Page 11 of Till Death Do Us Part

Horns blared around me as I crossed over lines I wasn’t supposed to and took the exit at the last second, making the toys in the back seat squeak and laugh as they were thrown around.

“Shit,” I muttered, setting the cup of coffee in the holder. As I wiped some hot liquid from my jeans, I asked myself, “Am I really doing this?”

Yeswas the apparent answer because I kept going.

The world felt too quiet as the toys shut up and I started to crawl down the streets of his neighborhood. I turned on the radio, and Halloween music for kids blared through the speakers. The soundtrack for all the families out for the holiday.

It didn’t fit my mood, though. I switched stations, and Tina Turner came on. One of Mamma’s favorites. Isabella liked to listen to most of the music Mamma liked. We all did.

It put me at ease, like Mamma was in the car with me, even if the rational side of my brain whispered that she wouldn’t have approved of this. She’d tell me to listen to Babbo and go home. I couldn’t, though. Not until I saw John’s face.

I had to prove to myself that the connection between us in the hospital room wasn’t as strong as I felt it was.

Slowly, I slid into a parking spot across from his place and shut the van off. Maybe he’d be handing out candy and I’d get a good view of him from where I was parked. I wasn’t sure if men like him even entertained nights like this, but his light was on.

If he didn’t answer the door, I’d call him a dud and be on my way. Because only assholes did that to kids.

A stream of little legs ran up to his door and then ran back toward another house. I couldn’t see who was giving out the candy, though. I should have brought one of my nieces or nephews as a prop.

That gave me an idea. I got out and followed a pack of kids up to the door. It was dark, and the parents next to me didn’t notice I didn’t have a kid of my own.

My breath held a second after one of the kids knocked. I continued to hold it after a stunning blonde answered the door. Her hair flowed down her back in beachy waves. Her eyes sparkled, and her lips glistened red. The leather cat outfit she wore seemed painted on her skin. She fixed her ears and looked right at me.

“Noooway! Miss Chicago!”

Miss Chicago? I looked behind me, like she was talking to someone else. All eyes were on me.

“Hahahahaha.You!” She pointed at me. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know who you are. I’d know you anywhere! In my opinion, you’re the most beautiful Miss Chicago we ever had.” She turned around. “John! Come see. Miss Chicago is out trick-or-treating!”

“I’m not!” I looked around at the crowd staring at me. “I’mnotout for candy.”

“Miss Illinois,” a deep voice said from the door.

I automatically turned toward it.

If I could have found my breath and will to move, I would have stumbled back. My entire body felt like jelly. The only thing keeping me upright was his eyes on mine.

Felice “John” Maggio.

Tall, dark, and handsome. Except for his eyes. Green. Green eyes. Wears suits but is comfortable in a T-shirt and jeans.

If he were a car, he’d be a muscular and fast one.

No doubt about it, he was a carnivore. It seemed fitting that I’d seen him through hemorrhages in my eyes. I’d seen right through him.

Blood called to him. Made him hungry and feral.

He was Jack on steroids.

All angular features and a jaw strong enough to carve hollows from his cheeks. His hair was darker, and he sported stubble. It made the color of his eyes pop. He was older than Jack, judging by how his face seemed to be set, like he’d relaxed into his skin. A rock that’s mature enough to accept that its burden in life is being a rock.

He was the guy I’d built in my head—physically. I wasn’t so sure if this version would have a soft spot only for me. He was a heartbreaker, and I assumed he didn’t discriminate between them.

The world seemed to have stopped for a second, and then the barrier was breached. Sights, sounds, and smells came back to me.

“I’m not sure what kind of candy Miss Chicago would want, but…” Leather Cat was searching through her cauldron, picking packets up and dropping them back in.

“I’m not here for candy,” I said to her, staring at John.

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