Page 53 of Chicago Sin

Where is my damn phone? Armando has it somewhere. He’s kept it on him the whole time although I appreciate the fact that he made sure to charge it.

I look through the glass and see Josie behind the counter holding her phone and craning her neck to look over her shoulder at me. We’ve been besties since middle school when she stood up for me against Erica Bane, one of the popular girls, on the third day of school. She knows me through and through. I am stupid to think I can fool her about anything.

She’s texting me. And she just realized I’m not in possession of my own phone.

This could be a problem.

I breeze out of the cooler like I own the place, which, funnily enough, I do. Too bad I never feel like it. “Have you seen my phone?” I ask Armando sweetly.

“Uh huh. You left it here.” He hands it over, cool as a cucumber. I am slightly disturbed at how convincing he is. How smoothly he covers the lie. But he is a member of an organized crime family after all. And probably grew up in it.

I check the messages, which are all from Josie asking if I’m okay, whether she should go get help and WTF is going on.

Everything’s fine, I text back. I hooked up with him, and now he’s hanging out. He helped pay the rent. I make a point of letting Armando read over my shoulder before I send it.

All of that is true. Except maybe not the everything’s fine.

I haven’t forgiven him for tying me up last night. That piss-off still lingers, but otherwise…I am fine. Armando makes me nervous, but half that is the excitement of having him near. Watching me. Not knowing what he’s going to do next.

Do I think he’ll bury me in Lake Michigan when it’s all done? No. I can’t see it.

I may be shitty at business, but I’m empathic. I can’t help but understand people because I feel their emotions as my own. At least that’s how it feels. Josie thinks I’m nuts every time I tell her that, but I swear it’s true.

I don’t sense menace from Armando toward me. He gives off very little emotionally unless I count lust. But he’s not evil. He’s not planning my demise.

Josie: You hooked up with him? Who is he? A complete stranger!!! I’ve never seen him inside the store before.

Me: He’s that man I was telling you about from when I worked under Mary Alice. He came back into the store yesterday near closing time.

Josie: To buy flowers for his fiancée? Please tell me you aren’t fucking a taken man. Hannah!!

Me: He’s not with her anymore. They broke up years ago.

I almost add that he just got out of prison, but don’t feel it’s any of Josie’s business. Plus, I think she’d judge not only him but me for hooking up with a criminal. I’m not in the mood to defend my actions.

Josie: Well… was the sex hot? Did it live up to the fantasy?

I feel my face heat and steal a peak at Armando who is watching me but no longer trying to read my texts. I seem to have at least earned that small level of trust from him.

I keep trying to prove he can trust me, so he’ll set me free, but if I were totally honest with myself, I’d have to admit I’m not ready for it to be over. I like the tingle of excitement I get knowing he’s watching my every move. Remembering how much he appreciates my body. I might even be addicted already to the way he touches me.

Me: So hot.

Josie: But why is he here?

Me: He’s protective, I guess…

Josie: Okay, that is super hot. Protective, possessive…yes!

Me: You have no idea.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Armando

After Hannah brings the flowers by the hotel and leaves her card, I pull in at a grocery store. I need a razor, toothbrush, and some other odds and ends. Plus, she has no food at her place.

“What are we doing?” Hannah asks.