Page 67 of The Devil Can Be Kind

“I really am. Thank you… Don La Torre.” I said softly, all traces of my earlier humor gone replaced by genuine sincerity. I never would have got a job like this without him.

Again, his voice came later than expected.

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you at home, Ada.”

He disconnected the call, and I couldn’t help the moronic smile plastered on my face as I turned back to my work.

Things between us were changing again, and I didn’t know what to make of it.

This fun, jovial side of Marco was something I had never expected and the other night in my car had shown me that perhaps there was more to like about the Don than I could have possibly imagined. Something that went further than just sexual attraction and this game of cat and mouse we were playing.

That part of myself desperately fought to keep my heart locked tight, knowing all too well what it would mean to give it to someone within the Cosa Nostra. Hurt, disappointment, betrayal and potentially even death awaited on the other side of that mountain, and I had no intention of finding out which were in store for me.

Or at least, that was what I was telling myself.

The remainderof the afternoon I spent leafing through the training manual and handbook, getting to grips with my main responsibilities and tasks. Keeley would periodically visit with a coffee in toe to see how I was doing, and we ended our day with a meeting discussing the rest of the week’s schedule.

“Was your first day a success?” Jesse questioned, throwing himself down in one of the chairs opposite my desk as the clock turned five. He had disappeared for most of the day to update the casino’s security systems apparently.

“It’s been awesome.” I said in my sing-song voice.

“Well then, let’s go celebrate!” He announced, getting himself back up.

“What did you have in mind?” I questioned, unsure what he was planning but certain I needed to be in bed by nine.

“How about dinner at the restaurant downstairs? You get like a forty percent discount, you know.”

“Wow. Now I see why you’ve been hovering around me all day.” I clutched my chest in mock hurt.

“Obviously.”

We exited the room and headed over to the elevator bank, but before the doors had even chimed open, Jesse’s phone began to ring. He gestured with his hand for me to wait with him as he took the call.

Within a heartbeat his expression changed from his usual playful self to dark and stormy, culminating in fury.

Whatever he was being told wasn’t good.

He hung up the phone and immediately called for the elevator again. “We’re heading back now.”

“Jesse, what’s happened?” Instead of answering, he smacked the button again impatiently.

I had never seen him angry before, and it was starting to make me panic.

“Jesse, tell me what’s going on!” I shouted.

The doors opened and he swiftly took my arm, all but dragging me inside. He pressed the button for ‘underground’.

“Je—" I began again.

“I can’t tell you, alright? But we need to get back.” He sighed.

“Did someone get hurt, Jesse? Is it Marco? Is Marco okay?” I demanded, pulling at his arm.

His eyes snapped to me then, shooting me a strange look.

“It was no one you know.” he said slowly.

Despite his tone, his answer provided me with some degree of unease and comfort at the same time.

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