“You may have come into my life in an…unorthodox way, Leia,” I tell her. “But I want you to know how much you’ve come to mean to me.”
Leia’s eyes soften. She reaches up and presses a gentle hand against my chest, a gesture that comes across as familiar, like it’s our gesture we’ve shared together a thousand times before.
“I feel the same way,” she says, her eyes spilling with emotion.
I wrap my hand around her waist, pulling her right up against me. Whatever remaining barrier there was between us falls away. I sway to the music with her, allowing my obsession to take over, fueling me for what I know must come next.
“I have to do something Leia,” I tell her. “And…it’s going to change everything. I won’t be able to be part of the Esposito family anymore if I go through with it, and I have to know…will you go with me?”
Leia stiffens in my arms, looking at me with concern.
“Go with you? Sterling, what are you going to—?”
“Just answer me, angel,” I interrupt. “Will you go with me?”
She doesn’t even hesitate.
“Of course.”
Warmth floods through me. Yeah, I love this girl. The territorial side of me is on high alert, and I’ve committed myself to doing something I never would have even considered just a few days ago.
I can’t wait to have her by my side—to do countless depraved things with her in bed. To spoil her and do everything I can to make her happy. I’ll spend my life protecting her.
I take Leia by the hand and lead her over to the bar. Franky’s there, sipping on a whiskey, telling one of his famous bad jokes to Earl, one of the bartenders.
“Franky,” I interrupt. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Aye, Sterling,” he laughs. “Need a hot tip on the NFL? Well, I’ve got one for you just as long as you cut me in—”
“This is serious, Franky,” I say, leveling my eyes at him. Franky may be a jokester with more than a couple drinks in him, but we’ve been through more than a few things together, and I know I can rely on him. “I need one of your specials. And I need it now.”
Franky’s expression turns hard, and although his eyes are still glazed from the alcohol, I see the seriousness there.
“What’s going on, pal?”
I shake my head. “You don’t wanna know. You gonna help me or not?”
There’s a moment of hesitation, but Franky nods, sets his drink down on the bar, and motions for me to come with him. “This way.”
Leia moves to follow, but I stop her. “Wait here. You should be fine with Earl.”
“Baby, where are you going?” she asks. I can hear the concern in her voice. I don’t want to hide anything from her, but this is one time where it’s better she’s not involved.
“It’s all right,” I tell her, placing my hand on her cheek. “I’ll be right back. And then we’ll sort all of this out, okay?”
I know if I stand here any longer, it will just give more time for her nerves to grow. So before she can respond, I turn around and walk away, following Franky down the bar, past the stage, and out the side exit to the parking lot where all the cars have been valeted.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, pal,” he says as we make our way through the snow to Franky’s black Benz. “But I hope you know what you’re doing.”
So do I.
“Don’t worry about me,” I tell him as he pops the trunk and lifts the hidden compartment where the spare tire would normally be, revealing a gun rack filled with various types of pistols.
“What can I do ya for?” he asks.
I immediately point to the .38 revolver. “Loaded?”
“What do you think?” he chuckles, pulling the piece from the trunk and handing it to me. I check the sights, which are good, then stuff the weapon down the back of my pants. “Don’t blow your ass cheeks off, pal.”
“What do I owe ya?”
“No charge,” he replies, shaking his head.
“No charge?”
“How long we known each other now? All the things we been through? Just don’t go doing anything I wouldn’t do with that thing, all right?”
I smile and shake my friend’s hand, knowing I’m almost certainly about to go and do just that. “Thanks, Franky.”
“No problem, pal.”
* * *
I find Leia back at the bar, chatting casually with Earl. I check the time on my phone as I approach them; it’s been just over ten minutes. That means we have barely enough time to get out of here and up to Donnie’s room. If we’re late…well, you don’t wanna be late for Donnie Esposito.
“Was he a gentleman?” I tease as I come up beside my angel and take her by the hand. So warm…such soft skin.