He turned and took a few steps away. Emma stared at the floor, trembling. The Don turned back one more time.
“If you do not, we will be forced to make alternative arrangements. Permanent ones. Do I make myself clear?”
Emma nodded, barely holding in her sobs. The Don left, and scared tears flowed.
Chapter18
Ace
It had taken Ace some time to pull himself out of the river. The impact and shock of the cold had forced him to shift back to his human form, and if it hadn’t been for his shifter metabolism, he might not have made it to shore.
When he finally pulled himself out of the water, he collapsed on a rocky bank, spread-eagled and panting from the exertion. He couldn’t believe that the bastards had gotten away … and he was so wrecked that he didn’t even know how he would make it back to Emma.
After some time had passed, his breathing settled, but he was feeling a chill from being wet. He didn’t think anyone would be showing up with a set of warm, fresh clothes for him, so his only option was to shift.
He shook himself, getting up slowly and walking along the edge of the riverbank. He looked up at the bridge, fury burning in his heart. Those fuckers had gotten lucky, and that was all there was to it.
He wanted to use his connections to track them, maybe even do a little digging himself, but he didn’t want the other Morettis to know he was having any trouble. He wanted to sort this all out on his own and come in like a triumphant hero.
If he crawled back to the family now, asking for intel, he would look weak. That was one thing he could not stand.
He also didn’t want to get close to his family in case they knew about Emma … or in case he accidentally let it slip. The situation was far too complicated, and he felt like everything was spinning out of control.
Shaking himself, Ace shifted into his cheetah shape and began the slow, smooth strides. He let the primal nature of his animal take over, keeping to the shadows as he loped back to Emma’s apartment. Being a cheetah certainly was less effort. Everything became crystal clear and utterly simple.
He couldn’t wait to get back to Emma. His cat nose twitched, dying to bury itself in her sweet scent. His mouth watered as he thought about cleaning her all over with his tongue … maybe even scratching her just a little with his claws or nibbling on her with his long, sharp teeth.
It had nothing to do with hunger. Emma was not his prey. It was just a fact that cats loved to nip and scratch when they snuggled with those they loved. But allowing even these thoughts was dangerous, but his cat couldn’t help himself.
He couldn’t shift back to clear his head because he was in the middle of the city and would still be completely naked. So, Ace had to keep running, trying not to think about what Emma’s skin would feel like when it broke under his sharp teeth.
When he reached her loft, something made him pause at the doorway. He sniffed, lifting his head, and tossing it up and down.
There was a hint of scent he didn’t recognize. It was faint but noticeable. It could have come from an air vent or another room, so he didn’t think too much about it. It unsettled him, though.
Ace shifted the moment he came through the door, striding straight into the living room. He couldn’t believe that even after so much action, he was right back where he started … waiting around in this apartment for Benny and Fritz to show themselves.
They would have to come back, sooner or later. That was just a fact. Ace was sick of waiting, though. He’d love the opportunity to tear something apart. In the meantime, he might immerse himself in Emma as a distraction.
When he came out into the living room and saw her curled on the couch, he knew something was wrong. When she looked up at him, her eyes were dark and frightened, and tears were still trickling down her cheeks.
“Emma?” he asked, hurrying over to her. “Are you okay? Did Benny and Fritz come here?”
She shook her head. He breathed a sigh of relief.
“It was them in the van. It’s slightly good news. It wasn’t a Fontana or a Moretti. That means we aren’t in any more trouble than we were before. I lost the bastards, though. I guess we’ll be stuck waiting here a while longer.”
Emma barely looked up. She had shuddered a little while he was talking, but he didn’t know what she was so upset about.
“Really, Emma, what’s going on?”
She shook her head, looking up at him with wide, glittering eyes.
“I just got scared, that’s all. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Ace stared at her for a moment. He was definitely missing something, and he hated the fact that he didn’t know what it was.
“You’re upset about something,” Ace said, sitting next to her. “And I don’t think it’s the life and death situation. Is there anything else you need to tell me?”