Chapter 21

Kay Santino I don't know what I am doing, but I know I feel safe in his arms. Wherever my anger disappeared to, I have no idea. When I looked into his eyes and saw how sincere and desperate he was, the anger dissipated on its own accord. I had not even started doing the things I planned to do to Alex. The list I prepared was so long, and his death would have been more gruesome. Carl took that chance from me. Ana came with a poison that would have caused him a great deal of pain. I wanted to see him beg me to end it, and I would have ignored him and watched him take all the pain to his last breath. Carl ruined that by giving him the easy way out. He did him a fucking favour and I am supposed to be so mad at him, but the anger doesn't wanna stay. I sigh in defeat and wrap my hands around him, taking in his manly scent while it lasts. I know when we get out of here, everyone will go back to their businesses, and I probably won't see him anytime soon. His muscled body engulfs mine tightly in a warm embrace, and I feel untouchable like this. Sighing, he breaks the hug after a while and brings our foreheads together. He is staring intently into my eyes, and I wonder what he is thinking. Carl's jaw is so strong and well-defined; his mother did a really good job creating this one. He is breathtakingly attractive. "I was going to get some fucker, mind coming with me?" his face is so close that his warm, minty breath is fanning my face. " Where?" My voice comes out low, and I almost groan at myself. Why am I behaving like this? " Some hood rat refuses to pay me after taking my shit, downtown," he groans in frustration before completely pulling away from me. I always wonder how he easily switches his moods. One second, he's calm, and the next, he is Carlos Moreno. "Okay," there is nothing I am going to do at home anyway, not like sleep will miraculously appear. Talking about sleeping, did Dad have that talk with him, or did he forget? Carl opens the door and ushers me in. I murmur a low thank you, fastening my seatbelt. " Your dad talked to me," he looks at my face for a second before he starts driving," about the sleeping arrangements, I hope you don't mind, angel." Of course, Dad will never forget something like that. I know he's just looking out for my well-being, though, and I am so grateful for that. "It's okay," I don't have many choices, do I? "I know you might hate me for what I did, but baby, I'm just looking out for you, you understand that, right?" he asks softly with his eyes focused on the road. " He said he could never hurt me," I tell him what Rico had said, and he groans, punching the steering wheel so hard. The fuck? You are gonna kill us, dude. "Did you believe him?" he asks, and I can tell from his voice he is praying I say no. "I don't know what to think anymore, Carl," I say, and he cusses, clenching his jaw tightly," but I will be careful around him, I don't trust the guy. " his clenched jaw eases after I complete my sentence. Everyone doesn't want to hear anything concerning Rico. How sad?. I remember him telling me about Grayson wanting to join the Russians, and I know it will happen sooner when he finds out his second in command is dead. Why would Rico give me that information anyway? Was he trying to prove a point or something? If Greyson joins the Russians, it will make him a hard target. I won't be going after him only, but also the entire Russian mafia. I will have to come up with a proper plan on how to lure him out alone and make sure I do a clean job without leaving trails behind. For that to happen, I have to get closer to his son first. That way, I will gather enough valid information on him, which will help me carry out the task ahead. "We are here, angel." Carl breaks through my thoughts, and I hastily undo my seatbelt. The man opens my door and takes my hand in his. This is new. I look around the beat-up place and wonder if people live here at all. It's an old abandoned big warehouse adorned with every kind of dirty graffiti. There are people in groups along the sidelines, most of them smoking, and the way they're staring at us and the car we just left behind, lets me know we are in the real hood. How does Carl even do business with these people? "Seriously, Carl?" I look at him in disbelief. He only smirks, tucking the loose strands of my hair behind my ears. I find that cute. "Money is money, angel, let's go," he holds my hand tighter, leading me to the forbidden building. People create a way for us, well, for Carl. Like I said earlier, his face screams 'don't fuck with me,' and everyone who looks at him sees that. The old door creaks open, and he continues walking to the inner part of the building before opening two double doors, and behold, the old building is a fucking strip club. "Fuck!" I exclaim, looking around in amazement. This fuckers got it right. You wouldn't even guess the building holds this kind of shit. "I know, baby," he smirks at my bewilderment. Women are busy gawking and sending Carl flirtatious smiles, but he ignores them. It makes me wonder if he is ignoring them because I am with him, or because he wants to. I swear, if I find him with a woman again, this shit between us will be over and done with. I can't be the only loyal one in this alliance. That's what this is, right? Just an alliance between two families. We ascend the stairs where more people are grinding at each other, some making out while others smoke weed, making the foul smell prominent in the entire place. Yuck, I can't survive here. We walk to what looks like a VIP, and what meets my eyes makes my heart break. A naked middle-aged woman is tied to a chair and beaten beyond recognition. She's covered with dried blood, and the only thing she can do is whimper in pain. This is a clear indication, she has given up. What breaks my soul more is the sight of the men around her, abusing and laughing at her pathetic face. Why are they always like this? A sense of nostalgia consumes my senses, and the only thing that stops their sick laughter is the sound of my bullets going off.