Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Michele drops her head into her hands, “there is nothing to be had with the biker, but right now I need to stay alive against a sicario, I need to go.”
Ah, there it is. Benny is a sicario. As much as I hate to lose touch, I shift and rise. “finish your call baby, I gotta take care of something.”
Moving to the other end of the porch, I make the call to give Havoc the update. At least we can learn who we are up against now and formulate a plan to end the threat.
Benny, whoever he is may be a skilled killer, but he’s up against a trained weapon that is me.
CHAPTER 9
Michele
My call ends and I’m left sitting on the couch waiting for Jennings to finish his call. Giulia is adamant I listen to and trust the stranger in front of me. I know there is no one who cares for my safety more than her. As much as I may not like it I will listen.
How did my life get turned upside down again?
As much as I could have gone to the police, probably even gotten into protective custody for the things I know, I didn’t. I left Benny in the middle of the day on a random Tuesday. Telling anyone what I knew wouldn’t stop him or his associates. I simply knew the life Benny led wasn’t for me. If I stayed in New Jersey I would be committing to a life with him no matter how he treated me because I knew too much.
Eight months went into me leaving. For eight months, I played the part of loving girlfriend while my mind raced on getting out of this relationship. Giulia planned my exit. Howard assisted in the documents and driving me out of the state, where he then helped me buy a car in cash and register it with my new identity.
If I hadn’t left … I can’t even think about it.
The first two years, I was a mess. Hardly slept, couldn’t eat. Always watching.
Coming here, I was nervous, but I finally felt like I could relax. I made this life. I thought Benny realized I didn’t give up his secrets. He was safe from what I knew and in return I could be safe from his wrath. Stupidly, I thought maybe he would move on and forget me.
Only no one leaves Benincio Cartagena.
I knew better.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Jennings end his call and he is headed back to me. Without speaking, he moves back to the couch, reclaiming the spot he was in up against the corner. I don’t move.
“Michele,” his voice is low, deep. “Come here, buttercup.”
I shake my head.
He knifes up, reaching out, grabbing me and pulling me to him. Once again, my body gives into him while my head says this is bad.
Very bad.
Laying draped over him, I listen to the steadiness of his heartbeat and wait for the interrogation.
It doesn’t come. Instead, I lay over him as he gently rubs my back with one hand and holds me against him with the other.
Minutes pass, I don’t know how many, but there is this comfortable silence between us.
“Jennings,” I break the quiet, “why aren’t you asking me questions?”
He stops the back rub, “what do you want to share?”
“Sharing puts you in danger,” I explain. “Sharing puts your family in danger.”
“Your family trained you well.”
I lift up at that insinuation. “Giulia’s work has never and will never touch me.” One thing about Giulia, she doesn’t let her business and affiliations anywhere near family. Maybe on her dad’s side, but none of it ever had anything to do with me or my grandparents.
“Who taught you sharing is dangerous?”
“This is so complicated,” I try explaining away my reluctance to share.
“Uncomplicate it, buttercup.”
I lay against him as I notice the day has become night around us. “I’ve had a long day, Jennings. I’m going to shower and then pray I can fall asleep.”
He presses a kiss to the top of my head, “sleep well, buttercup. I’ll be right here. You are safe.”
To my surprise his arms around me release and he allows me to get up and retreat without a fight. And he stays put on the porch, when the front door to his home is merely feet away.
Tossing and turning, I can’t relax.
He literally remains on the damn porch. I thought he would come inside, he hasn’t.
Unable to resist the pull to be close to him, I step outside moving to him on the couch. He is stretched out with a pillow under his head, shirt off, and jeans unbuttoned. I approach and once I’m close enough he tags me by the arm and pulls me down onto him. My legs falls between his as he tucks me against him and reaches for the blanket he had earlier to drape over me once again.