บททั้งหมดของ The Cost of Saving Him: บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

- Luciano -The movie had ended, and Mina fell asleep leaning against me, still in my arms. I just looked at her, then gently moved her and laid her down. I went to her room and grabbed her pillow and her blanket. Spot followed me, watching every move I made. “You want to go out, boy?” His ears perked up, tail wagging, and he whined softly. “Let’s cover your mom up, and I will take you out.” We walked into the living room, placed the blanket on Mina, and put a pillow under her head. I turned towards the door, looked at Spot, and said, “Let’s go, and you better not run off on me, kid.” He sat, waiting for me to open the door. We went outside, and he stayed close, even when he saw a cat. “You mean to tell me, you don’t care about that cat?” I laughed as Spot ‘did his business’. When he was done, we went inside when we saw headlights. “Who could that be?” Spot growled, which I took as a bad sign. I pulled my gun from my waistband, “Stay here, boy.” I walked up to the car, and to my surp

- Luciano -I couldn’t stop thinking about how this woman has somehow gotten under my skin, in a good way. Still tracing the bandages that Mina wore, I broke from my thoughts of guilt behind her injury. I covered her up with the blanket, kissed her head, and drifted off to sleep. The dreams came quickly. Mina was dressing my wound, then I was in her flat caring for hers. Marco found her place, and before he could finish the job, I woke up. Spot was on the floor beside me, watching me the way Max does. I rolled over to find that Mina was gone. I got up, put on my clothes, and almost forgot what we did last night. Still thinking about the way she felt wrapped around me, the way she moaned my name. I was almost done getting dressed when I heard laughter, hers, coming from the kitchen, then Tony’s voice, “I didn’t know you studied art and interior design, would you help me with my house, my wife is getting on me about ‘change’, she said it would be nice.” I walked around the corner just

- Mina -His voice was deeper, more possessive, like the first two days of knowing him, “fine.” He said, “One kiss,” and we waited. “You’re still hurt.” I told him I didn’t care, “I want you now.” I knew he would probably object, but to my surprise, he didn’t. Instead, he pressed his head against mine, “then I’ll take what I can, but once we start. There is no going back.” I smiled, knowing that the cravings, the thoughts, the dreams, were all about to come to life. He looked at me, as if he was waiting for permission. Once I nodded, I could see something change in him. “You have to tell me the moment it starts to hurt, Mina.” The look in his eyes didn’t match the tone in his voice, “I will, Luca.” He moved, leaning me back onto the bed, his hands holding me underneath him as he hovered above me, “Are you sure?” I reached up, holding his face in my hands, rubbing my thumbs along his jawline, “If I weren’t sure, we wouldn’t be here.” His smile flashed, and his eyes locked on mine. H

- Mina -Tony and Luciano had left, leaving Vinny and Marko behind with me. “How are you feeling, Mina? I wanted to ask, but the boss had us keep an eye on the bar while you were in the hospital. I haven’t had a chance to see you and ya know.” I laughed. Marko was awkward for sure, but sweet. “I’m fine, Marko, please don’t get too serious about his ‘instructions’. I can handle a lot of things, probably not lifting anything.” They nodded and sat on the couch. I grabbed some beers out of the fridge. “How long have y’all worked for Luciano?” They exchanged glances, and I realized they didn’t know that Luca had told me the truth. “I know about the families, the situation, and his position. I know y’all are looking to, what is it called? Make your skin or something like that?” Vinny laughed as I handed them the beers. “Wow, too much mobster T.V and not enough real world, it is making your bones, Mina, and not long. About a year.” I looked at him, not long? A year is kinda long in my opinio

- Corey -I should’ve stepped in sooner. I’d been standing close enough to hear every word Marco was spitting at Mina, his voice cutting through the air like barbed wire. She stood there, chin set, refusing to cower even when his temper kept climbing. I thought maybe she’d talk her way out of it; she usually did. Then it happened. His voice rose, venom spitting through every word, and before I could even breathe, his hand lashed across her face. The crack of it echoed off the brick. Marco looked past Mina, looking me straight in the face with a smile on his face. “Hand it over.” I felt something pressing against the back of my head. Holding my breath, I raised both hands; one held the phone. “If you move, if you flinch, or even look away. You’re next.” Marco’s smile disappeared when he turned back to Mina, “You’re gonna want to watch this, because what happens next will be the message you’re to deliver to Luca.” I could feel the gun move from my head, then his footsteps receding, but