Cautious (Sequel to Disastrous) (23 page)

During the entire drive, my blood pumped. The reason for being in
this entire fucking mess with Michael and Jimmie to begin with had completely vanished.
The thought of ever losing Mia and my family or them losing me due to a wrong
fucking decision sprinted through my head. Lou could go to fucking hell for all
I cared.

I didn’t want it anymore.

I didn’t care for any of it any fucking more.

Pulling into the driveway of his nephew Gio’s home, I hopped out of
the car and stormed toward the door. My heart was racing with every step. The
adrenaline pumped through my veins. I reached the front door with a clenched
fist and repeatedly banged against the wooden surface. Breathing heavily, I
rocked in place with my fist secured by my side.

The door finally swung open and a baffled Gio stood on the other
end of it. “What are you doing here?”

“Where’s Lou?” I sneered as I barged passed him, not waiting for
him to invite me in.

“He’s in the backyard.”

I made an abrupt halt in the foyer when I realized I’d never been
here before. I turned back around to face Gio. “Lead the way.”

His brows kneaded together. “What’s this all about, Marky?”

“That’s between Lou and me.”

“Hmmm. Really?” He cocked his head aside.

Fuck it. I didn’t have time for his fucking games. I turned around
and began storming through the house. “Lou!” I yelled as I turned into what
seemed to be a family room. Fucker wasn’t there. Turning, I went down a hall.
“Lou!” I shouted again as I entered a dining area.

“What the fuck, Marky?” Gio followed behind me.

I pushed him aside when I twisted around again and exited the
dining room. Heading down another hall, I entered the kitchen. There were
sliding doors that led to the backyard. “Lou!” I spat out.

Rushing forward, I slid the door open and stepped into the back
yard. There he fucking was. He sat by the pool in a suit. He was engaged in a
conversation with two other men. All three looked my way as I rushed over to
them. “Lou, we need to talk.”

Irritation spread across his face. He must be handling a deal,
but I didn’t give two fucks. The other two men were not pleased with my
interruption, judging from their smug expressions. “Marky, this will have to
wait. I’m handling business here.”

“Now, Lou.” I sneered.

With wide eyes, the veins in his neck bulged as his face turned
beet red. Very slowly, he snapped his head side to side, cracking his neck. Lou
breathed in trying to calm his nerves as his nostrils flared. “Excuse me,
fellas,” he said smoothly, although I knew he was boiling inside. Good. I
wanted him on my fucking level.

Standing from his chair, he loosened one button from his suit
jacket. The entire time his gaze held onto mine. “Marky, this way.” He waved
his arm back to where I had just come from.

I nodded, and then I quickly went back through the sliding doors
and paced in the kitchen as I waited for him. A few seconds later, he closed
the door behind him as he entered. “Have you lost your fuckin’ mind? Never,
ever, barge into a fuckin’ meeting like that again. What the fuck is your
problem?”

“I’m out.”

Confusion shadowed his features. “What the fuck are you talking
about?”

“I’m out. I’m done. I don’t want it, Lou. I’m finished being your
fuckin’ puppet. I’m going to live my life my way, and that’s without all of
this shit.” I stretched my arm toward the backyard indicating the jobs, the
deals, and the fucking mob.

His mocking laughter erupted in the room. After it subsided, he
adjusted his jacket and leaned against the breakfast bar. “I’m sorry to tell
you this, but that’s not happening.”

“And why is that exactly?” I grew more agitated as his cocky
fucking grin grew wider.

“Because there are only two reasons why you leave the family.” He
lifted two fingers, as he referred to the mob as the family.
Family
my
fucking ball sack. “One, you turned on us and are a fuckin’ rat, or, two,
you’re a fuckin’ pig. Which one is it, Marky?”

“I’m neither. I’m not a fuckin’ cop, nor am I a fuckin’ snitch.
I’m just finished with it all. Done. I’m out, Lou. If you don’t like it, then tough
shit.” I turned my back on him to make my way through the hall. I came to a
complete fucking stop at the sound of his gun being cocked. Slowly, I turned
around. Lou stood there with his gun pointed directly at me. “You’re going to
fuckin’ shoot me, Lou?” I wasn’t surprised, I didn’t expect anything less. I
still didn’t stop as the rage pumped through me. I ripped off my jacket, tossed
it on the ground and raised my arms. “Shoot.” His eyes grew in amusement as he
tilted his head aside. “If you’re going to point a gun at me, then use it, Lou.
I’m not backing down. If I stay in this shit, I’m a fuckin’ dead man anyway,
sooner or later. So go the fuck ahead. Shoot.”

