Page 123 of Mine

“What did Cal do about it?” he said through gritted teeth, his eyes wild with anger.

“Do? He came and got me. What more can he do Luke, it’s the fuckingmob,” Iexclaimed as he sat back in his chair in shock, gazing out of the window whilst he rubbed his chin.

“I don’t care. What did hedo?”

His voice had a hardness to it, and I blinked in surprise.

Cal had done the right thing; left it alone.

I knew that, yet sitting here in front of Luke, I suddenly felt like someonehadto do something in my honor. I shook my head as he met my eyes again, hatred filled in his eyes.

“This ishisfault. You can’t see it, I know that. But listen to me, it is,” he sighed as he reached for my hand, gripping it. “I’m going to tell you this once, and I want you to remember it for the rest of your life. If youeverneed me,ever,I don’t care if I’m married with kids, you ring me. Okay?”

I nodded slowly as he released my hand, the warmth of his touch gone.

“Mob or not, I’d bury anyone that touched a hair on your head.”

“Thank you, but I’ve got Cal and—”

“Yes, he’s a vicious fucker. But he isn’t the only one that loves you, and sometimes you may just need someone else to turn to.”

I nodded as he smiled at me.

“We can be friends, you know. It means I can’t have you the way I want, but at least I have you in some capacity. Agreed?” Luke said, and I nodded.

“Agreed.”

Part Two: Chapter Twenty

CAL

When it’s cold in New York, it’s fucking freezing. It jumps from one extreme to the other here, blistering summers leading straight into icy winters.

I shivered as I made my way into the damp basement, my eyes accommodating to the dark. I heard a whimper from the far corner of the room, followed by the sound of a steel boot cracking into bone. I winced as I walked in, my fingers running along the wall as I searched for the light switch I knew was there. I felt the smooth plastic under my fingers as I flipped the switch, the room illuminated by a harsh light.

“Johnny,” I intoned, as I took in the man hunched on the floor in the corner, his knees drawn up to his chest as he sobbed. “Hey, Johnny, look at me.”

It was a difficult thing to ask of him, considering both of his eyes were swollen so much he couldn’t open them, let alone see.

I smiled as I leaned down next to him, my rage burning through my veins.

“I just wanted to talk to you. Why have you been so hard to find?”

My voice hid my anger well as I whispered, almost soothingly.

“Leo, I’msorry—”

“Sorry? For what?” I asked, as I leaned closer to him, my ear close to his mouth.

“For taking her. I was just following orders.”

I nodded as I stroked his hair, matted with blood and sweat.

“You broke intomyhouse. You tookmygirl to a fucking mob pit and you have the audacity to think an apology will cut it?”

There was silence as he sobbed, knowing he’d sealed his fate.

I met the eyes of Eugene, his captor, as he watched me.