Faked A Dark Mafia Romance - Vanessa Waltz Page 0,46
consider a betrayal.”
“Like ditch the bodyguards to meet me in secret?” Killian’s blue gaze twinkled as he revolved his straw. “You’re in denial, babe.”
I gritted my teeth.
During the phone call, I was firm. I was not interested in Killian, but his demeanor made it obvious those words had gone in one ear and out the other.
He touched my elbow. “You’re that desperate to leave him?”
I pulled out of reach. “This isn’t about my relationship with Vinn. This isn’t even about me. I want to negotiate Anthony’s safe return.”
The only thing that’d make all of this disappear was Anthony. If he returned, Nico would stop endangering Vinn’s life, and we could go our separate ways. We wouldn’t have to keep up a charade that was slowly killing me.
“I see.” He plucked the cherry from his drink, squeezing the bright red flesh. “You think all your problems will go away once he’s back. Right?”
Yup.
I clenched the table. “Will you do it?”
“Sure. Break up with Vinn.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“Why? Because he’s so warm and fuzzy?” Killian snapped his fingers at the black-haired waitress in cutoff jeans and pointed at my empty glass.
“Why are you so stuck on me?”
“Because I’ve watched you for a long time.”
You mean stalked.
I waved at the ladies sitting at the bar. “Take a look around. Plenty of college girls to choose from.”
“What do they have to offer me besides a mountain of student loan debt?” He snorted as the waitress slid another vodka tonic over the table. “You’re worth five million of them. You’re leverage, the start of a new alliance, and pretty decent arm candy.”
I supposed that was a compliment.
He seized my cup and sipped.
I glared at him, resenting how he took without asking. “What if I did something for you?”
His gaze dipped to my cleavage. “Like?”
“There’s a warrant out for your arrest on a felony arson charge. You missed your arraignment on the twenty-third. You also have a court date for next week for a pesky armed robbery.”
He smiled. “That case is built on probable cause. I’ll get it thrown out.”
“I’m not sure you will. Judge Gilstrap is a friend of ours. You know what he hates? Violence against women.”
He raised a brow. “I haven’t done anything to you.”
Yet, his tone implied.
“You kidnapped me in front of witnesses. You dragged me to your bike, took off, and I barely escaped with my life.”
“That isn’t what happened.”
“That’s your side of the story.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m glad you’ve caught on,” I sneered, yanking my drink. “Isn’t
Massachusetts a three-strikes state? It’d suck if I filed a police report. Who knows what Judge Gilstrap will make of that information? He’ll probably deny you bail, which means you’ll be stuck in jail until your trial. There’s a pretty big backlog these days, so it’ll get pushed back. Considering your extensive rap sheet, the judge might feel compelled to give you the maximum sentence.”
Killian’s mouth curled into a devious smirk as he tapped the table. “You’re a crazy cunt.”
“Not as crazy as I’ll be if you don’t do what I want. I could make your life difficult, or I could put in a word for you with the judge.”
His stare drilled into me. “I’ll kill Gilstrap, and then I’ll come after you.”
“No, you won’t.”
“You won’t. Doing this puts you in the crosshairs of every biker in Boston.” He chewed a chunk of ice, his voice hardening. “We’re done here.”
He inclined his sleek head and kissed the air between us.
I grabbed his wrist. “I’ll do it.”
He glanced at my hand. Then he wrenched my arm and yanked. I collided with him, close enough to smell his leather cut.
“Negotiating is one thing, but threatening me? You’re playing a dangerous game.”
Beads of sweat formed on my lip. “I can help you.”
“You can get on your knees.”
I tore from his grasp, stumbling from the booth.
He caught me to stop me from falling but didn’t pull me toward him. The words stuck in my throat as he released me. He winked before striding out.
I didn’t breathe until he’d climbed on his bike, and then my shoulders curled forward.
Fuck.
Now what?
I rubbed the marks he’d left on me. Going to Killian had been a risk. I’d hoped he’d take me seriously, but he didn’t think I’d follow through. I wouldn’t immediately run to the police. Retaliation was a big concern, but it wasn’t like Vinn had many moves remaining.
Lugging my bag from the booth, I nudged through the college crowd and burst into the sunshine. Then I twisted my hair