Page 24

S arah

My podcast used to be the only exciting thing in my life.

Especially after Lea’s grandmother died and she became withdrawn for a while.

Now I’m sitting in the middle of my bed with my air pods in, and I have an exclusive that will keep my podcast trending, but I don’t even want to hit the button to go live.

I have to. Mainly because Boyd asked. Because he wants to listen to my lovely voice while he prepares to murder a dozen members of the Bratva. I’m supposed to talk about murders, not be the soundtrack for them.

I take a deep breath, load my list of recaps, and hit the button.

“Are you ready for another exciting live edition of True Crime Minutes ?” I say excitedly like I always try to do. “I’m your host Sarah Parker and I’ve got another hot exclusive about the Mafia Prince Killer! Let’s just say… in Las Vegas? Sometimes you go Double or Nothing!”

I’m glamourizing murder. Turning someone’s dead son into a sensational headline.

I’ve always felt a twinge of guilt about that, but the guilt seems heavier today.

Probably because I saw the dead body this time in person.

Well, he was under a sheet, but I saw enough for that image to be imprinted on my mind for the rest of my life.

“But first, let’s go through the recaps!” I continue.

The listeners grow and grow as I ramble off my recaps.

I’m building momentum for the big story that’s going to be trending on social media as soon as I say it.

Not just in the true crime circles now. I’m getting attention from some major media outlets.

I’ve even ignored a few requests for interviews on bigger podcasts.

They just want to grill me about my sources, so I’m not going to entertain any of them.

Especially when I’m the one creating their content right now.

“And several hours ago, the Mafia Prince Killer struck again! This time, he killed a young man named Miguel Moreno. The Mafia Prince Killer has never moved this fast! But if that wasn’t unusual enough, there’s more…” I pause for dramatic effect.

I don’t give my listeners a chance to catch their breath after revealing what is on the wall.

I immediately launch into what I know about the Bratva murder.

It isn’t much, but it’s enough to bait people along and keep them listening while I go through everything else.

More recaps. Theories. Viewer questions.

I’m not in the mood for this podcast, but I make a production out of it.

There’s only one listener I really care about. Big Boyd. He’s immediately on my mind when I’ve distracted myself as long as I can with the podcast and have to end it.

“Be careful, Boyd,” I sigh, reaching for my vape. “Please be careful.”

I’ve seen Boyd in action. I shouldn’t be as worried as I am. He was right—a couple of bullets probably wouldn’t stop him. They might just piss him off even more. But reality is more concerning than bravado. It would only take one bullet to end his life, if it hit the right spot.

I don’t want to lose him. He’s brought me to a place in my life I never thought I’d be.

Last night, I dreamed about having a baby.

A boy that looked like an itty-bitty Boyd in my arms. I had a ring on my left hand, too.

A beautiful diamond solitaire, and while it was never said, I knew it was from Boyd.

“That dream won’t come true if you get yourself killed, Boyd,” I mutter, taking a few puffs of strawberries and cream. “Maybe it’ll never come true, but…”

I lay my head against the pillow, put my vape on the nightstand, and close my eyes.

I’m not supposed to dream about engagement rings or babies. I’ve been fine on my own. Or I kept telling myself I was. Maybe it’s because Lea’s life is moving forward, and mine isn’t. Maybe it’s because the most incredible man I’ve ever met made me his .

I’m asleep before the thoughts get too deep.

Then I’m dreaming about Big Boyd and Little Boyd.

I wake up to the sound of my phone. I panic, because I didn’t mean to fall asleep, and scramble to pick it up.

It’s a message from Boyd.

Boyd: It’s over. Everyone is fine. I’m going to hit the streets. There was nothing on the wall.

Sarah: I’m glad you’re okay! Nothing on the wall? That’s strange.

Boyd: You’re the expert.

Sarah: Are you coming back to Salvalagio?

Boyd: No. I’m hitting the streets again today. I’ll try to come back tonight, but it might be late.

Sarah: I’ll try to stay up, so you don’t have to kick my bed when you get here!

Boyd: I didn’t kick it last night. More like a gentle nudge.

Sarah: Try being the one in the bed when it happens!

Boyd: See you tonight.

I let out a sigh of relief and put my phone down.

Boyd’s okay. He’s back on the hunt for the Mafia Prince Killer.

Hopefully that means he won’t run into any danger.

I have plenty of faith in Boyd’s abilities, but I don’t think he’s going to find anything useful on the streets.

Nobody even got a description of the Mafia Prince Killer before Arthur Dykstra was arrested.

I get up, shower, and get dressed. I sit down on my bed and I’m scrolling through all the breaking updates about the latest murders when I get a text message from Lea.

Lea: Hey, I came to Salvalagio with Massimo today. He won’t let me go anywhere on my own right now. Do you want to meet me downstairs?

Sarah: Yep, let’s meet at the café by the lobby!

Lea’s texts don’t vanish like Boyd’s do. They seem to be working normally.

Despite everything that is going on, I feel a glimmer of excitement when I see Lea’s message. We were supposed to meet today, but I wasn’t sure if she would be able to make it after the Mafia Prince Killer struck again.

I’m not surprised Massimo won’t let Lea travel alone, even if the Mafia Prince Killer has never killed a pregnant woman before.

However, I totally underestimate how much protection she actually has.

When I step off the elevators, I see at least two dozen members of the Morandi family in the lobby, hovering around the café.

The meanest motherfucker in a kilt—Massimo’s best friend, Rowan—appears to be in charge.

“Good to see ye again, lass,” Rowan says, nodding to me as I approach.

“You too,” I mutter, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people Massimo has looking after my best friend.

