8. Scarlett

CHAPTER 8

Ipull at the zip ties on my hands and mouth the gag that's pulled tight across my lips.

The pale, colorless guy across from me watching the door grunts and eyes me. "You might as well give up. You're not going to get loose. Better people than you have tried. Besides. You're not my target and I don't do freebies. I'll let you go as soon as I get that bastard, Benito."

I grunt and fidget with my hands, struggling. He grins. "I don't know exactly what you see in old Benito. He's a little young for you. I'd think you'd want a man that knows what he's doing. Benito is a wild card."

I grunt and tears fill my eyes. I glance towards the door, wondering where the heck he is. He said he'd be back soon. The door has been locked for what seems like hours. He's got all the window coverings pulled and the door is covered with the blinds but he's staked it out so that he can see through them.

"I see that Benito is here. He's with a dark-haired guy that I don't recognize. And another guy with dark hair. Wonder what they're doing." He shoots me a sly smile. "Bet he already knows that I'm in here. He's not in that much of a hurry so maybe he doesn't care as much as I thought."

I close my eyes, fighting the pang at my heart. I trust Benito. He'll get to me before anything happens to me. He won't let this asshole touch me.

More than he did already anyway.

I mumble and tug at the zip ties again and he grins. "You got a lot of nerve, Red. I like that in a woman. Maybe when I take care of your boyfriend, I'll let you come along with me for awhile."

My stomach churns. No way in hell do I want to go with this guy. I still feel creeped out that he touched me after he grabbed me and dosed me with chloroform. I don't even want to think about where his hands were.

I shudder and tears cling to my lashes. I want Benito. I didn't tell him how I feel this afternoon but I love him. I shouldn't. He's a bad man and he's trouble. He's bossy and pushy and he doesn't like it when you argue with him but he'd never hurt me and I know it.

The room darkens and I glance up at the lights over us, my brow crinkling. I've never seen the lights flicker like that.

I glance to the side and see a shadow moving. But it's barely a second and it's gone and I shake my head, sure that I'm seeing things. Stress can really take a toll on a girl.

I close my eyes and hear a tiny shuffle of sound coming from one of the back shelves. I open my eyes and study the guy in front of me but he doesn't seem to hear anything. Still watching out the window.

I glance around wildly and almost sag in relief when I see Benito's beloved face behind me in the darkness between shelves. He puts a finger to his lips and I turn quickly back to the front.

Nothing seems to be happening for another ten minutes and then all hell breaks loose. A man that I dimly recognize as the sheriff grabs the chair that I'm on and jerks it over and behind him, covering my head and screaming, "Now!"

As soon as he says that, Benito jumps the guy from the shadows in the front of the store. Both of them struggle and I hear thumps and grunts as flesh slams into flesh.

"You're gonna die, Benito," the guy grunts.

"Not bloody damn likely. I've got a helluva lot to live for. I'm fucking retiring with the woman I love."

"Pussy."

"Fuck you." I wince when I hear some of my displays hitting the floor and the scrabble of feet. More thuds and grunts and then one huge thud and my heart jumps into my throat, my eyes whipping around towards Colt, begging.

He shakes his head. "Not until it's all clear, Scarlett. You need to wait."

He pulls his gun and ducks out between the shelves. It feels like it takes forever but really it's probably only another minute or so and then he's back, smiling.

"That didn't take long, did it?" He cuts my zip ties off and I yank the gag out of my mouth.

"Benito! Oh my god! Are you alright?" Before I can even move he saunters around the corner, his dark hair ruffled and his grin flashing through the scruffy beard he's sporting.

"Of course I am. I told you that I'll always come for you, Red. You're never getting away from me."

I jump across and throw myself into his arms, crying and slapping him at the same time.

He grunts. "You're a very confusing woman sometimes, Red. But I like it. Keeps me on my toes."

I lift my head and smile mistily at him. "I knew you'd come for me, Benito. I knew it. Just like I knew as soon as that idiot grabbed me that I love you."

He pulls back and eyes me hard. "You really love me? It's not just the gag and the killer talking?"

I shake my head and laugh. "No. Oddly enough that doesn't do it for me. I love you because you're a man that I can trust. You'll always be there for me. I don't care if you're too young. I don't care if you want to move back to your family." I jerk back. "Wait! You told him you're retiring."

He nods his head and grins. "Yep. I'm leaving the family. I've got a new family I want to start and I refuse to have anything threaten you. You're my girl and I will fight every damn day to protect you."

I glance around and sigh. "I'll do the same for you, Ben."

He laughs and hugs me tight, kissing my cheek. "I have no doubt, Red. I have no doubt."

He glances over at Colt. "You got this?"

He nods. "Yep. Please take this out of here so I can get my guys out here and I don't have to explain why a famous mobster is holding the bookstore owner and retiring to Wildwood."

He nods and carries me out the door straight through the crowd out front that parts for us.

He carries me down the street and I sigh. "You know I can walk."

"I know. But I like to carry you."

"I'm too heavy."

"You're light as a feather."

He carries me home and then into my house, smiling when the cat meows at us.

"I think he likes you."

"I think he likes you. He tolerates me. Because he knows that I love you."

I reach up and pull his head down to mine and smile against his lips. "I love you too. Maybe he knows that as well."

"Maybe he does. I will never ever let anything like that touch you, Red. I promise that for the rest of our lives, I will try and bore the hell out of you."

I throw back my head, laughing. "I wouldn't go that far, Benito. You are the least boring man I've ever met. All I ask is that you spend it all with me. That no matter what comes, children or no children, the mob or not. All I need is you to make everything right."

He leans over and rests his forehead on mine. "All I need is you too, Red. Forever and always you own me heart and soul. If anything had happened to you…". He closes his eyes and I swear I see a tear trickle down his cheek. "I could not survive without you. The world would be a cold and dark place without your light in it."

I smile and curl up into his chest. "Same, Benito. Same." He snorts and holds me tight and I hear his heartbeat, steady and clear under my ear.

And I close my eyes, finally home. Finally where I know that I will always belong. With my gentle Ben.