Page 17 of Caged Captain

“Great choice,” I reply in my cheeriest waitress voice. I still need the tip money, though looking back at Mr. Fedora, I’m not so sure he’s the type to leave a tip.

As I move about the diner doing my regular tasks of wrapping silverware, clearing tables, and keeping up with customers, I get the odd sensation that I’m being watched. I brush it off at first, thinking my paranoia is due to my exhaustion. After two hours, however, I need a break.

“I’m taking the garbage out back,” I tell Sal.

He nods and opens the back door leading to the alley behind the diner as I push two large garbage bins on wheels in front of me.

Once outside, I take a moment to enjoy the slight breeze on my cheeks. It’s hot, like most days in Vegas, but the fresh air is still nice. The silence of this secluded spot is even nicer. Leaning against the brick wall, I take a few deep breaths.

My stomach has been in knots since I woke up to Marco’s note. I’ve gone from furious to ashamed to heartbroken and back to furious over the last few days. Sometimes, I feel all of it at once, nearly crumbling under the weight of all the emotions.

Even my dad noticed something was off the last three days. I told him I got a second, temporary job, which is why I’ve been out of it. After he kept demanding answers, I finally broke down and told him I’d been doing “odd jobs” for the Caparellis in exchange for clearing his debt. Technically, it wasn’t a lie. It was all a job. I’m even more painfully aware of that in the aftermath of the last few days.

My father was outraged at first, but he quickly lost his self-righteous attitude when I reminded him that we wouldn’t be in this position if not for him. I hated seeing him sink onto the couch with the weight of his shame, but I sure as hell wasn’t about to apologize for doing what needed to be done. He nodded and sighed while I told him this should be his wake-up call.

I might be young and optimistic, but I think this will be a turning point. I hope.

I wipe a rogue tear from my cheek and close my eyes, trying to still the storm of thoughts in my mind. It’s no use. I can hardly go five seconds without my attention floating to Marco. I’m such an idiot for trusting him.

What did I expect? We never set guidelines for physical contact in our deal. I was just as into it as he was, and I certainly loved every minute of being with him… until he left me cold and alone in his bed. Was it all a game to him? Maybe Marco really did want to sleep with me, but in the harsh light of day, he realized what a mistake it was. Are we still going on fake dates? Is my father’s debt paid off? So many questions and zero answers.

A scratching sound echoes down the alley, making me snap my eyes open to search for the source. I don’t see anything, but goosebumps prickle my skin, and my heart races.I’m being paranoid. It’s nothing.

I hurry to empty the garbage into the large dumpster next to me so I can get back inside. My shift is over soon and then I’m crawling into bed and sleeping as long as possible. A good depression nap is just what the doctor ordered.

I grab the first garbage bin and heave it up and over the rim of the dumpster, standing on my tiptoes and angling the bin to empty it. I’m about to set it back down and reach for the second bin when a hand clamps down on my shoulder.

“Wha–”

Before I can even finish the word, I’m yanked backward. I trip and fall to the dirty ground littered with trash and questionable substances. The garbage bin follows, trapping me in place.

I push the damn thing off me and attempt to scramble to my feet, only to have a hand wrap around my neck, pinning me to the ground. I recognize the man from earlier—Mr. Fedora. Hepresses his knee against my stomach, digging into my flesh to subdue me.

His beady little eyes bore into mine as his lips curl into a sinister smirk. “Funny, I wouldn’t think the girlfriend of a mafia Captain would bother working a shitty service industry job. Does Marco not buy you everything you could want or need?”

I attempt to answer but cough and wheeze instead. Between my lungs being crushed by the weight of this man’s knee and his tight grip around my neck, I have to fight for each breath.

“I knew the whole thing was a sham from the beginning. Marco could have any woman. Why would he chooseyou?”

I grit my teeth, determined not to let him see how cutting his comment is. It speaks directly to the heart of my insecurities. I’m a poor, fat, foolish girl who looks absolutely ridiculous standing next to someone like Marco. Of course, no one believed we were a couple. Even Marco, despite what he made me feel. None of it was real.

“I’ll get all the answers soon enough,” the man grunts seconds before I feel a sharp prick on the side of my neck.

He stands, and I try to follow him, but I can barely move my limbs. Soon, I become dizzy to the point of nauseousness, and blurry dots swim in my eyes. The last thing I remember is a police car pulling up at the end of the alley and two more men running toward me. They grab my arms and legs and lift me from the ground.

Then, my vision goes black.

8

MARCO

“Something’s wrong,” I tell Aurelio after bursting into his office.

The Boss looks up from his desk, his brows furrowed as his eyes search mine. I’m a disheveled mess from head to toe. The last three days have been absolute torture without my Imogine. It killed me to leave her curled up in my bed, knowing I was about to break her heart. Each minute, each fuckingsecond,has been worse than the last since I walked away.

Aurelio leans back in his seat, stoic and unflappable as ever. Without a word, he motions for me to sit before crossing his arms over his chest. How can he be so calm when I’m crawling out of my goddamn skin? I suppose he’s never been in love before.

Holy shit. Love?

---