Laughing once, he slightly jiggled the gun, playing with it, and
then he brought his hand down to his side. I dropped my arms, nodded once, and
spun back around. “Marky?” I stopped in my tracks but didn’t face him again. “I
know about your little girlfriend.” My heart skipped a beat as I faced him
again. He held a smug grin. “The lovely Mia Sullivan, sister of the undercover
BPD Michael Sullivan.” He cocked his head to the other side. “Oh, did you think
I wouldn’t figure it out?”

I didn’t respond as I bit down, clenching my jaw tight.

“I’ve had my men all over you and her for weeks now. I know every
fuckin’ move both of you make. I know Mia’s school schedule. I know what she
fuckin’ ate for breakfast this fuckin’ morning. I even know when she last
sucked your fuckin’ cock.” His expression fell as it grew with anger. “Don’t
fuck with me, you fuckin’ bastard. I hold the key to both of your fuckin’
lives. I can make one fuckin’ phone call, and just like that,” he snapped his
fingers, “she’s dead.”

“You fuckin’ asshole, if you lay a hand on her . . .” I went to
surge toward him but was instantly held back. Arms wrapped around me and pinned
me in.

“Not a fuckin’ move.” Gio growled.

I struggled against him as Lou made his way toward us. “It’s
fine, Gio. Let him go.” Gio was hesitant at first but then released me.

“Fucker.” I spat as I shoved Gio against the fucking wall.

Gio swung at me, but I ducked in time and quickly jabbed him in
the rib with a tight fist. He winced on contact. I jabbed him again with a
right hook, and his head jerked back into the wall. In a matter of seconds, he
regained conscious and flung himself at me, wrapping his hands around my neck.
Blood. I wanted to see blood. With a white-knuckled tight fist, I slammed it
against his fucking nose and continued to slam against his face over and over
again. Blood gushed from his face. A bit satisfied and with a sly smile, I
shoved him against the wall and continued to pound my fist into him.

BANG!

The sound of a gun going off forced the both of us to stop
fighting. Gio and I both turned towards Lou. He held his arm up with the gun in
his hand pointed at the ceiling. Debris from the sheetrock drifted to the
ground.

“Now, that I have both of you fuckers’ attention.” I tugged away
from Gio and groaned. I could taste the blood from my busted lip.

Gio wiped the back of his hand over his nose.

“Marky, we’re still using the fuckin’ club. You want out of the
jobs, so be it. I don’t trust you’ll be successful with them anymore anyway,
but the trades will still happen in the club with or without your presence.”

My chest heaved in and out as I breathed heavily. “And Mia?”

He arched a brow. “Do you agree on the club?”

“You can have the fuckin’ club.”

“Then Mia is no longer an issue.”

That was all I needed to hear. I bent over, grabbed my jacket
from the ground, faced Gio with a narrow glare, and got the fuck out of there.

As I entered my car, I reached for my phone and dialed Jimmie’s
number. He wasn’t going to be thrilled with my news.

“What the fuck, Marcus?” Jimmie’s voice pierced through the car
speakers as I sped down the highway.

“I had enough, Jimmie.”

“Did you honestly believe Lou would just let you walk out scot
free?”

“No, I don’t, but that’s where you come in. We need to figure out
who was working with Michael. Fast. I can’t risk the chances of Mia getting
hurt.”

Jimmie cursed under his breath. “You just fuckin’ signed your
death warrant.” He blew out through the phone. “I’ll see what I can do. At
first, I wasn’t successful, but I just got some information that may lead me
somewhere.”

“Good. Oh, and Jimmie, don’t mention this to Mia. I don’t want to
scare her.”

“She has to know soon. What if she’s confronted by one of Lou’s
men?”

“I’ll take care of that. Just take care of the Michael
situation.”

“Alright, I’m on it.”

