Page 24 of Hidden Ties

“Yes.”

Well, he didn’t lie, at least.

Heart racing, she still held tightly to the wheel. She had been baiting a man who was most likely a dangerous individual, based off Officer Daniels’ warnings that, in fact, weren’t so baseless after all, making her realize she wasn’tstupidly brave. She was juststupid.

“And”—she finally made herself look at him—“if I say no?”

He removed his glasses with a smile and placed them in the front pocket of his navy suit. “Come on, Valerie …”

Her name coming off his lips no longer sounded lame. As she stared at him now without his glasses and his sly smile, he reminded her of a cunning fox.

“You’re not even a little bit curious to meet the man who bailed you out of jail for two million dollars?”

Feeling cornered, she fought back the feeling, knowing he was right. She, in fact, did. Even though she was a thousand percent certain it would be the dumbest thing,which was saying a lot, she ever would do and without certainty would bite her in the ass. But, truth be told, getting whacked by Lucca Caruso didn’t sound so bad, considering she was most likely facing life in prison. A girl like Valerie was never going to survive being locked up without going to the looney bin, anyway. Leaving her only option to take any and all help from the Boogieman himself … and his sly minion.

“All right.” Grabbing her bat, she exited the car with it in hand. “Let’s go.”

“You can’t take that in,” he scoffed, jumping out of the car to stop her before she could walk right in the front doors.

Valerie stopped to look at him. “Are you telling me you’re not carrying a gun right now?”

Silence met her question. She had her answer.

“Then I should be able to carry a weapon myself,” she said, pushing on ahead as Sal became frustrated again.

“Fucking hell, Valerie.”

However, mistaking him as just her annoying neighbor wasn’t going to happen again, not after seeing him for what he truly was.

Entering the Casino Hotel felt like entering the fox’s den. She just hoped she wouldn’t become his prey.

The concerned glances she got from those gambling in the casino had security on their tail in no time. Only the fact that Sal stood beside her was the reason she was able to proceed all the way to the elevators.

Waiting on the doors to open, she expected one of the many security guards who had accumulated to stop them.

The fact they got in and watched the doors close them inside still without interference as Sal hit a series of buttons told her one thing.

Salvatore was a made man who must be pretty damn close to the top.

She couldn’t help but give him a hard look, wondering how it was possible to misjudge him so horribly all this time.

“Do you even need glasses?” she asked in disbelief.

Sal didn’t answer, clearly preferring to ride the elevator in silence.

Her eyes made their way down to his suit and shiny expensive shoes. “You’re freaking rich, too, aren’t you?”

Again, no answer, causing her to practically blow a bubble with a huff of air. “Of course, you are. The car you drive is probably just another layer to yourfaçadethat you belong like the rest of us, living paycheck to paycheck on Prairie Drive. What a joke …” She laughed at herself. “I bet you wouldn’t know what it was like to scrape by a day in your life.”

Those words had Sal hitting another series of buttons that sent the elevator to a screeching halt on its long ascent to the top.

“What is your problem?”

“My problem?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes.” He stealthily stalked closer to her with black fury in his eyes. “What isyourfucking problem? You’ve hated me since the day I moved in next door.”

Valerie gasped. “I did not!”

---