to meet on Tuesday. Why would they be here now? Maybe they saw me go to Randy’s and…and I didn’t know what, but I needed more time.
I was almost in full-blown panic mode when a voice I never expected to hear rang through the wood of my front door. “I know you’re home, Robbie,” Ciro Mancini called out. “Answer the damn door.”
What in the hell?
My first thought was I needed to change into some real clothes. Being past ten, I was already dressed for bed in a tank top and loose-fitting shorts that used to be pajama pants until I cut the legs off them years ago.
I was only two steps towards my bedroom door when his annoyance got the better of him. “Open the fucking door or I will break it down, I swear to God,” he snapped. Christ. You’d think for a man who was used to torturing people for hours on end, he’d have a little more patience.
My feet picked up the pace in fear for my front door. When I swung it open, on my doorstep, stood an irritated Ciro Mancini. “What do you want?” I asked, trying to impart some bravado in my voice.
“Don’t act stupid,” he snapped. “You know why I’m here.”
In a momentary weakness of hysteria, I hoped he was here to kill me and just put me out of my misery. It would solve all my problems. However, I doubted he’d use the front door if that were the case.
“I know that whatever reason you’re here, it’s none of your business,” I retorted.
Ciro shook his head at me. “Christ, woman, it’s like you want me to kill you,” he replied. “Now, let me the fuck in.”
“You’re not welcomed here, Ciro,” I told him.
He stepped closer until I had to tilt my head back all the way. “You think I give a fuck?”
The man frightened me. There was no doubt about it. But I was tired. I was tired, and scared, and losing my mind.
I straightened my back and stared the demon in the eye. “I’m not letting you in my house, Ciro. So, you might as well-” I yelped as she grabbed me by my arms, lifted me as if I weighed nothing, and deposited me to the side. He walked in like he owned the place, and left me standing there, dumbstruck.
He shut the door behind him and turned to face me. “What’s going on?” he asked, and I couldn’t believe I was still surprised by this man’s nerve. He has probably never heard the word ‘no’ in all his life.
“None of your business,” I repeated. “How many times do I have to tell you that?”
Ciro stepped towards me until my ass hit the edge of the entry table that was place to the right of my doorway. I used it to throw my keys and purse on when I got home from work. However, right now, it was supporting my wide ass.
He planted each hand on the wall on either side of my head. “I’m going to ask you one more time, Robbie,” he said menacingly. “My advice to you is that you re-think your bravery, because I’m known to get people to talk when they don’t want to.”
I wanted to claw the man’s gorgeous eyes out.
I wanted to kick him in his junk and keep kicking.
I hated how he made me feel weak and scared.
I knew I shouldn’t take it personally because most of the state feared this man, but I was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. And it was causing me to lose my grip on reality.
“Go back and tell Frankie you tried,” I replied. “We both know she’s the only reason you’re here.” I kept my eyes glued to his. I wanted him to hear me. “We both know you couldn’t care less about what might happen to me.”
Ciro ignored my comments. “What. Is. Going. On?”
In this moment, I knew I had two choices. I could piss him off and hope he kills me and puts me out of my misery, or I could tell him and see if there was some advice in that dark soul of his that could help me.
I chose to live.
“A couple of guys-”
“Who?” he snapped.
My brows drew down. “I don’t know,” I snapped. “I’d never seen them before yesterday.”
He gave me a measured nod. “Okay. Continue.”
“How gracious of you,” I deadpanned.
He pushed off, so he was no longer caging me in. “Woman, I will strangle you,” he threatened. But with everything