Page 75 of Beautiful Desire

Feeling a hard slap on my shoulder, I already know it’s Nero. His fingers dig into my skin as he bends down to my ear.

“Esita ancora e il tuo piccolo segreto non sarà più cosi segreto.”Hesitate again and your little secret won’t be so secret anymore.

He straightens himself up and begins to walk away.

“Puoi restare e aiutare con le pulizie!” Nero shouts, and I look up just in time to see him slide back into the car and drive away.You can stay and help with the cleanup!

The sound of men laughing captures my attention, so I will myself to push these thoughts and feelings aside until I’m alone.

“Hey, puker, visto che hai fatto un pasticcio piu grande, sei responsabile della pullzia del marciapiede.”Hey, puker, since you made a bigger mess, you’re responsible for cleaning up the pavement.

Francisco inclines his head toward a hose, brush, and soap before the group of them start to laugh again. Ignoring the comments from his men, I get to work, laying the tarp down next to the young man’s body.

One of the guys starts rolling up the dead man in the tarp, until Francisco starts talking again.

“Lascia il cadaver. Il bel ragazzo qui si occupera anche di questo. Andiamo, ragazzi.”Leave the corpse. Pretty boy here will take care of that too. Let’s go, boys.

They all walk off, cackling and making fun of me before climbing into their car, leaving me behind. I get to work hosing down the pavement before scrubbing all the blood and brain matter. This isn’t the first time Nero’s men have made me clean up after them, and for as long as I’m here, I know it won’t be the last either.

I don’t know how long I’ve been out here, but if the sun starting to set is any indication, then I would say it’s been a while. Winding up the hose up, I place it back inside the little trailer, along with the brush and soap. After locking up the trailer and putting the key back in its hiding spot, I walk over to the rolled-up tarp.

Trying not to think too much about what I’m doing and what this is, I grab one end and drag it across the concrete. Thankfully, those assholes left me a car this time, so all I have to do is get this body to the trunk and plop it inside.

Last time I wasn’t so lucky. They stranded me and made me drag the body all the way back to Nero’s house, laughing at me when I “finally” showed up. One guy, Rocco, was mad I wasn’t five minutes later because, apparently, they placed bets on how long it would take me to get back and he wanted that ten-thousand-euro pot.

When I finally reach the black Mercedes sedan, the driver, Vinny, pops the trunk for me. Hefting the body into my arms, I place him in the trunk as gently as I can. I know he’s dead, but it doesn’t mean I should manhandle him any more than I already have.

Once I ensure he’s inside, I slam the trunk closed and make my way to the backseat until I’m stopped by Vinny’s outstretched arm just before I can open the door.

“Mi dispiace, signore, ma mi e stato detto che doveva tornare a casa a piedi,” he says with a sheepish look on his face before climbing behind the wheel and driving off.I’m sorry, sir, but I was told you had to walk home.

At least I don’t have to drag a dead body home this time.

Home.

This place isn’t my home and never will be. Turning in the direction the car drove off in, I start the long journey,knowing one of Nero’s men is watching me and reporting back to him.

* * *

A shrill ringing sound brings me back from that horrible memory. Blinking rapidly, I look around to find I’m in my home gym, running on the treadmill. I’m unsure if it’s my heartbeat I’m hearing in my ears or my feet hitting the treadmill. Glancing at the screen, I see I’ve already run five miles. Five miles I have no recollection of running.

Reducing the speed on the machine, I slow my pace, coming down to a brisk walk before hopping off. Placing my hands on my hips, I bend my head forward, trying to catch my breath. I distinctly hear a noise behind me at the same time my cellphone goes off.

“Leave me alone!” I yell at my phone into the empty room, lifting my bottle of water and throwing it.

Taking a seat on the weight machine, I rest my elbows on my knees and hold my head in my hands, rubbing gently at the temples. I feel the start of a headache coming on, no doubt from the lack of sleep surrounding one temptress known as Elle Parker and worrying about Nero.

The loud ring of my cellphone echoes in the room once again. This is the third time in five minutes, indicating it could be important. Huffing out a breath, I lift my head and search for the damn thing. My eyes lock on the top of my gym towel laid on the floor in front of the full-length mirrors.

Reluctantly pulling myself up, I start walking toward it. I’m a foot away when it stops. As I reach for it to check who’s been calling me, it starts up again. Enrico’s name flashes across the screen, and I answer it immediately.

“What’s the news?” I ask him, cutting straight to the chase.

“He’s still here. Holed up at the Four Seasons downtown in the penthouse suite. Booked it without any end date,” he tells me.

Why the hell would Nero still be here in Boston? He has nothing on me. I got rid of every shred of blackmail he had. Or, rather, Fabi’s guy did.

Shit, that’s it.

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