Page 65 of Assassin's Obsession

He squeezes me tighter, like he thinks I'm going to leap from his arms. "Do you really want the answer to that?"

"Yes," I say firmly. "I want to know."

Apparently being stalked and kidnapped is not a dealbreaker for me. Because I am in possession of my phone, but making no effort to call 911 while he carries me upstairs. To the guest room?

Not sure if I want the answer to beyes, ornoto that.

"I have camera feeds inside your apartment and out in the hallway."

Camera feeds? As in he has beenwatchingme not merely listening? He said he watched me, but I didn’t think he meant it like that.

"Uh, that's clinical grade obsession right there."

"Maybe, but you've figured out by now my brain doesn't work like other people's." It's not a question.

And he's right. No way would your average person think dismemberment a reasonable reaction to a punter overstepping.

"I think my brain has a twist too," I admit. "Ronnie would never have had to pay for his assault on me. Now, maybe he'll think twice about trying to molest another woman."

"He won't have long to do that thinking." Angelo's voice drips menace.

"What do you mean?"

"He didn't just touch you. He tried to rape you."

"Most people wouldn't see it that way."

"I'm not most people." He stops on the landing.

It's not some small patch of carpet at the top of the wide marble staircase. No, it's a whole other room, with chairs and flowers in a vase on the table against the wall that runs between two open hallways.

Does this place have wings like some medieval castle? "Killing people must pay well."

"Generational wealth, but yeah, it pays pretty well when your boss is the godfather."

Generational wealth?Who is this guy? And why is he so obsessed withme?

Focusing on something besides my sudden attack of insecurity, I say, "Those cameras would have to have sound for you to know all the things you do."

Which are in a word, embarrassing. I say stuff to my mom and sister I wouldn't even admit to Bianca. She's got no clue about my crush on the mafia assassin. Mom and Cookie are the only two people on the planet that get to see the softer side I hide under my prickly exterior.

"Yes."

I fist his shirt. "Now is not the time to clam up on me. How did you get cameras into my apartment?"

Chapter 19

CANDI

Angelo carries me down the hallway on the right, his footsteps making no sound on the lush carpet. "I impersonated building maintenance."

"You're the guy that came around and fixed all of the things mom's been complaining about to the super for years?" My mind spins with all the work he did to hide his real reason for being there.

We now have decent water pressure in the bathroom, and there are brand new mobility rails to help mom in the shower and on and off the toilet.

All four burners on the stove work again and there's no pan under the kitchen sink to catch the slow leak anymore. Because it's gone.

All the dings in the walls have been patched up and painted over. I thought it was a miracle our cheap building superintendent coughed up the cash for all the repairs.

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