Page 55 of Cold

“Sorry,” I said. “I was surprised when I saw you, that’s all. You scared me.” I smiled at him. “I’ve been working on your orders. Unfortunately, Vito locks me in my room at night. I haven’t been able to get to him. Amadeo has been around, but only with other people.”

“Why haven’t you killed Vito today?”

“I thought Amadeo was the main goal?” I asked. “Besides, I have to act super cute and stupid when I’m with Vito or he gets suspicious. I figured if I could get him and Amadeo into the apartment at the same time,” I shrugged, “easier targets.”

He grunted and wrapped a hand around my wrist. When he yanked me forward I didn’t resist. I stood so close to him that I could smell the strong, musky cologne that he loved so much, but I detested. Vito smelled like cedar and pine, natural and woodsy, and strong. I wanted to be back in his arms.

“We don’t have time for that shit anymore.”

I frowned. “What’s happening?”

“None of your fucking business,” he growled as his grip tightened on my wrist. “You better not have been telling these people any of our fucking secrets.”

“I haven’t!” I cried out. “You’ve always told me to keep my mouth shut and I always do, Sir. I swear.” I winced when he applied more pressure, but I didn’t cower. He would take it as a fun time and keep going. “What would you like me to do?”

“I want you to do the fucking job,” he snapped. “After all of that moaning you were doing like a whore, I need to see if you’re still loyal to me. Where’s your knife?”

Staring up into Sergei’s icy blue eyes, I swallowed. “Inside Mr. Whiskers like always,” I whispered.

“Good. You’re going to go out there and kill Vito.”

I blinked up at him. My brain reeled and I tried to think of something to say. Some way out of killing the man that I loved.

“In the daylight? Out in the open?” I asked, my brows knitting together in confusion. “You told me to never do that. It’s stupid and blows back on your family.”

Sergei released me. “So you do still have a brain in that head of yours,” he said as he rubbed his chin. “Andrei will kill me if he finds out I’ve screwed up his big goddamn plans.”

“We’re going to a hotel,” I blurted out. “Vito said he was going to take me there after I used the bathroom.” I glanced at the door behind me and then back at Sergei. “If I don’t go soon, he’s going to know something’s wrong.”

“What hotel?”

I tugged on my bottom lip roughly. “I have no idea. He didn’t tell me yet.”

“Here.” Sergei pulled out his phone and handed it to me. “It has a tracker on it so all I need to do is follow it. Don’t say anything to him, do you understand me? You keep that mouth of yours shut.”

“Yes, sir,” I said as I took the phone. I tugged my swim shorts away and used the small inner pocket to slip the phone inside. “It’s on silent, right?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” he grumbled.

“No, sir,” I said quickly as I tied my shorts tight again and looked up at him. “Just double-checking. I should-”

He snatched me before I could escape and tugged me against his body. Sergei shoved me back against the stall. His lips brushed against my ear and his hot breath made me want to recoil.

“Finish this so you can come home. The boys miss you.”

My heart stopped. The boys. How selfish could I be? There were others like me trapped at Sergei’s home and I’d been stuck on Vito, living the good life. When Sergei pulled back, I nodded.

“Which home are we going to now?” I asked. “The last one was…bloody.”

“There are others nearby. Don’t worry,” he said, his voice softening. “I know you want to come home to me so get this done. And you’ll get your reward.”

I gazed up at him and mustered up the sweetness and desperation that Sergei thrived on. “Yes, sir,” I whispered. “But-”

“But what?”

“Nothing,” I answered.

He frowned and caressed my cheek. “Don’t let these Bianchi’s poison your mind, Romare. Whatever shit they’ve told you, remember who really loves you. To them, you’re a means to an end, a way to get to me and my family. They’ve been asking you questions about me, right?”

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