“I’m sure it was tough.”
“It was, but I stuck it out for my father. I thought the work I was doing for DeLuca was keeping him alive.”
I wasn’t sure if I could totally trust him yet, so I was careful not to tell Billy about the work I was doing for DeLuca. I didn’t even allude to it, but he was a smart guy. I had no doubt he’d figure it out. I lowered my head with regret as I told him, “I also thought he’d release me once I’d managed to cover my father’s debt, but I was wrong on both counts.”
“How so?”
“He killed my father.” I had to fight back my tears as I told him, “He was dead the entire time, and I didn’t know it.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah, and to think I thought I’d actually saved him. The man never had any intention of letting him live, and he never intended to let me go. I should’ve known a man like Antonio DeLuca wouldn’t keep his word.”
“You did the best you could.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
“It’s true. He’s a very powerful man. There’s no way you could’ve gone up against him alone.”
Billy had barely finished his thought when his phone rang. He quickly pulled it out of his pocket and answered, “You’ve got Billy.”
Billy waited as the person on the other end of the line spoke, then quickly replied, “Not a good time.”
After another brief pause, Billy stood up and walked out of the room. “Where’s the game?”
He continued down the hall as he answered, “I see... And how many are playing?”
It seemed odd that Billy was interested in playing some dumb game, especially with the conversation we’d been having, but he was nonetheless. So much so, he got the information he needed, then disappeared into his bedroom. Moments later, he came out and the sight of him nearly took my breath away.
He was wearing a neatly pressed white button-down with the sleeves slightly rolled at the wrists and a pair of fresh khakis. His hair was neatly combed to the side, and he was wearing a pair of horn-rimmed glasses—which I found odd. Until then, I’d never seen him wear glasses. He’d even put on a spritz of cologne—which made me wonder who exactly would be at this game of his.
I felt a twinge of jealousy when he came into the living room and announced, “I have to go.”
“Okay.”
“I will be gone for several hours.”
“Okay.”
“I should move you into the bedroom.”
“Probably so.”
He nodded, then came over and lifted me in his arms. His entire body felt tense as he carried me back into the bedroom and laid me down on the bed. His tone was brusque as he ordered, “Stay put until I get back.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Everleigh. Don’t move until I get back.”
“Okay. I’ll stay put.”
With that, Billy walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. Seconds later, I heard the door’s lock engage, and just like that, I was being held prisoner once again.
BILLY
As much asI hated to leave Everleigh at the house alone, I didn’t have a choice. Viper and the boys had a situation at their strip club, and they needed my services. Even though the timing wasn’t the best, I couldn’t turn Viper down—not after all the help he’d given me with Everleigh.
Thankfully, it was a small job I could handle on my own, so I secured Everleigh in the bedroom and rushed downstairs to grab my things. Moments later, I was in my van and driving toward the city. When I arrived at Stilettoes, I was surprised to find that the place was not only open but slammed-packed. I was concerned that I might’ve gone to the wrong address, so I grabbed the phone and called Viper.