But as I made my way back into my apartment, setting the books on the nightstand, and smelling her strawberry sweet cream scent all over my sheets, I was pretty sure it was going to be impossible to stay away from her.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Saff

I hadn’t returned the drop key to the doorman.

I had it in my fist and told myself the whole ride down that I was going to leave it there because I knew my pride would never allow me to ask for it a second time.

But the next thing I knew, I was moving out onto the sidewalk, my thumb teasing over the pigeon key charm.

Annoyed by my weakness, I rushed toward the closest subway platform, ignoring the growing sad sensation spreading through my chest.

At what?

Leaving a man’s apartment after some mutually enjoyable fun?

I scoffed out loud at that.

Mutually enjoyable.

That was the understatement of the year.

That man cracked open the world and sent me flying amongst the stars.

Dramatic? Yes. Cheesy? Oh, absolutely.

But true regardless.

I got back to my apartment, stripped, and climbed in the shower to scrub the scent of him off me.

Even scrubbed red, I could swear I still felt his touch all over me.

As I dressed, strapped on a gun so I could go play bagman for the family in an attempt to distract myself, I was starting to worry that I would always feel him. Like he was scorched, branded into my skin.

“God, get a grip,” I grumbled at my reflection before hitting the streets.

It helped to be distracted.

Going in and out of businesses, collecting the protection money owed to us. It was a job typically reserved for soldiers, not capos. But every once in a while, I liked to get my face out there, remind everyone who they were dealing with.

That said, by midday, there was no one else to hit up, nothing for me to do, since Renzo had all but benched me, wanting me to focus on the nightclub situation.

As if drawn there by just the thought—and totally, absolutely not because I wanted to run into Soren—I found myself standing outside the nightclub, finding Gav standing out front with his crew. Everyone had matching worried faces.

“Hey, Gav. Everything alright?” I asked.

“Wow. That was fast,” he said, turning to look at me.

“What was fast?”

“I just called Mr. Vale. I figured we’d be standing here for another hour or two, twiddling our thumbs. Or talking to the cops without one of you.”

“The cops?” I croaked, heartbeat hammering against my ribcage. “What do you need cops for?”

“Well,” Gav said, looking oddly squirrelly. “The thing is, we had a delivery this morning. And, well, we’re not sure what happened, but… I guess the door wasn’t locked. And someone…”

“They jacked everything,” one of his guys supplied.