Arianna let out another cry, huddling into Dominic’s back. Bain slid a comforting hand over her shoulder. “Nearly there.”
What the fuck was wrong with people? As the fire engines moved forward, people started to scatter. Someone slammed against him and he grunted. Arianna turned, looking worried. He tried to give her a reassuring look. She bit her lip, telling him he’d failed.
“Fuck! Joe ain’t getting through this!” Dominic told them. “Let’s try to head to the second rendezvous point.”
It was their back-up plan if things went to shit. Larry had thought them crazy. But Dominic and Bain had insisted. Where was that little shit, Larry? No doubt he’d been one of the first out of there. And probably without even considering Arianna’s safety.
They managed to duck around a few more cars, no one paying much attention to them now. Bain used the opportunity to pull off his jacket and slip it over Arianna’s shoulders. Partially to help disguise her, but mostly because it was fucking freezing out here and she was dressed in a tiny shirt and crop top that had all these sequins stitched into it.
Moving out onto the street, they turned down an alleyway. Not the safest way to move through the streets of Manhattan at night, but right now, the well-lit street wasn’t much safer.
He slipped his gun out of its holster and Dominic did the same, moving in front of them.
Arianna let out a small whimper of distress. She was shaking so bad that her teeth were chattering.
Poor baby.
“It’s okay, angel. You’re safe,” he soothed. “Going to get you home and into your bed soon. All right? Hold on.”
Dominic turned to look at him, but he couldn’t see the expression on his face in the dark alley.
Arianna let out a small cry, slipping on something. Probably due to those ridiculously high shoes she was wearing. He grabbed hold of her arm, steadying her. “Okay?”
“Y-yes.”
He kept hold of her with one hand just in case. They exited the alley and he nearly sighed in relief to find it relatively quiet. They started walking towards the bar where they’d set up the second rendezvous point. He frowned as he noted the way Arianna was limping. He set his gun back in its holster, there was no immediate threat. Dominic did the same.
He slid his arm around her. Fuck, she was still trembling like a leaf.
“Not too much further, angel,” he said in a quiet voice. “You can make it. Once we’re home, I’ll get you a big bowl of ice cream.”
He knew he was saying too much, but he’d do anything to get her to calm down. He considered picking her up, but he’d rather have his arms free and him carrying her might garner them more attention. While the street wasn’t that busy, there were still some people around.
They reached the bar and moved around to the small parking lot out the back. Dominic had scoped this place out two days ago, so Bain let him take lead. He kept
his arm around Arianna, supporting her. He honestly didn’t know how much longer she could keep it together. She was exhausted and frightened.
“Fuck. He’s not here.” Dominic pulled out his phone. He took a few steps away, talking quietly.
Bain kept his gaze roaming the parking lot. He kept them to the shadows.
Arianna burrowed into his chest, clinging onto him.
“You’re okay. Everything is going to be all right.” He resisted the urge to kiss the top of her head.
“I left my stuff back in the dressing room.”
“We’ll get it. Right now, main priority is your safety.”
Dominic strode over to them, his face serious. “Apparently, Larry got back to the car without us. He lied and told Joe that he’d seen us and that we told him we would make our own way home. Joe drove him back to his place, which apparently is half an hour away.”
“For fuck’s sake, they both knew the plan!”
Arianna let out a protesting noise and he ran his hand up and down her back soothingly. “It’s okay.”
Dominic raised his eyebrows at him, and he shook his head. Later.
“Well, it gets even worse. Apparently, a crowd has gathered outside Arianna’s apartment building. Concerned for her safety. It includes plenty of media.”