He whistled. “I don’t think that crate is going to hold you much longer.”
“Please, Evil. I swear. I swear, I don’t know anything. I didn’t tell them about her. I swear. I made sure no one knew about her.”
And that was what he’d been waiting for.
He stepped toward the man, masking his face with real concern, like he believed the story he was telling.
“You’re certain?”
“Yes, I’m certain. I wouldn’t do that to you. I promise. I never, ever, would. You can trust me.”
Evil nodded and then shook his head. “I never said this was abouther.”
The man whimpered. His lip quivered.
“Who else did you tell?” he asked. “I can’t do anything if you don’t tell me.”
“I-I sold the information and the images.”
Evil listened as the man told him how he’d taken pictures of Noelle. Sent them to his boss, who was already dead, but had also seen a meal ticket andhad shared that information with the mafia as well.
That was it. He’d been about to contact thecartel when people started turning up dead. He’d been on the run, trying to get away, but hadn’t succeeded.
Evil had heard enough, kicking the crate from under him. The man dropped and then started to claw at his throat. Evil stayed and watched.
He never allowed anyone on his shit list to survive.
Noelle’s life was in danger, and this piece of shit was responsible.
“Sir, what do you need?” one of his men, Richie, asked.
“I want more menon Noelle’s detail.” He should have known there was a reason the mafia had gone quietly. How they’d stalked back to their own little cave even after he killed one of their capos.
Did the information die with the capo?
Evilhad no way of knowing, but he was going to find the means to protect Noelle.
The man shook, trying to fight it, and Evil watched the life drain right out of him. No one ever brought his woman into this.
****
Evil had gotten rid of her apartment. All ofher belongings were now in his place, and seeing the boxes that possessed her life, it was rather pitiful. The apartment hadn’t been great. It had been what she’d been able to afford, which wasn’t a lot.
Her grandmother would often say it wasn’t what you had, but what you were made of that was valuable. Noelle hadn’t wasted money on trivial items. She had kept a good apartment and rid it of the roaches. She had also been friendly to the neighborhood cat, and she believed that kept the rat population down. Keeping her apartment clean and preserving the items she’d been able to get at second-hand shops, as well as charity ones, had been important to her. Keeping old items well.
Two boxes. That was the extent of her life.
Evil hadn’t allowed any of her furniture. Not that she blamed him. It would have stuck out like a sore thumb.
She ranher fingers through her hair and felt so incredibly tired. It had been a long day of doing nothing. Checking out the casino’s books hadn’t been part of her job, but that was what Evil had her doing. He’d been off, and she’d once again been under lock and key with a couple of his men that he trusted.
She felt so exhausted.
Evil was off doing evil things, she just knew it, but there was no way to tell. He tried to keep that side of himself hidden. She didn’t want him to hide or pretend to be someone he wasn’t.
After taking out the couple of mugs she owned, she moved into the kitchen and placed them on the counter. Then she pulled out a couple of kitchen items and put them in place.
The rest of the boxheld her bathroom items, and the box underneath, her clothes. It didn’t take her long to finish unpacking, and by the time she had neatly folded the boxes, Evil walked through the door.