Page 35 of The Shadows We Keep

I suck in a breath, pressing my hand to my mouth to smother the sound. This guy knew my sister, or at least knows of her. And they don’t even sound like they're fighting. There’s a familiarity in their banter.

“You don’t even know her, kid. You’ve gone on what a couple of dates if you can even call them that. When I was your age, we actually had to ask a girl out, not just show up where they’re eating pizza.”

Oh my god, they’re talking about me.

That little shit; I knew he was watching. I’d never seen him in Luigi’s before, but twice after our run in when I’d been waiting for my food, he’d come in. I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. I’m too caught up in my thoughts to register the door opening the rest of the way before it’s too late.

Two sets of eyes bore into me, Harkin, and my driver. I’m confused.

They know each other?

I back away slowly. This time I turn and run for it. I only make it a couple steps before hands wrap around my waist, twisting me quickly before I’m flung over his shoulder.

I yelp at the hard smack landing on my bare ass. “Fuck!”

“I don’t think so sweetness. Bad girls don’t get rewarded.”

A chuckle behind us grabs my attention, and I fling my eyes up. My driver is still standing in the doorway, a smile tugging on his lips, his eyes on me.

“Put me down.” I thrash against Harkin, but he just tightens his hold around my thighs.

“You should go, James, and try not to interrupt again,” Harkin says lightheartedly.

“You got it, sir.” James skirts around us, laughing the entire way to the front door.

“Harkin, I’m serious. Put me down right now!” I pound against his back, my fury building. I don’t know what’s going on here and it’s not fair.

“Tsk. Tsk. Little one, don’t you know it’s rude to spy on people and listen in on conversations that aren’t for your ears?” he chastises.

He flings me forward and my ass hits the couch, the height of the fall causing me to lose balance and bounce to the floor. I shuffle up off the ground and try to rise off the seat, but Harkin’s arms box my body in. I look up into those soulful, dead eyes. He doesn’t show any anger but looks amused.

“I’m leaving.” I push at his arms, but they don’t budge.

If he thinks he’s got me, he’s got another thing coming.

I pull my legs out and arch over the back of the couch, sticking the landing and running for the front door.

Yanking it open and stepping into the hall, I quickly look up for the exit sign glowing overhead, and run toward it. Harkin’s yelling at me from behind, but I don’t stop. I’m pissed, and if he thinks he can just keep secrets and bully me into submission, he’d be wrong.

My breathing is labored when I finally hit the last step and reach the building’s front door. I mentally add cardio to my to-do-list as I swing the glass open and run right into James.

For fuck’s sake.

His eyes scan my body and widen with surprise. I follow his gaze, realizing then that I’m barefoot and don’t have my purse. I don’t even know what time it is, but when I look across the street. Luigi’s is open, and that’s my opportunity. I’m not thrilled about having to walk across the street without shoes, but I refuse to go back upstairs and get my things.

James sees the decision in my stance and steps in front of me.

“Keira, wait,” he implores, but I shove past him. The pressure behind me changes, and I know Harkin is there. I jolt forward, looking both ways and making a run for the other side of the street. My name’s being yelled over car horns and the bustle of people on the sidewalks, but I don’t stop. I push open the front door to Luigi’s and slam the door behind me.

Great, now I’m slamming doors.

“Keira.” The slimy accented way he says my name makes my body freeze. I don’t have to look up to know Marco’s working today. The door thuds against my body. I push against it, not wanting to let Harkin in.

Marco’s attention moves past me to the guy banging on the front door and his eye cast back to me, back to my disheveled appearance, my barely there clothing, and my uncovered feet. He rips me away from the door, swinging it open to an infuriated Harkin.

Here we go.

Marco’s yelling in Italian, so I have no clue what he’s saying, but the way he’s saying it rivals Harkin’s fury.

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