***

The scorching water hit my aching muscles. I bowed my
head and allowed the steamy water from the shower to drench my skin and seize
all of the tension. With a drained sigh, I thought of Mia. I had a busted lip
and bruised face. There was no way I could see her that night. She would only
question me, and all I wanted to do was to protect her from it all.

I felt as if I were being pulled apart in so many fucking
directions: one toward Mia and another toward the dark fucking path my life had
been heading before I met her. Mia kept me grounded and at that very moment,
there was no room to be weak. I needed to focus on protecting her and bringing
down Lou. I had no clue how, but I was starting with Mia. I wasn’t sure whom to
trust because anyone could be working with Lou.

After my shower, I dressed and drove to Mia’s apartment, parked
out front, and stayed in the car all night until the early morning. That was
all I could do for now.

CHAPTER TWENTY

MIA

For the next couple of weeks, I’d been extremely busy
with school, studies, and tutoring. I hadn’t had much time for anything else.
Literally
nothing
else, not even Marcus. God, I missed him so much. The separation
was killing me. He was just as busy with the firm and with all of the jobs
lately, so I wasn’t sure when we’d have time for just us, until he texted me last
night.

Do you think I can buy some time to spend with my girl?
Maybe dinner tomorrow night?

It made me smile and feel guilty at the same time. I knew that if
we actually lived together, it would be easier on both of us. What the hell was
wrong with me? It was just at that moment when I realized that nothing else
mattered as long as I had him close by me always.

I quickly glanced at the bedroom door when I heard a light knock,
and Megan poked her head through. “Hey, Mia.”

“Megan, hi! Come in.”

She padded her way over to my bed and slumped down beside me,
tossing her head back onto a pillow. I quickly grabbed some of the notes I’d
written from beneath her and secured them under my textbook. My bed had become
my fort for the last few days. If I wasn’t in the library with my tutor or in
class, I was in my bedroom. It was also a mess.

“I feel as if, even though you live here, you’ve been so absent.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. This class is kicking my ass. With only a few
weeks left, I’m really focused and determined to get it over with.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” She glared at the pile of textbooks, my
laptop, and documents spread along my comforter.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Hey, do you want to have a spa day today? You could
use a day off from all of this.”

“I have dinner plans with Marcus tonight.”

She shrugged. “It’s only noon, and we’ll be back before then.
What time is he expected?”

“I believe eight.”

She jumped up and grabbed my arm with both hands, pleading with
her eyes. “See, we have plenty of time. Please! I miss you.”

With an eye roll, I tossed the highlighter in my hand on the bed
and agreed. “Fine.”

“Yay!” she squealed.

“What’s this spa thing I’m hearing about?” Jeremy trudged into
the room with a bowl of cereal in his hand. His curly blond hair was tossed in
all sorts of directions as his blue sleepy eyes scanned my bed.

“We’re getting massages,” Megan said with a nod.

Jeremy scrunched his nose and shook his head before dipping the
spoon into the bowl of flakes and shoved it in his mouth. After a few chews, he
asked, “You like massages?”

“Who doesn’t?” Megan shot back.

“I don’t.” He made another face.

“Had a bad experience before, Jeremy?” I asked, laughing at his
face expression.

“Nope, never got one.”

Megan arched a brow in confusion. “Then why are you so against
it?”

“It puts you in a completely relaxed state.”

Both Megan and I were beyond confused, but curious as to what
he’d come up with. “Okay, that’s kind of the point, Jeremy.” I chimed in.

“Exactly.” Megan followed.

Jeremy rolled his eyes, “Exactly, my point. Just imagine: your lying
there, completely relaxed. Every single muscle has never been so stress-free.
Then you have someone pressing down on each part of your body. It feels great, right?
But,” he held a finger up with wide eyes, “eventually when they push down on
your back, you’re bound to let one loose.”

“What?” I burst out laughing. He was too much. I couldn’t take
it. My head fell back as I held my stomach trying to control the ache from
laughing so hard.

“A fart, Jeremy! Really? That’s why you don’t like massages!”
Megan stood with a hand on her hip as she rolled her eyes. “You’re
unbelievable!”

He gave a slight shrug. “Don’t believe me? Wait and see.” He
turned on the heels of his bare feet and left the room.

Megan shot me a look when I couldn’t control my breathing. “Are
you going or not?” She asked with slight annoyance.

“Okay, phew. Okay. I’m going.” I calmed myself.