AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Thanks, but I don't drink. Especially not at this hour."
My gaze slid to the clock on the wall. Half past four in the morning. Well, then it was probably a nightcap, because I would definitely go to my bed in time.
I took the first sip and, for a moment, just enjoyed the way the pungent liquid ran down my throat, leaving a comforting warm sensation in my body.
I emptied the entire contents at once, before I put the jar down and went into my bedroom to retrieve one of the fur blankets I had received as a gift at some point. After tucking one of my pillow under my arm, I returned to Gia and tossed both onto the couch.
"I'll make sure my people get you something decent tomorrow. Including anything else you might need. If you have any requests, write them down," I explained, returning to my glass to refill and take the next sip.
"You could just walk me back to my apartment for a minute and I can get my stuff. I think it's less trouble."
"Only if that's not where the Frenchman is waiting for us."
"He can't know that you saved me."
I took a deep breath to keep from rolling my eyes. This assumption was foolish, if not naïve. "One should never make the mistake of underestimating the enemy."
"Then how can I be safe if he could always ambush me?"
"You won't be until he's dead."
Her eyes widened.
"Don't worry,bellissima, I'll kill him for more than one reason. Not just because of the bomb he strapped to you."
"Doesn't it bother you? Watching people die?"
I shrugged, my gaze sinking into my glass. There had been a time when I had even refused. But at some point I realized that the motto was: it was either them or me. So I'd rather save my skin before they ripped it off alive.
"It gets easier. By now I can go to bed without thinking about it. It's my job. I grew up doing it and at the end of the day, I'd rather survive than die. "
This time, it was Gia who raised an eyebrow. "Then you acted against that principle earlier by freeing me from the bomb."
"You are not the enemy."
"You couldn't have been sure of that," she returned sharply.
I let out a sigh. Maybe I had let myself be influenced by other factors. By the fact that she wore leather boots and ripped jeans. By the dark, long hair and almond-shaped eyes rimmed with thick lashes. She sported the complexion that you only got when you spent a lot of time outside and there was also a certain natural glow.
However, that sounded ridiculous even in my head– to show mercy to a woman just because she fit with the women I usually preyed on. But here had been wars because of the beauty of some women, so… Perhaps it was not so far-fetched then that I had wanted to save Gia from her fate.
"What do you want to hear? That being a beautiful woman has given you an unfair advantage?"
"The other two would have let me die."
Well. Then it was probably not a universal thing and lay in the beholder's eye– however one looked at it, I had decided and I would stand by it.
Fortunately, I was right and did not regret this decision. I had only a moderate desire to let Natale and Emilio tease me for weeks about my stupid action.
"What are you implying,micina?"
"Nothing. It was an observation, and I think I resent them a little, too."
"I don't think that's going to bother either of them."
Natale was too unscrupulous in this respect to be interested in other living beings, and Emilio would have regretted it, but still wouldn’t have dwelled on it. After all, there were more important things to do, including tracking down this Frenchman.
"Do you actually not mind innocent people getting involved in your affairs?" Gia had found a place on the sofa and I had positioned myself against the wall next to the small table, still holding my glass, although it was empty by now.
