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“Skip, it’s Charlie.”

“What do you need?”

“We just dropped off Johnny, they had to sedate him.”

“Damn it, he was that worked up?” I ask, making my way to the kitchen that’s hidden in the back of the loft.

“Yep,” Charlie responds. “It was a fucking scene.”

“I’m sure,” I mutter. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” I add, “But at least Johnny Byrne is out of our fucking hair for a while, right?”

Charlie laughs. “Yeah, right.”

“What about the Pearce job, we still on track?”

“Yep, we’re gonna run the test tonight.”

I check the Rolex on my wrist. “What time?”

“About ten PM.” Charlie returns.

“Yeah, I’m in.”

I hear a door shut behind me. “I’ll call you later.” I hung up.

Padding lightly out into the empty living room, I check to see the front door is shut. “An

nie?” I call out.

Nothing.

I check the downstairs one more time and then make my way upstairs. The bed is empty, sheets tangled in a messy pile.

No Annie.

She was gone.

At Least Johnny Byrne is out of our hair for a while.

My heart stops when I hear the words leave Gio’s mouth. What does that mean? Out of our hair?

My chest is tight.

I press Johnny’s contact on my phone again, listening to the ringing sound until I hear his voicemail play.

Gio promised me he wouldn’t hurt him.

But I know, deep down I know. I should have never trusted him. He’s not a good guy.

He’s in the mafia, I know this, yet I still let myself fall for him. I let myself get wrapped up in his strong arms and dirty words. I let myself fall so hard for him.

And in return, he used me and betrayed me.

Panic begins to swell in my chest. This can’t be happening. I feel like I can’t breathe now, each breath is harder than the last. I think I’m going to pass out.

Tears well in my eyes. I need to at least get myself out of his parking lot before he finds me like this.

Would he kill me too?