Page 50 of Corrupted Memories
My eyes flicker to the man standing off to the side, watching the exchange with crossed arms. I can see the crest’s edge peeking out from underneath his shirt. I clench my teeth and nod once, hiding my surprise at how quickly this came.
“Understood,” I say tensely. The man throws us a disgusted look before disappearing around the corner.
Nico watches him and then signals one of oursecurity to follow him to ensure he leaves before turning back to me. “We going?”
Blowing out a breath, my attention strays overs to the woman behind the tinted window. “They’ve seen her. We have to.”
He sighs. “I was hoping you wouldn’t agree.”
My jaw tightens and I give him a half shrug before opening the door, climbing in the back with Gianna. She looks at me curiously as Nico moves to the driver side and starts driving home.
“Everything okay?”
I grab the back of her neck, moving her closer to me and kissing her forehead. “It will be.”
Her lips thin, but she doesn’t say anything else as we drive home and take the elevator up to the penthouse. I stay near the kitchen as she heads to the bedroom, only pausing when she sees I’m not following.
“Sebastian?” The worry in her voice makes my heart ache.
“I’ll be out late tonight. There’s going to be a security guard stationed outside the door. Don’t let anyone in.”
Tears well in her eyes. “You’re scaring me.”
I swallow down the echoing emotion. “It will be okay, Gianna. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
We watch each other for a few moments, and I can see her thoughts as they play out on her face. The confusion, the worry, the doubt, the grief and annoyance before she nods once and turns, heading to our bedroom silently.
Rolling up my sleeves, I lean on the counter and close my eyes, allowing myself a moment to feel everything. Nico and I have always known that one day the Outfit wouldn’t allow us to skirt the edges. I fear what it means for Gianna if they demand more than I’m willing to give. My father has always negotiated on the basis that having me become a face outside of the Outfit with a clean business benefits them more than having me sworn in. I accept the uncertainty of the future and then shut it away.
I blow out a breath and push off the counter. The sky is darker through the windowed wall, and I hadn’t realized how long I stood there lost in my thoughts. When I get to the bedroom, the lights are off so I leave the door cracked for the hallway light to flood in.
Gianna mumbles in her sleep, kicking at the sheets and turning onto her back as I grab the gun from the bottom drawer of the nightstand. My heart skips a beat at her beauty. I chased her so long without aglimpse and I forgot how much she enthralls me. When I was a boy, my grandmum warned that when James men fall in love, there will never be another. And unfortunately, those women were always struck with tragedy. I’m not superstitious, but it happened to my father. I refuse to believe I love Gianna. She’s safer that way.
My phone chirps, and I have half a mind to ignore before I pick it up, and my heart beats wildly at the message. Some of my nerves calm, and a smile graces my lips. I should have expected it, but it’s always nice to be reminded. Shoving it back in my pocket, I head to face the night with renewed confidence.
Nico meets me in the garage, slipping into the driver seat with a stony silence I’ve never seen from him.
“Where?”
“Wacker drive.”
Nico tenses. “Lower Lower Wacker drive I assume?”
“You know it.”
He snorts. “Not very inconspicuous.”
I shrug. “No, but we all know how much Arthur enjoys his theatrics. My father is on his way. Just texted me he landed.”
Nico’s knuckles tighten on the steering wheel. “Did your father issue the summonings?”
Shaking my head, I fiddle with the lighter in my pocket. I left my butterfly pendant at home, unwilling to risk it getting lost. “No. He believes me getting visited by Luca sparked questions about my loyalty.”
My father may be one of the most well-known enforcers for the entire Outfit, but Arthur, the Underboss of Chicago, is the craziest motherfucker I’ve had the displeasure of knowing. He rules the city out of fear from his unpredictability, which may not be the best tactic, but he’s led without loyalty issues. I guess that’s what happens when you wipe a whole family from existence because of a rumor they betrayed you.
“And he flew over immediately?”
I nod. “You know Christian doesn’t fully trust Arthur. And my father would never allow me to die at the hands of that lunatic.” Christian may be the boss of the entire syndicate, but he rarely leaves the UK. My father is his right hand, and I know Christian owes him for saving his life on more than one occasion.
