to his office. Anthony falls in line behind me. I'm convinced it’s a sentencing. I’m being led to my death. Tears leak out of the corners of my eyes as I sit in the chair in front of his desk. Dante’s quick to come to my side as I put my hands over my face and sob.
“I swear I didn’t--” I try to speak, but a hiccup interrupts me.
He shushes me and pats my back. “It’ll be alright, Elle. We’re just waiting for Vince.” Hearing his name helps calms me down. Vince will take care of me. He’ll protect me. I know he will.
After a moment my breath evens out, and my head seems to clear. I feel tired and emotionally drained as well. “When will he be here?” I finally manage to ask.
Dante searches my face for a moment, and I see Anthony sit in the chair on the far side of the room. “That depends on what you told them,” he finally says.
“I didn’t tell them anything,” I answer back. A smile grows slowly on his face.
“I believe you.” He sits at his desk and pulls out a bottle of some brown liquid. “Would you like a drink, Elle?”
I scrunch up my nose. “I don’t like whiskey.” He laughs from deep in his chest.
“Good thing this is bourbon then. I’m sure you could use a drink.” He pours three shots, and gives one to me as Anthony reaches for his.
“Throw it back and I’ll get you a chaser.” He winks and tosses his shot back, so I do the same with mine. Ugh. It tastes awful.
I put the glass on the table and look at him straight in the eyes. “The chaser?” I ask. I could really fucking use it. I want to lick my dress to get this taste out of my mouth, but then I’d have to lift the hem up to my face, and that wouldn’t be ladylike at all.
Before Dante can answer, the door opens behind me and I turn in my seat to see who it is.
“Vince!” I get up from the chair, knocking it into the desk and run into his arms. He holds me tight, and I melt into him. Everything is better now. I nuzzle into his arms. The heat from the liquor intensifies the warmth in my chest.
I pull back and look up at him with wide eyes. “I didn’t--”
He kisses me on the lips, cutting me off. He pulls back and a small grin pulls at his lips. “I know, sweetheart.”
“Do they have anything?” I hear Anthony ask.
“Nothing. They were reaching.” Vince answers over the top of my head. He leans down and gives me a peck on the lips. I grip him tighter, and he rubs my back in soothing strokes.
“You did good, sweetheart. You did real good.” Hearing his praise makes my heart feel light. He holds me for a moment and then they start talking behind me. I try not to listen as I shut my eyes and just focus on how good he feels.
“We need to get those MC bastards,” Vince says, and it makes my eyes pop open. I want to ask who they are. I want to know if they were the ones who shot at us. But I remember the rules. I turn in his arms and look to the door. I’m afraid to ask if I can leave. I shouldn’t be here listening. I know that much. But he pulls me into him, my back against his front, and he kisses my neck.
“We got 'em waiting for you, Vince.” Anthony’s eyes travel to my face and then back to Vince. “We figured you would want to do the honors.”
“Damn right I want the honors. All of them?” he asks.
“Still looking for two of them.” Anthony answers in a tight voice. It makes my stomach churn. Judging by the look on his face, that’s really fucking bad. I try to ignore it all. I need to forget.
His hands grip my hips and he leans in to talk to me in my ear, “Sweetheart, you stay here.”
I turn around and plead with him, “No. Don’t leave me.” I don’t want him to go. I don’t want to be left here.
“They put a hand on you, baby?” he asks me. “Who hurt you?”
I gently shake my head. No one’s hurt me. “No one.”
“That’s 'cause you’re mine.” He kisses me on the lips. “I’ll be back.”
“Please, Vince. Just wait till I’m asleep. I need