Lea is in the café. I spot her as soon as I enter and hurry to her table. She hops and hugs me. I’m still not used to feeling her baby bump when she gives me a hug, so it’s a little more awkward than our hugs usually are.

“Okay, tell me everything!” Lea says, holding my hand as we sit down.

“Well, the Mafia Prince Killer struck again last night and…” I begin, but she immediately cuts me off.

“No, no, I listened to your podcast and heard plenty from Massimo.” She squeezes my hand. “I want to hear about Big Boyd!”

“Oh, that.” I smile sheepishly and feel my cheeks heating up. “Yeah, so, I wasn’t expecting this, but… we’re a thing? It might be serious?” I wince a little.

Lea doesn’t wince at all. Her face lights up with the biggest smile I’ve seen since she said I do .

“I knew it!” Lea lets go of my hand and slaps the table. “I told Massimo, too! I saw the way you were looking at Big Boyd at the wedding, and… I knew he had a thing for you, too!”

“What? How?” My eyes get wide with surprise.

“Remember the night I had to have the talk with you about counting cards?” She bites her bottom lip and grins. “You were a little drunk, so you may not remember it.”

“No, I remember it,” I say. “I wasn’t that drunk. Just a little tipsy.”

“I came to the casino to talk to you so Massimo wouldn’t send one of his guys to do it,” she says. “It was much better coming from me, trust me on that. Anyway, when I got there, I saw this drunk guy walking toward you. He didn’t get very far before Big Boyd stopped him.”

“Really?” I blink a few times and shake my head. “I definitely don’t remember that.”

“Big Boyd got rid of him before he even had a chance to talk to you,” Lea laughs. “But the way Big Boyd was looking at you? I saw it.”

“So, was this whole thing your idea?” My brow furrows. “You told Massimo to put me with Big Boyd to see if the sparks would fly?”

“Oh, no, I didn’t have anything to do with that.” Lea shakes her head. “That was all Massimo. Honestly, he probably just wanted to prove me wrong. When I told him what I saw, he said no fucking way. Not Big Boyd.”

“Well, you were right,” I sigh. “I almost talked to him at the wedding, but I chickened out. I mean, I wasn’t expecting to date him or anything. I just… I don’t know. Thought he seemed interesting.”

“He’s a good man,” Lea says. “Massimo has told me some things about him. Has he told you what happened to the girl he used to be with?”

“The showgirl?” I question. “He said that wasn’t serious.”

“No, the girl from… what was it… the Broken Lily? Rowan’s dad owns it.” Lea’s face scrunches like she’s trying to recall more information.

“Yeah, that’s the place,” I confirm. “Boyd took me there. Rowan’s dad called them the Four Musketeers. Massimo, Leo, Rowan, and Boyd. Five when Emilio came with them.”

“Musketeers?” Lea laughs. “Massimo said they were the Four Horsemen. Anyway, there was a girl named Beth. Big Boyd cared about her a lot. He even proposed to her.”

“Oh, my goodness!” My hand flies to my mouth. “He said there was a girl he cared about once, but didn’t really elaborate.”

“She turned him down. Said she couldn’t be with a guy like him.

Not long term, at least. He was in love, but it was just a fling for her,” Lea sighs.

“Massimo said after that, Big Boyd was never really the same. He never got close to anyone. Probably because he was scared—if a guy like Big Boyd ever gets scared.”

“I mean, I get it,” I say, moving my hand to my lap and fiddling with the hem of my t-shirt. “You were pretty hesitant, too. Being with someone like Massimo.”

“Absolutely,” Lea admits. “And if you have the same hesitations, I understand. Just don’t lead him on. He might be the biggest guy in most rooms, but I think there’s more to him than that.”

I nod in understanding. It doesn’t make me see Boyd in a new light or anything, but it does make me understand him a little more. Why he’s so possessive. Why he’s so protective. Why he’s so adamant that I’m his.

“I’ll be honest with him,” I sigh. “But enough about that. What’s going on with you? Are you still going to wait to find out if you’re having a boy or girl?”

“Massimo wants to wait,” Lea answers. “I didn’t want to, but with the Mafia Prince Killer in Las Vegas, I’m okay with waiting. You don’t think I have anything worry about, right? Massimo has so many people following me around, I’ve never felt safer, but…”

“He’s never targeted a pregnant woman before,” I say, my voice reflecting some unease, despite what I’m saying.

“And he’s had an opportunity. In New Jersey, he killed the stepson, rather than the new wife who was pregnant.

He gassed her while she was sitting in a nursery that was definitely for a boy. ”

“So, they just need to catch him before I give birth,” Lea says, putting her hand on her stomach.

“At the speed he’s moving, I don’t think he’ll be here that long.” I lean over and pat her hand. “Seriously, three victims in two days? He might be done before the end of the week.”

“Unless Massimo finds him first,” Lea mutters. “Or the cops, I suppose. What about the other guy? The one in prison? Do you think it’s the real Mafia Prince Killer in Las Vegas or a copycat?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “The nerve agent is different, but that doesn’t mean it’s a different killer. They could be working together, but it didn’t sound like it based on what he wrote on the wall at the first murder in Las Vegas.”

“I saw your podcast is trending,” Lea says with a hint of a smile. “I guess you’re getting what you came to Las Vegas for, even if isn’t what you were expecting.”

“That’s true,” I admit. “But I’d be happy to cut this series short because he gets caught. Either by Massimo’s men or the cops.”

Lea and I spent some more time catching up before she leaves with her entourage. I don’t have a message from Boyd yet, so I wander into the casino.

I’m not in the mood to gamble, even if I can count cards and win some money.

I just need something to distract me until I hear from Boyd, otherwise I’m going to spend the entire time worrying about him.