21. Valentino

21

VALENTINO

I ’d stumbled across the private hallway into a small office located next to the surveillance room. It was the one place at the club where I could go and no one would bother me. I needed a moment alone and a strong drink.

I intended to stay in the office until I’d polished off the whisky I had stashed there. By then, I might be calm enough not to kill the next person I saw. But when I heard the door of the room Liam and I had used creak open, I couldn’t stop myself. I waited until his footsteps had passed by me, then I followed him, moving silently. He went back to the dressing room, and I exited from back of the building and got in my car so I could sit in the lot and wait for him.

It was a damn good thing I did. I wasn’t the only one there. Another man was loitering, looking back and forth from the door to Liam’s car.

I studied the man more closely. When I realized it was the same man who’d been watching Liam, the one who’d demanded a lap dance, the one I’d thrown out earlier for putting his hands on my man, I opened my glove compartment and pulled out the gun I kept there.

I considered taking him out immediately. He’d already pissed me off, but I’d gotten flak from my father for killing the man who’d touched Liam in the private room—I should have known I’d never keep it secret from him. Another death here wouldn’t be good. I kept my gun in my hand though, because if he approached Liam, if he laid one hand on him, he was dead. I’d deal with my father. I’d say whatever I had to.

I’d promised Liam my protection, and I was going to give him that, no matter how much he wanted to deny what he felt for me. What was happening between us?

You’re falling for him.

I was and it was dangerous, but I couldn’t help myself. When I was with him, I felt more alive than I had in a while. I felt like I might be able to have something for myself instead of sacrificing for others.

The back door of the club opened, and Liam stepped out. He was wearing the robe I’d left and carrying a bag that must be stuffed with his clothes. I wanted to go over, pick him up, and bring him to my car so I could hold him and tell him I was going to take care of him, even if we had to run from my family.

There wasn’t really anywhere to escape them, though, not with the resources they had.

Liam hoisted his bag further on his shoulder and tied the robe tighter as he walked toward his car. The man pushed away from the truck he’d been leaning against and headed toward Liam. Moving silently, I opened my door and stepped out of the car.

He said something I couldn’t hear, and Liam jumped, obviously startled. I needed to talk to Liam about always being aware of his surroundings.

Liam stepped back, flattening himself against the car.

Get in . I tried to send the command to Liam telepathically, but he didn’t get the message. He stood there, paralyzed, as the man kept talking. I moved slowly toward them. Neither of them had caught sight of me yet.

“No,” Liam said, his voice forceful.

The man moved a step closer. “Don’t be that way. I saw how you looked at me from the stage.”

“I’m a dancer. I’m up there to entertain.”

“And now you can entertain me here.” The motherfucker grabbed Liam’s arm, and I took him out with a head shot.

Liam screamed as the man fell and blood splattered across the front of his robe.

I raced toward him.

“Val! Was that you?”

“Yes, baby. I told you I’d protect you.”

He looked down. “His blood is all over me. That’s two men you’ve killed because of me.”

I pulled him against me, and he buried his face in my neck so he couldn’t see the dead man anymore.

“I would kill a thousand more for you.”

“But you…” He sniffled. “You walked away like…I thought….”

I’d known I was fucking this up when I walked out on him, but I’d been angry. I hadn’t wanted him to see me like that. I didn’t want to lose control with him when I was mad, only when I was overcome with need for him, that was when we could both handle it.

“I don’t want you doing this. I don’t want to kill anyone else.”

I froze. What did he mean? “You killed someone?”

“Kind of. I mean, everyone says it’s not my fault.”

“Baby, tell me what happened.”

He shook his head. “Not now. There’s a dead man right there.”

I wanted to point out that he sucked me off with a dead man lying in the same room with us the other night, but I doubted he’d see that as a good thing. And I did need to do something. I hadn’t used a silencer, and while gunfire wasn’t exactly a novelty in this area, someone might call it in. That would be just my luck.

I decided to call Vito for help this time.

He answered almost immediately. “Yo brother, what’s up?”

“Where are you?”

“Why are you asking?”

Jesus, he was probably with a man or woman or both. “I’ve got a body lying on the pavement outside Pound, and I could use some help.”

“Fuck. You killed another one?”

“Yes.” I’d hear enough from our father. I didn’t need Vito bitching at me too.

“Liam again?”

The memory of his hand on Liam made me see red. “The fucker tried to attack him in the parking lot.”

“Damn, I’m surprised you killed him quickly. That sounds more like a capture and torture situation.”

“I didn’t have the luxury. I had to take him out before he hurt Liam.”

“You really care about him, don’t you?”

I was not prepared to have that conversation now. “Just get what I need and get it fast.”

Vito coughed and I was sure he was covering a laugh. “I suppose you’re going to disappear from the scene.”

“We are.”