Page 24 of Bulletproof Baby

"Between us? We just met. You did me a favor by taking my virginity. Now that I know it's only made me a better fit for Saul's plans, I hate that this is happening. I just want to disappear. I want this all to go away." I try to fight back tears, but the strength of Valentino's arms when he pulls me into his embrace encourages me to let go.

I stand strong, gently pushing back to get inside my car. Valentino's light blue eyes hold me in a trance, but I turn away, reminding him, "You still haven't answered my question. Why are you making deals with Saul?"

"To keep you safe and to stop a war from igniting," he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. "We need Saul compliant for now until I can make sure you and your family are safe. Saul revealed it was one of his guys your parents, um, disposed of."

I tell him, "Yeah, he said as much the other night. He wants the business because my parents secured some small business lottery? They get city contracts. I knew we landed the Saint Bartholomew's job fairly easily. If they would have known it was an invitation for the mob, I'm sure they would have stuck to their normal clients and referrals. It just feels like we're never going to get out from under this. I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Valentino."

He laughs softly. "You didn't do anything. My ego got me into this, and you? You're what's keeping me here. I already have an idea of what we can do. I just need to put a few things in place."

Valentino circles around to the driver's side of my car, opening my door for me to get in. A part of me wants him to do more, a kiss, a gesture of desire, something to erase Saul from my palate. Instead, he closes the door, wishing me a safe trip home.

The drive home has my mind reeling, but not so much that I can't see the car behind me. I wonder if it's Valentino, but I can't see the face behind the wheel, only the blur of an image behind the bright headlights.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise as the car behind me follows me one turn after another. Even when another car maneuvers between us, I can see the glint of their silver sedan, a scratch above the headlight, keeping pace with me. Nerves and anxiety consume me, stopping me from heading directly to my apartment.

Who is that?

I can't help myself as I shout to my phone assistant to call Valentino.

He answers immediately. "What's wrong?"

"Are you following me?"

"What?" The anxiety in his voice sounds like it's rising to match my own. "Where are you?"

"I'm not far from my apartment, but I could be imagining it. I think dinner with Saul has me shaken up."

"Can you get to your parents' place safely?" he asks.

"I can," I tell him, and immediately change directions to head toward the house within walking distance of my apartment.

"I'll stay on the phone until you get there. I'm making my way toward you now."

"Are you still in Manhattan? Is it going to take you long to get here?" I ask him, driving down the street where my parents' house sits sandwiched between two others. The lights are dark. I don't see their car parked in the tiny driveway. "Valentino, I don't think they're home. I don't want to go in there by myself. I don't want to get out of the car right now."

"Don't. I'll be at your apartment in ten minutes. Head to a nearby gas station and wait for me." Valentino ends the call, and I head toward the closest gas station.

The lights shine bright enough to stop anyone from coming out of the shadows. Every gas station in the city has cameras. The likelihood of someone attacking me with so many cameras and lights is improbable, right?

I see the sedan with the deep scratch above the headlight drive by. The windows are tinted so dark, I can't look into the car to see who's behind the wheel. I wonder if they're going to stop and wait for me to peel out of the gas station. I don't see brake lights in the distance. Perhaps they've given up, or it was a figment of my imagination.

The night air is cooler as I open the door, the breeze hardening my nipples against the soft fabric of my dress. However, even as I stand by my car, every set of brake lights looks identical to the silver sedan. I take a few steps away from the car, stretching my neck to see where that car went. I just know they were following me.

"Damn shortie, you aight?" A voice snags my attention from the store attached to the gas station. A brief glance over my shoulder shows a guy in baggy cargo shorts and a tank top. Spikes and grommets glisten across his audacious belt that seems pointless to wear since they don’t hold up his sagging shorts. He steps toward me.

"I'm fine, thanks," I shout at him, moving back toward my car.

"That you are. Come here, let me talk to you for a sec." He takes a step closer to me, as if his request is something I'm obliged to grant.

"I'm good," I tell him more assertively this time. "Not interested."

"You need to be with an ass like that. Come here and stop playin—" The man's words are cut short.

It forces me to turn around where I see Valentino's roaring sports car pull up to the pump. Relief washes over me as I make my way toward Valentino's car.

The catcaller kisses his teeth, waving his hand at me, and shouting angrily. "Man, don't play that game. That dude is lost, and you don't need to pretend you're better than me. I see that car you're driving, shortie."

Before I can reply, Valentino steps out of his car, approaching me with a sternness in his step that makes the obnoxious stranger roll his eyes and shake his head.