Page 132 of Thrill Me (Dark Odyssey 3)

It’s similar to the room Vincent has at his house but this is on another level. It’s practically a bomb shelter built into the basement. It’s designed to fit thirty people and has everything you need if you needed to hide out for a good three months.

More than anything, no one can get in. There’s no entrance that’s visible to the naked eye and the only people who know about it are us.

Us, our wives and the people closest to us that have worked in the house. The place is top secret.

I take my girl’s hands and hold them, what she said to me this morning stuck.

It will stay with me too just like the magical experience of making love to her.

We stare at each other for a few seconds and she tightens her grip on my hands.

I want to tell her that we’ll just slip back into those people we used to be weeks ago. I want to tell her she’s my forever, I want to tell her all that I should but I know the risks.

She does too and one of us has to be bigger than the love between us that wants us to be together.

It has to be me, but like fuck am I going into what could be my death and break her heart and mine too.

So fuck life and risks. She’s here and she’s safe. If only for today.

I can think about right and wrong and risks and choice tomorrow.

If I live to see it I’ll do it then.

“You stay here Mimi,” I say firmly, showing how serious I am. My voice comes out in a rasp because I haven’t spoken in hours.

“You guys found them didn’t you?” she asks.

It’s one question too much.

“That door.” I point to the polished wooden door near the window, ignoring the question. It looks like a closet. “You hear anything unusual you just go through it and work your way down. Don’t look back, don’t do anything. You just go and when you get to the end you’ll be safe. No one can follow you once you close this door.”

She bites the inside of her lip.

“Salvatore, will you be okay?”

“Don’t worry about me. Just please promise me that you’ll do as I ask. Gabe is staying here with my mother. The two of them will take charge. Everyone else is going out on the street.” Even Pa. He’s not the type to send his men out and sit behind a desk fucking around. When shit’s going down he’ll be right there side by side.

She stares at me and nods. “Okay...”

“No one is coming here today. That includes your father. We’ve contacted him to let him know you’re safe but he doesn’t know you’re here. Speak to him tomorrow about your mother.” That was the last part of my instructions. She nods, agreeing.

It’s time to go. I’ve already taken too much time.

I bend down and kiss her. It’s a quick kiss and I won’t tell her I love her because it will sound like goodbye.

I walk out leaving her, willing myself to stay focused and not allow the worry I saw on my doll’s face to get to me.

I’m a capo now. I have to know when to be ruthless and heartless. There is no in between. It’s a choice of state of mind that keeps people alive.

Compassion is a weakness.

It makes you slip up and get blindsided. Enemies are there to destroy. They wait for the second you allow emotion to rule you and that’s when they get you.

That’s why they look for your weaknesses.

I head straight to Vincent’s room and find him inside holding Timothy.

He’s standing by the little cot swaying side to side.

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