Page 35 of Born Sinner
“You’re playing with fire.”
“Nice day to get burned.”
His eyebrows lift at my tone. “Seems the joker grew teeth.”
“I’m not handing her over to Santiago,” I warn.
“Who says you have a choice?”
Cursing under my breath, I start walking toward my Bugatti. I’ve been gone for too long. I have a tracking device on her car. I've hacked the college and her apartment security cameras. I know the moment she wakes up and the hour she falls asleep, but it’s still not enough.
I can feel the weight of my gun pressing against my heart.The same gun that made such a pretty mess of that composure.
I start the engine as Edier taps on the window.
“Screw her out of your system, and then I want you back in New York by Friday,” he says tersely. “She’s a Carrera, Sam... I don’t need to spell out all the bullshit that comes with that name.”
I jerk out a nod, tearing at my lower lip in frustration.And obsessions don’t just “leave your system,” Edier. They dig deep with spikes until nothing shakes them lose. They puncture your lungs so you need their fucking air to survive.
Something flashes in his dark eyes. Something close to sympathy.
“Listen, Ella Santiago arrives here next week for a late transfer into NYU, and I want you supervising her protection. If anything happens to the devil’s daughter on my watch, I’ll end up on a meat hook next to Savio. You hear me?”
I jerk out another nod.
“Go.” Taking a step back from the car, he slides his hands into his pockets. “And don’t come back until you’re breathing Santiago fumes again, not Carrera’s.”
* * *
I boomerang straight back to New Brunswick, braking with a screech outside her apartment—parking at an angle and blocking off two spaces.
I checked the trackers on the way here, my mood souring somewhere along the Garden State Freeway. Her place is in darkness, but I know exactly where she is, and she knows she’ll be getting punished for it.
Taking the fire exit stairs, I do what I need to do, and then I’m swinging back into my Bugatti to move it to a more discreet location around the side of the building.
Just as well.
A minute later, Santi Carrera pulls up and stalks inside, leaving three of his men by the door.
Soon after, a blue Ford Prius is parking nearby.
I watch the scene play out in grim silence, knowing I can’t make a goddamn move with her brother and hissicariosin the vicinity. Instead, I satisfy myself with the fact I’ll be adding a fifth kill to my lack of conscience by the end of the night.
I’m starting to forget who I was before Lola. Did I crack jokes like Edier said I did?Act more carefree?
As soon as she exits the car, I’m ramming a fresh magazine into my Glock. Ten minutes later, I’m rear-ending a blue Ford Prius off the road and watching some college prick piss himself with fear.
When I return to her apartment, I’m still buzzing with unrestrained violence, bloody knuckles, and a Lola-shaped hole in my heart that only she can fill.
Chapter Fourteen
Lola
It’s well after midnight,and the black blanketing the sky matches the one filling my apartment as I walk inside. As expected, just as we pulled into the parking lot, RJ’s headlights followed suit behind us.
Apparently, we both like playing with fire.
Now, not only do I have my designated babysitter back on duty, it seems the powers-that-be have called in reinforcements.
