Chapter 13
After my little back-and-forth with Adriano, I escaped into the bedroom to check my phone.
Debt or no debt, I was seriously considering bolting.
Adriano was hot, but he was an asshole – and there was no way in hell I was going to put up with him for a second longer.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
If I’m honest, though…
I was bothered by how much he turned me on.
It wasn’t just his good looks (although that was a big part of it).
And it wasn’t that he was obviously the top guy in the room (although that was part of it, too). He was clearly the leader, the one everybody else deferred to.
It was weird, but…
I kind of liked the verbal sparring with him. The back-and-forth.
He was an asshole, yeah –
But he kept me on my toes.
He was quick-witted, and he could be pretty funny – when he wasn’t being a dick.
But there was one thing that was a gigantic deal-breaker, the biggest red flag of all:
He was a mafioso.
THAT was what freaked me out the most: that I was turned on by a Cosa Nostra thug.
If one thing could make me walk out, that was it.
No good could come of being attracted to a mobster.
So I was seriously contemplating walking out the door –
When I got distracted. As soon as I picked up my phone, I saw a notification that I had a voicemail from my father. It had come in only three minutes ago.
I hurriedly opened my phone and redialed –
But it immediately went to voicemail.
Cursing, I hung up and played the message he’d left me.
“Hi, Paperotta.”
Paperotta was Italian for ‘little duck’ – my father’s pet name for me ever since I was a baby. These days he used it when he knew I was mad at him and was trying to slip back into my good graces.
“I’m sorry about the money. I am, I really am. I should’ve told you last week when you asked… I shouldn’t have lied. I’m sorry.
“But something’s different this time. I can’t tell you over the phone, but… something really, REALLY bad is going on. It’s a lot bigger than me owing them money – a LOT bigger.
“I want you to get your mother out of town. Both of you get on a train and get the hell out of Florence. Go to another country if you can. I know money’s tight, but borrow from your friends if you have to. Trust me on this – you need to leave town NOW.
“And whatever you do, do NOT go with Sergio or get mixed up with the Agrellas in any way, shape, or form. If they tell you to do something, RUN THE OTHER WAY.
“I’m begging you, Paperotta – take your mother and get on a train and go as far away as you possibly can.
“I love you. Please call me and let me know when you’re safe.”
That’s where the message ended.
As soon as I heard the part about ‘something really, REALLY bad,’ my stomach sank.
By the time he got to ‘run the other way,’ I was nearly having a panic attack.
In fact, I was trembling when the call ended.
What had I gotten myself into?
What the hell was going on with this job I’d agreed to do?
I had to get out of here – NOW –
And that’s when the gunshots started.