Page 50 of Savage Empire

“I can’t just return a stolen card to you. I’m sure you understand,” she says, taking a small step back to further guard my card.

“Idon’tunderstand,” I snap impatiently. “You have absolutely no reason to assume that card doesn’t belong to me.”

She snorts, rolling her eyes. “Honey, look at yourself. You’re no Moretti.”

“I—”

“Not yet, she’s not,” a deep voice rumbles from behind me.

The hair on my arms stands up and my eyes close, a sigh of exhaustion or relief leaving me. How he’s here exactly when I need him, I have no idea, but I guess I can’t complain. This shop lady seemed hell bent on humiliating me to the maximum of her capabilities, so if it’s Apollo or the cops, I’m going to take the pain in my ass Italian mobster.

“Is there a reason you’re holding my fiancée’s card hostage?”

Fiancée?

Thefuck?

“M-Mr. Moretti,” the woman stammers.

“Save it,” Apollo barks, startling her. “I don’t even want to hear whatever excuse you’re going to muster up for the utter fucking disrespect you’ve demonstrated today. Hand over the card, we won’t be purchasing anything from here. Ever again.”

“I-I—” she breathes out, quickly passing the card over.

“You’re lucky you haven’t touched her, or those would be your last words.” I’m too stunned to pull away when he grabs my hand and spins us around. “Let’s get the fuck out of here, I can’t stand the sight of this place for a second longer.”

“How…how are you even here?” I whisper-hiss, desperate for an explanation.

“I was just down the street,” he replies, not bothering to lower his voice. “Yordan and Elio are still there. I’ll take you to a different shop.”

I open my mouth to protest, but can’t get a word in.

“Thank you for the call, Mrs. Russo,” Apollo grunts, nodding toward Natalie before reaching for the door handle.

She chuckles, waving goodbye to both of us. “I’ve told you to call me Natalie a thousand times, Apollo.”

The shop door jingles behind us as he ushers me out of the building.

“What just happened?” I mumble.

“Where’d you park? Never mind, I see it.”

He gets us to the car in mere seconds. I’m still digesting the scene we just left as he opens the passenger door and guides me inside, shutting the door tightly behind me.

One minute I was shopping, the next I was being accused of theft, and the next, Apollo swooped in out of nowhere to save me from it all.

The car starts and Apollo hits the road, not bothering to consult me before heading in the direction of wherever the heck he plans to go.

“Did you tell her I was yourFiancée?” I finally ask, frowning hard.

Apollo grunts quietly. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Did you see the look on her face? That’s why. She’ll have nightmares about today for years.”

I guess?

“I’m so confused.”