Page 76 of As the World Falls

Soft jazz music plays throughout the restaurant, and the lighting turns low. He continues to sip his wine as he smiles deviously at me behind the glass.

“What is this? Some kind of sick rendezvous?”

“I’m waiting,” is all he says.

“Waiting? Waiting for wh—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because I hear someone new approaching us, but when I look over my shoulder, I realize it’s three huge men who don’t look very nice.

“Hodge,” one of them says, his cold stare on him. “Funny to see you out enjoying yourself when we’ve been waiting tirelessly on you.” His accent was recognizably Italian and a new icy feeling slithered through my veins.

I glance at Hodge, whose face is now red despite his attempt to act bravely. I was so confused by what was going on here. If he planned this, why did he look so frightened?

I needed to get the hell out of here like right now.

“I thought we could discuss our predicament,” Hodge says to him, but I don’t miss the way his voice wavers—like he’s attempting confidence, and boy, was he failing.

“Just settle your payment, and we’ll leave you and your lady be,” the man says.

“Uh,” I squeak out, unable to help myself. “I’m not his lady. I just wanted to clarify that in case you thought I was because I’m totally not. I really honestly don’t know him all that well.” They all glare at me now, and I take it as a sign to end my rambling. “You know what, I think I’ll just be going,” I say as I stand up,but the man closest to me shoves me hard back into my seat. “Ow,” I cry out, rubbing my shoulder.

“No one’s going anywhere until he pays up. It’s been long enough, Hodge. I want my money now.”

“I don’t have it. I’ll have it soon. Just give me another extension, and I’ll get it to you.” He’s practically begging at this point, and I’ve seen enough mafia movies to know that this isn’t going to end well. I can’t believe I ever partnered with him in the first place. I could tell he was a slimeball at our first meeting, but I was so desperate, and now look where it got me.

The man in front of Hodge lashes his hand out, backhanding him in the face, making me jump. “You’re out of time. Either pay now or face the consequences.”

“How much money do you need? Maybe I could spot you?” I rush out, my voice shakier than I realized.

“He owes fifteen grand,” the guy spits out. He sounded and looked heartless like negotiations or mercy were completely off the table.

“Fifteen grand?” I yelp and then look over to Hodge. “Why would you drag me here knowing they would show up? I don’t have that kind of money.” I tried to be loud but not overly noticeable, praying James was still on the line and coming for me. I wasn’t sure why, but I trusted that he would. It was the only thing keeping me together right now.

“Someone needs to pay, or neither of you is leaving here,” the man says with a snarl.

I narrow my gaze on him. “Listen, I don’t want any trouble. I hardly know him, so I’m not sure why I—” A pained gasp rips from my throat as the guy beside me rips at my hair, pulling my head back to meet his gaze.

“I don’t give a fuck who you are. If you’re dumb enough to keep company with Wiseman, then it’s your fault you’re caught in the crossfire. He owes me money.”

“This isn’t right. I don’t even know who you are,” I cry, still trying to gain any information I could.

The man near Hodge walks toward me, and I stiffen in fear. He had a powerful air about him. He was eyeing me like I was bloodied meat, and he was the shark. He had longer, curlier hair that curled around his ears and light green snake-like eyes. He wasn’t overly muscular, but I could sense he wasn’t weak. He was terrifying.

“I’m Dante Amato. It’s nice to meet you, Cecilia,” he muses like he knew the fact he already knew my name would scare me shitless.

He was right. I was scared shitless.

“How do you know my name?”

He laughs as Hodge starts blubbering again. “Let me make it up to you, Dante. You can have her,” Hodge whimpers, pointing to me. I swear my eyes literally bug out as he says it. “Take her and do whatever you want if it buys me some time.”

“No,” I murmur, but it’s weak as my heart begins to race.

“The money is what I want,” Dante snarls, barreling back toward Hodge and snatching him by his shirt collar.

“She is pretty,” the other man next to me comments as his finger twirls into my hair. I shut my eyes as fear finally slammed into me in full force. I could only pray that James somehow found me in time.

Chapter Twenty-Four

James

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