble establishment?” Tonio leans down and I lose the eyes in the mirror.