Chapter 16 Don’t know the way around
“How long do you plan to stay here?” Bradley asked as we made our way to the parking lot, his hand resting casually on his jacket, where I knew a gun was hidden.
“Two years, tops,” I replied, not bothering to look at him. The tension between us was palpable, thick like the smoke that constantly clung to him.
He fell silent after that, his face unreadable, just like always.
Outside the private terminal, I flagged down a sleek black sedan. As I started to load
my luggage into the trunk, I noticed Bradley slipping into the backseat as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
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I froze, irritation flaring up instantly. “Get out, Bradley.”
He met my gaze with an unsettling calm. “You don’t know this city like I do, Ashley. It’s crawling with people who’d love to get their hands on you. I’m not letting you ride alone. I’ll make sure you get to your place in one piece, then I’m gone.”
His words were smooth, but I could hear the threat buried underneath. Bradley always knew how to use my weaknesses against me. The warnings I’d read about people disappearing in the streets of Valenza flashed in my mind.
With a tight–lipped sigh, I climbed into the car, my expression as cold as ever. He leaned back, watching me like a predator biding his time.
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The apartment William had arranged for me was modest, by mafia standards anyway. It had that sterile, too perfect look the kind of place where secrets could be buried and no one would ever know. As I stepped out of the car, Bradley followed me, his dark presence looming behind me like a shadow.
He was convinced that someone had already planted bugs or cameras in the place. “You don’t know who’s watching, Ashley. This is enemy territory,” he said, carefully scanning every corner with a practiced eye.
“Are you done playing detective?” I crossed my arms, staring at him as he crouched by the bed, checking for hidden devices. “Bradley, I’ve lived in worse places than this, and none of them were as suffocating as you. The real danger in this room is standing right in front of me.”
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His face tightened briefly, a flicker of something hurt flashing across his eyes before he masked it.
He stood, clearly sensing my frustration. “Fine. But don’t call me if something goes wrong.” His voice was low, almost daring me.
I didn’t respond as he walked out the door, finally giving me space.
Over the next few weeks, I kept my head down, adapting to life in Valenza. William had set me up here for a reason, and I knew it wasn’t just for me to keep a low profile. I was expected to handle the business, make alliances with key players, and cement our control over the city’s underworld.
On weekends, I made time for the people who mattered. I had dinner with a couple of
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investors at a private club, always aware that deals were being made behind every smile. They loved my cooking, and I found a certain satisfaction in the way they devoured every dish I made, like I had earned some respect in this twisted world.
But every night when I returned to my apartment, a creeping sense of unease settled over me, as if I was being watched.
Tonight was no different. I could feel eyes on me the moment I stepped into the building. My heart hammered in my chest, my body instinctively tensing.
I had asked William to look into it, but even he came up empty. No signs of a tail, no unusual surveillance. Still, I wasn’t Lourens upid. Someone was there.
I gripped my purse tightly, my other hand
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slipping into my coat pocket, fingers brushing the cold metal of the knife I carried. I didn’t trust the gun William had given me. Too loud. Too easy to trace,
Suddenly, a shadow darted from the alley ahead of me, and I yelped, nearly losing my balance. My phone slipped from my hand. as I stumbled backward.
Before I hit the ground, strong arms caught
- me.
“Careful, Ashley,” Bradley’s voice was low, right in my car.
My heart was pounding, but the moment ! saw his face, relief warred with my irritation. “You’ve been following me?” I demanded, pulling myself away from his grip.
Brad’s expression was unreadable, but I
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could see the amusement in his eyes.
“Someone has to. You’re out here, completely exposed. Do you even realize how dangerous this place is?”
I gritted my teeth, the fear of moments ago rapidly being replaced with anger. “You think I need *you* to protect me? If I wanted a babysitter, I would’ve stayed in the compound.”
“You don’t know these streets, Ashley. Not like I do,” he replied, his voice steady but firm. “If you made any trouble your enemies wouldn’t just be the ones you can see.
I stared at him, weighing my options. This was Bradley’s game, always hovering just close enough to remind me he was there. But tonight, it felt different. His presence was more than just protective; it was
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possessive.
“I’m fine,” I said, turning away. “Go back to whatever it is you do in the dark, and stop stalking me.”
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