Page 76 of Crazed

He spins me and slams my back into the shelf.

I yelp, wincing from the pain.

He covers my mouth again, fixing his dark eyes on mine. His tobacco-laced breath makes me feel queasy. I fight the bile trying to rise into my throat while he scolds, "You don't get to make demands."

I attempt to stand straighter, but I can't. He has me pinned. Still, I reiterate, "I need to see Leo."

His scowl intensifies. "Are you deaf?"

"I can't do my job if I don't see Leo," I claim.

His eyes turn to slits. "You don't have room to make stipulations. If you have an issue, you tell me."

Something tells me not to trust him with anything. I need to speak with Leo face-to-face and make sure he approves what I need to do. Who knows how Tommy will spin my words. I don't budge, firmly repeating, "I want to see Leo."

He ignores my insistence, asking, "You think you can move out of the brownstone and make decisions without Leo's permission?"

My pulse races. It doesn't surprise me Leo knows. I should have somehow stopped Massimo from moving my things before I spoke with Leo. I swallow the lump in my throat and answer, "I can't get the information Leo wants without getting closer to Massimo."

He scoffs. "You're fucking him. We all know that. No one thought twice about you spreading your legs."

Scorching heat burns my cheeks.

Amusement fills Tommy's expression, making my embarrassment grow. I fight the tears forming in my eyes, trying to find the cold exterior I normally display.

Tommy continues, "You live in the brownstone. Nowhere else. Understand?"

I shake my head. "No. If you want me to do my job, then you have to let me do it."

His eyes dart down my body. When they meet mine again, his expression sends a cold shiver down my spine. In a hushed tone, he warns, "The thing about whores is, you're all replaceable."

My voice shakes as I blurt out, "I'm not. I can assure you, I'm close to giving Leo what he wants."

"Whores also lie," he adds.

"I'm not lying," I insist.

He arches his eyebrows. "No? Then what have you discovered?"

"I-I met the family. All of them," I inform.

He takes a lock of my hair and wraps it around his finger until it feels like he's going to pull it out.

"Ouch!" I whine.

"You have nothing!"

"I-I do!"

"Yeah? What?" he challenges.

My knees tremble. Tommy presses closer, and the shelf digs into my back, causing more pain. I cry out, "You're hurting me."

"Do you think I care? I want information. Now!" he fumes.

I stay silent, wondering how I'm getting out of this situation alive.

He threatens, "Either give me information, or I'm taking you to Jacopo."

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