The next morning I wake up wrapped around Jared. I slept better last night than I have in a long time. I feel better today; the pain pills the doc gave me really helped. Jared held me all nightand it was amazing. Maybe it’s too soon to be this in love, but I don’t care. We have this undeniable connection.
I want to do anything and everything for this man. I am his and he is mine.
“Hey, babe.” Jared smiles wide at me, watching me watch him. He starts to shake with laughter.
“How long have you been staring at me?” I groan at his comment, embarrassed he caught me ogling.
“Come here.” He pulls me closer to him. “How is your head?” he asks.
“I feel better, actually; I think you can take me back to my dorm today. I have an afternoon class I would like to not miss. Are we going to talk about what happened yesterday?” I look at him, hoping he’s still in this with me for the right reasons. I know he wants me safe, but this is the Italian Mafia we’re talking about. It’s no joke.
“There’s nothing more to talk about,” he murmurs, gently brushing my hair out of my eyes.
“So you’re never going to discuss what you did to those men?”
“It’s not for you to worry about. I grew up in this life, so I know how to cover my tracks. You will learn soon enough that nobody fucks with the people I love.” My heart melts at his confession. I snuggle closer to him because this is all I need. I want to expose every inch of myself to Jared. That’s what I have been doing. Leaving my heart openly exposed to him.
A week goes by and I feel one hundred percent better. Jared and I see each other every day. We both fell back into our normalroutines. I still worry about where he goes some nights and if he will be safe. There is always someone guarding me. Not so much Beefcake anymore, which I’m kind of sad about. I liked him, and what happened to me wasn’t his fault.
I know what Jared does on the side is dangerous. He proved that much last week. I’m concerned about how I’m going to be able to live this life with him. Jared prefers me to sleep in his bed, but sometimes I have to stay at my dorm or I would get zero work done.
Shannon and I have decided to go to a party tonight. Jared said he would be there at some point. I get the feeling that he’s keeping something from me. I can’t figure out what it is. I’m sure it has something to do with Antonio, and I’m scared Jared will get hurt.
I want out of this life, but I feel like I’m just digging a deeper hole for myself. Out of one Mafia family and into another.
I’m wearing a tight black tube dress and heels. My hair falls in soft waves down my back and my makeup is subtle. Just some mascara and lip gloss.
“You hanging with Sean tonight?” I smirk at my best friend, knowing she’s planning something.
“If he’s being a good boy I may give him a present later.” We both laugh while making our way into the party. This is exactly what I needed to take my mind off of things.
I feel safer knowing Jared has his men following me. Knowing Antonio is still out there makes me nervous. I know he’s capable of horrible things. I just want this nightmare to end.
The music is blaring and it’s packed with drunk, loud, college kids.
“Let’s go and get a drink!” I shout over the music, and she nods in agreement.
We hit the dancefloor and dance for what seems like forever. There is no better feeling than dancing and letting loose.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Grady watching me. He is looking at all of the guys dancing around us and I can see him glaring at them from here. He takes his job seriously and I’m assuming he was made aware not to let anyone near me. Guys start to rub up against Shannon and me while we’re dancing, so we back away and shake our heads no. But they don’t listen.
I mouth ‘stop’ to Grady, but he storms over anyway.
“Back up, guys. These two are off limits,” he says as calmly as he can even though he looks scary as hell.
“Chill, man; we’re just dancing,” some stupid frat boy says, and I think he must have a death wish.
“It’s okay, we were just leaving.” I hold up my hands and groan. Shannon rolls her eyes and starts to follow me.
“Nice work, gorilla man.” I can’t help but laugh and I actually see Grady’s lip lift, hiding his smile.
The cold air hits us in the face as we walk through campus.
“He’s hot,” Shannon slurs.
“Who?”
“Gorilla man!” she all but shouts, and I laugh so hard when I see Grady shaking his head back and forth. He’s basically on babysitting duty, and I find it kind of funny.