“Jack—”
“Vince.”
“Would you shut up for one second?” He spits.
“Sorry,” I whisper under my breath as he continues.
“There is no way she is in any danger. I’m the one sending her away.”
He can read it on my face, the confusion as I study his annoyed stance.
“You—“
“It’s for the best. To protect her. She’s constantly trying to protect me, and that’s why she was in the hospital. It’s my gift to her… letting her go.” I let out a quiet breath of shock. Vince is a lot kinder than I initially anticipated.
“Okay, but that doesn’t change the fact that I really think that’s what they’re planning.”
“Lee will be at her apartment within the hour to take her to my jet. There’s no way—”
“Vince—“
“End of discussion.” He turns and walks back to his room, slamming the door so hard it makes me jump.
Well, shit. Do I call for backup? What if I am wrong and she’s okay? I clank my teeth together before forming a bubble in my mouth, so I can think clearly. Time ticks by, and I have no real answer to what I should do.
After an hour, Vince storms out of his room on the phone.
“Are you certain?” He asks the phone, waving for me to follow him. I hurry over, and we walk to his room. He continues to talk to whoever is on the other line as he opens his closet.
He pulls down a giant plastic suitcase and flops it onto the floor.
“Fuck. Do you know—“ he pauses as he’s unzipping it and looks up at me and whispers, “Check Jess’s location.” I click through my phone and pull up her name on my map.
“House.” I furrow.
“Fuck.” He curses under his breath. “Just go up and tell me what you find. I’ll have the boys ready.” He hangs up and glances at me desperately.
“Does your gut happen to track people without your fancy app?” I can’t really tell if he’s joking or desperately delusional, but I shake my head. He opens the suitcase in response to reveal some pretty heavy artillery.
Damn. Guys loaded with money and weapons. He pulls off his shirt and straps one of the bigger guns across his chest before pulling out another shirt and buttoning it up over the gun. More knives that I’ve seen in a knife block get pulled out and put in places I didn’t know people felt comfortable putting knives.
He notices me watching and tips his head to the case as he slips on some suit pants. I still don’t move, and after he buttons them, he crouches down, grabbing a handful of bullets and a gun before tossing the gun to me. I catch it and bend down, taking the bullets from his hand.
“You know how to use that, right?” He quips, and I just give him a sarcastic grin in response as I load the gun.
I definitely didn’t see the night going like this. Still, I guess this type of spontaneous violence is to be expected when you’re in dealings with a mafia prince. I’m still in my clothes from last night, but Vince is already sporting a full-blown suit.
“Are we James Bond tonight? Should I borrow a suit?” I look into his closet, reaching for the first one I see, and he swats my hand away.
“We are prepared for the worst. Who knows, maybe she got busy packing and forgot to answer her phone.” I nod slowly, and I don’t think he even believes the words he’s saying. We wait around a while longer as he sounds a few texts on his phone.
I’m beginning to feel rather anxious, but I don’t let him see it, trying to breathe steadily. If anything happens to Jess, I would feel responsible. I could have come to the hospital instead of hanging out in strip clubs with Vince, but it doesn’t matter now. My feelings are more centered around hoping Jess is okay rather than losing my job, but losing my job is definitely not a comforting thought either.
I breathe out steady through my mouth, and I think Vince is beginning to notice my anxiety. He shockingly puts a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze, nodding once to reassure me. I’m getting the appeal; this man is an angel when he wants to be. I give him a “thank you” smile back, and he steps away, continuing to message on his phone until he gets another call.
“Yeah?” By the tone in his voice, I know he’s far more agonized than I have been in our waiting.
“Fuck. Bastard. Okay. Yep. Yep. Alright.” He hangs up the phone and looks at me with a fire burning beneath his skin.