Page 43 of Vows of Blood

I drag myself up and open the door a crack, looking left and right to check for myself.

Tony stands in the hallway, a muscle ticking in his scarred, square jaw. "They’ll be back. They're relentless, these people. And I've already seen your landlord down there talking to one of them. Giving an interview."

A wave of nausea passes over me.

"He's going to—" I can't finish the sentence. I can only imagine what he’s saying to them.

Tony scratches the back of his neck, toying with bringing up something he really doesn’t want to. "They're going to film the whole thing if you're still here when the eviction happens."

The room starts to spin, so I grip the doorframe to keep myself upright. Suddenly it’s hot, and my vision blurs at the edges.

It’s like losing our home all over again. I can’t stomach the public humiliation.

"Hey. Hey." Tony's firm but gentle. "Look at me. Calm down."

Out comes a strangled sob, which I attempt to hide behind my hands.

"Jesus. Listen to me," he says sternly. "I know you don't want to hear this, but you need help, and Luca's offering it. And I’m guessing he’s the only person you know who can take you in and keep you safe.” Tony turns his hands palms up. “Work with him, find whoever did this, and then move on with your life. It doesn't have to be complicated."

I hate it, but Tony’s right. I’m all out of options, and I’ve got nothing left to lose. So, I wipe my face with the back of my hand and pull out my phone, my fingers trembling as I type.

Sienna: Fine. I'll help.

Once I send this message, there's no going back. I'm walking into his world willingly, and I have no idea what other dangers that will bring.

I press send.

His response comes instantly, like he was waiting for me to cave.

Luca: I think you mean Thank you for your kind offer. I’d like to accept.

No softness. No gratitude. Just Luca getting exactly what he wants.

The urge to fling the phone at the wall is strong, but then the dots reappear.

Luca: Was that so hard?

Luca: Be ready in an hour. Start packing. ESSENTIALS ONLY.

I look around my shitty apartment, which was supposed to be temporary, a stepping stone to somewhere better that stubbornly remains out of reach. I’m not sorry to be leaving, I just wish it was on my own terms.

But maybe it was always meant to be this way. Somewhere, in the recesses of my mind, I’m excited. I’ve got nothing left to lose, and Luca Calvano and I have unfinished business.

Forty-five minutes later, the cars and vans outside suddenly pack up and leave, in an excited rush. I’m still trying to figure out what the hell happened when Tony knocks on the door.

“Time to go. Let’s get out of here before they come back.” Tony ducks inside and grabs the backpack I’ve left just inside the door.

“Where did they go?” I ask, as he ushers me out, looking at Vito in his carrier like I’m carrying a bomb.

“There was a report of an armed robbery in progress just a couple of blocks away,” he says without meeting my eye. “But I can’t imagine we’ll have long before they realize it was a false alarm.”

With the bag over his shoulder, and one hand on my elbow, he steers me outside and toward the waiting car at the curb like this is a military operation. He never stops scanning our surroundings as he bundles me into the back seat and hurries around to the driver’s side.

"The back rent is paid. Luca gave the landlord enough to cover any outstanding bills and keep him happy until we can get your belongings out of there.”

Of course, he did.

“You’re staying at Luca’s house. The security is tight. Nobody will get to you there.”