Page 41 of Filthy Little Games

The don had a boat ready and waiting at the dock for us when we got to his thankfully secluded beach property, so Izaiah is finally out of our hair for good. He’s literally swimming with the fishes, as they say. The thought puts a smile on my face and almost makes me giggle.

“What are you going to do about his car?” I look to Creed. His head is leaning back against the chair, his eyes closed. I’m not sure where he lost his suit jacket, but it’s gone now and the sleeves of his black dress shirt are rolled up his arms, the top buttons undone to reveal his muscular chest.

“I decided to leave it where he parked it,” he answers.

“Are you sure that was wise? Leaving it so close to my apartment? I don’t want to end up on a suspect list!”

“Since my text that he thought was from you instructed him to park half a block away from one of Aiden Sanna’s taxi companies, I thought it was best to leave it be instead of trying to move it and get caught on a surveillance camera or leave behind a trace of my DNA.”

“You think Emilio will blame Izaiah’s disappearance on Aiden Sanna because his car was found in Queens near his business, and they hate each other?”

“Yes. The two had an argument about Emilio’s drug dealers in Queens just the other day.”

“Smart of you to think of setting that up when you were furious and texting him.”

“Don’t forget, I was also watching you bathe.”

Taking a deep sip of wine from my glass, I mutter, “I’ve tried to forget how you invaded my privacy so brazenly.”

“Getting to watch you shower may have saved your life.” Creed grins. Lifting his head, he reaches over and takes my left hand in his. His thumb swipes the protruding diamond. “We can get you a different ring when we’re back in the city.”

“I’ll get used to this one. Eventually.”

“You can still keep this one. It’s worth over three hundred grand, you know, in case you decide to pawn it. I would hate for you to get swindled.”

“How did you know I was thinking about pawning it?” I ask, pulling my fingers free from his in surprise. Then, I instantly regret severing the innocent contact with him so soon when he looks away from me with a sigh of defeat.

“You’re not used to having a safety net. I get it. The first thing my mother pawned when she left my father was her diamond. We lived off the money from it for months while she looked for a job.”

“Oh. I’m sorry your parents split up.”

“They loved each other, but she didn’t want me and my brother to grow up and take over the family business for him. She thought she was protecting us from the violence by giving him up to the feds and running.”

“But your father found you?” I hazard a guess.

He nods. “The charges didn’t stick, and he found us. My brother and I came back home with him.”

I don’t need to ask what happened to his mother to know that it must not have ended well for her. Ratting out the mafia is a death sentence. It’s why I never considered going to the police to report the Rovinas. They have men on the inside to protect them from not only charges but rats too.

And I can’t help but wonder if Creed is not so subtly giving me a warning about what will happen to me if I betray him in such a way.

To change the subject, I ask him, “How is your leg feeling?”

“It’s fine,” he says while straightening the long limb out in front of him. “The cuts were shallow.”

We also dumped Izaiah’s bloody knife, his car keys, and my old laptop into the ocean with him. Creed promised to buy me a new one once he trusts me.

“Are you hungry?” he asks, glancing over at me. “You must be starving by now. We could get something delivered.”

“I’m actually not hungry. The scent of garbage is still lingering in my nostrils.”

“Mine too. Our appetites will hopefully return tomorrow. For now, showers?” He stands up.

“Showers,” I agree as I get to my feet as well.

I follow him back through the wide-open French doors to the sitting room that has an ocean view. Guess he’s not concerned about the electric bill and is wealthy enough to let all the cool air escape.

“This place is beautiful. Do you come here often? I would live here if it were mine.”

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