Page 76 of Mob Knight

Our defining conversation was a week ago. We’ve been seeing each other for nearly a month now, and this is the happiest I’ve been in a long time. Even people at work have asked what’s different. I don’t know whether I’m supposed to tell people about Cormac specifically. I’m evasive, only saying I’m seeing somebody new, and it’s too soon to talk about it since I don’t want to jinx it, which isn’t entirely far from the truth.

Ever since my first punishment and then having sex without a condom, we’ve admitted how much better it is. I love the feeling of his cum on the inside of my thighs when I wake up in the morning. He orders me not to move after we have sex, so his cum remains in me like a brand. Sometimes he’ll command me to flex my pussy, so a bit dribbles out.

“Martha, do you have the file ready for the Horowitz case?”

I’m at work, and I can’t daydream any longer, or I’ll be late to a mediation.

“Yeah, it’s on my desk. Give me a moment, and I’ll grab it for you.”

Today is one of the few days when I need to head into Manhattan for work. Mostly, I’m able to stay on Staten Island for school and home visits. This is the case with the woman whoscreamed at me and slapped me. The court that has jurisdiction is in Manhattan. Once I have the file tucked away in my bag, I meet my guys outside.

Both of them and Cormac grumbled this morning when I insisted it would be much easier to take the subway into the city from the outer borough. Where I need to be in Manhattan makes parking even trickier than usual. There aren’t many garages in the area that’ll be empty at this time of day, and there’ll be next to no street parking. It’d be the eighth wonder of the world if there were.

That’s means one guy would have to keep circling the block because you can’t double park. If he’s doing that, then that leaves me with only one bodyguard. Just hinting at that practically sent Cormac into a conniption. He relented and agreed we could take the subway, but he had some very specific protocols he ran through with me, and I had to agree to.

It’s easy enough making our way into Manhattan, and fortunately, the mediation was fairly easy, at least until the exchange between the woman and me came up. We almost had a repeat of what happened out on the street. This time her attorney and the court officer convinced her it wouldn’t be in her best interest to take a swing at the court-appointed social worker who plays a significant role in determining whether she loses custody of her kid. I meet with two other social workers from different boroughs before I can call the day quits.

“Okay, Malcolm, I’m all done and ready to head out.”

I greet one of my guards who’s waiting outside the door. That was an interesting explanation I had to give when we arrived. I didn’t expect the guys to make it through security since I’m pretty positive they’re at least carrying knives if not a gun holstered at their lower backs. One look at their driver’s licenses made the security guards at the metal detector turn a blind eye. Once again, my don’t ask, don’t tell policy was in place. Theyhaven’t been inside my office, so I haven’t had to explain them there. They’ve stayed close in the parking lot, but they haven’t had to come in with me.

Malcolm, who vaguely resembles Cormac except with dark hair and dark eyes—apparently, he’s an O’Rourke on Cormac’s dad’s side and their third cousin four times removed or something like that. Even Cormac couldn’t remember how they’re related—speaks into his earpiece, and we wait for Billy to show up.

With Billy in front of me and Malcolm behind me, I’m securely sandwiched between them while my left and right sides are unprotected. I know Billy’s hyper aware of what’s in front of us, and Malcolm frequently checks over his shoulder behind us. If anything were to happen, Cormac explained Billy would be my shield in front of me, and that if Malcolm pushes me to the ground, I’m not to resist. He’ll cover my body with his.

Fortunately, no one’s tested that, but I can tell from how vigilant they are and how loyal they are to Cormac, they wouldn’t think twice before putting themselves in harm’s way for me. It’s not the easiest pill to swallow; however, I won’t be unappreciative, since it makes me feel a lot more confident now that I’m with Cormac. While I don’t speak about him specifically at work, we’ve been out and seen in public together, so it’s no secret we’re involved. I don’t know who’s seen us and who it might matter to, but Cormac’s attentiveness to my safety lets me breathe easier.

The sidewalk is extra congested along this block because the opposite side is closed where they’re repairing the concrete. People jostle me from each side, and Billy and Malcolm barely allow two inches between us. When we reach a street corner, I’m practically knocked off my feet as a guy pushes me out of the way to avoid a cyclist he stepped in front of. Malcolm catches me and keeps me on my feet.

“Are you all right Ms. Bracero?”

“Yes, thank you. Just another regular day in the city.”

“Yeah, but the guy could have at least said excuse me.”

I grin at Billy as he looks back over his shoulder to speak.

“True, but not everyone grew up with the O’Rourke etiquette.”

It’s obvious good manners were drilled into most of these men probably since conception. I’m pretty positive they know they’d lose at least a finger or their tongue if Cormac believed they were anything besides perfectly courteous, professional, and respectful to me.

We make it down to the subway platform. It’s almost the evening rush hour, so it’s filling up even more than it was when we got off here a few hours ago. Malcolm stands beside me while Billy goes to the other door of the car we’re going to enter. Billy steps in quickly and assesses the occupants before looking over at Malcolm and nodding. I’m about to step into the car with Malcolm when a guy getting off slams into my shoulder, pushing me back three steps.

I try to get around him, but we do the stupid dance of each moving in the same direction. After it happens twice, my spidey sense is on alert. This doesn’t feel normal.

“Excuse me.”

I’m brusque as I point to my right and move to step around him. However, he pretends not to hear me as he pulls his phone from his pocket. The doors to the subway car close with both of my guards on it. I watch in mild panic as the train departs. The guy who was in front of me has now disappeared as I look around. He vanished into the crowd.

How convenient.

Something is massively wrong about this.

I slide my hand into my pocket and wrap my hand around my non-metallic pocketknife—the kind that doesn’t set off metaldetectors. Cormac isn’t the only one who carries a weapon with him, but I’m yet to admit that to him. No doubt I’ll be telling him tonight. I sweep my gaze around the platform as it empties. I’m too exposed here to wait for the next car or for the guys to come back for me. I head up the escalator to the street level and make my way toward the building I just came out of.

From the corner of my eye, I recognize the guy who stepped in my way. He’s completely nondescript. He’s about as average as a man can be. Dirty blond hair, a bland shade of brown eyes, medium height, medium weight. Nothing memorable about him besides being unmemorable. Nothing about his appearance tells me if he might be from another syndicate.

He’s walking in the same direction as I am. As I approach the building, I notice a guy who flicks his gaze toward that man then me. My intuition screams to go the other way. I dart across the street, jaywalking and not giving a shit about it. Two cars honk as I weave past them. Luckily, traffic’s bad enough nobody’s driving that fast.

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