CHAPTER 67

Ann’s POV

Our eyes meet, and the atmosphere becomes tense.

Or am I the only one imagining the tense atmosphere?

He darts his eyes away as I approach with my briefcase. I am dressed in all black, wearing a black skirt with a black top and long black thongs under my skirt.

I have a black round hat on my head and a black scarf tied around my neck.

In one swift movement, I grab the hat and take two long strides toward the man I have just one business with.

Get it delivered and get out quickly.

But not so quickly. So as not to arouse any suspicion. But a little bit fast, so Donald doesn't see me.

This is a test. I knew Vicente wouldn’t have allowed me to come if it wasn't necessary. This would prove to everyone that I can take the title of a Mafia queen.

It comes with responsibilities, and this is one of them.

The man smirks, glancing at me from the toe up to the head, a mischievous, lustful look dancing around his lips. “Complete?”

I nod.

“Can I confirm?”

I nod again.

He opens the briefcase to confirm if the deal is complete, as I have just mentioned.

There are three arms in the briefcase, a long rifle and two pistols. Instinctively, he touches all as he hums to himself.

He nods in satisfaction before grabbing another briefcase and stretching it to me. Without hesitation, I grab it.

My job is done.

I turn to leave when his voice stops me. “Hey, mind hooking up for tonight?”

I shut my eyes.

Vicente would hear that. I just hope he doesn't get too enraged and ask the sniper to shoot his skull out right now.

I only smile before walking graciously to the exit.

A few steps away from the exit, I finally released a deep sigh of relief. I didn't know it would be this easy.

It sounded very easy when Vicente and Fernando explained my role to me. But I never thought it would go this way; it was easy and stress-free.

“Hey,” a deeper voice makes me come to an abrupt halt as my hand touches the doorknob. “Who are you? Where are you going?”

I turn slightly to see the previous guy wincing in pain as he holds onto his stomach. The second man who just came in is no other than Donald.

The man I was warned not to meet.

The job is to get him killed, but not by meeting him.

Before I can think of what to do since Vicente and I didn't speak of the possibility of Donald coming in on me, the first man falls to the ground with a thud.

Donald’s eyes widen as he grabs the gun from the briefcase, and I race out.

Vicente is just around the corner.

Fernando might show up with a car before Vicente, too, so I keep running towards nowhere, confident they will get me.

“Are you okay?” Vicente’s voice comes through as two men rush out of a building with weapons.

I hide behind a wall and pull out my gun from my stomach. It was strapped in there with a belt.

“Yeah,” I mutter breathlessly.

“Where are you?”

I move forward a little to check the position of the two men. They are moving close to the wall, so I position myself and choose the first man before racing forward.

Gunshots resound behind me.

“Vince, where are you?” I shout into the earpiece.

Donald ought to be dead by now because he already touched the briefcase before I raced out, but if care is not taken, his men might shoot me before Vicente or Fernando appears.

“Close, baby,” he replies, and I almost roll my eyes, scooting down to hide again.

The men are hot on my heels, and I shoot again as more of them troop out.

“Shit!” I get up, holding firmly onto the briefcase as I run faster. “Fernando?”

“Right corner. Quick,” he only says, and I take the right corner to see him park abruptly, the car door hanging open. “Get in.”

I jump in with the briefcase, and he zooms off before I can close the door.

Before I can turn to drop the suitcase on the back seat, a shot shatters the car’s windscreen, piercing Fernando’s arm.

“Shit!” He curses beneath his breath. “We need to get out of here quick. Vince, burn the whole place down now.”

I wait, expecting a sound from Fernando’s earpiece, but nothing comes.

“Vince?” I call still no response. “Vicente, are you okay? Where the hell are you?”

I glance at Fernando, a silly negative thought forming in my head. I shake my head and grab my phone to call him when Fernando stops me with his arm.

“Vince? Are you there?”

Calmly, his voice replies. “Are you out?”

I heave a deep sigh of relief.

“Burn the place out, jerk!”

“Wouldn't mind roasting you alongside if you weren’t with my woman,” I hear him speak, and my anger suddenly dissolves, my face turning red crimson.

This man will be the dead of me.

Fernando shrieks in laughter. “Thankfully, I have a woman too. Enough of the oppression. Meet us at Night Corners. Be safe.”

Even though I know he will meet us in about ten minutes, I am still worried about him.

In silence, Fernando drives until we get to the point where we will meet with Vicente.

The silence between us stretches. I hope nothing happens and Vicente returns quickly so we can leave.

“Do you love him that much to accept this role?” Fernando’s voice pulls me out of my reverie. I turn to see him watching me with curiosity.

With a smile, I nod.

He makes me happy. He loves me. He wouldn't leave me. That is all that matters.

“Vicente is a good man…”

“I know that,” I interrupt him, and he falls silent again.

When I don't hear him say anything, I glance at him again to see his face in a frown.

“Do you do that with Vince?” He asks, turning to face me squarely.

“What?” I demand in curiosity.

“Interrupt him when he talks?”

“Yeah, why…”

“He hates it but I guess love is so blind that he doesn't mind having the love of his life interrupt him when others dare not do the same.”

I know I enjoy a lot of privileges. It's nothing new. Still, they all make me so happy.

“I know.”

“He is a good guy. Please don't betray him. He has been struggling since his father’s death and if I was told Vince would love a woman in a million years, I would never believe it but here we are.” He pauses, looking thoughtful as a chuckle escapes his mouth. “For a moment, I thought he was gay.”

I shake my head.

“He isn't, is he?” I throw him a scorn.

“Shut the f*** up, asshole!” Vicente’s loud voice booms as he halts right behind Fernando’s car.

Without thinking, I jump down from Fernando’s car and rush over to the front seat of his car.

Vincent glares at Fernando, who feigns ignorance as if he wasn't talking about him a while ago. Vicente must have heard him.

Finally, Vicente turns slowly to me and gives me that smile that always makes butterflies erupt in my stomach.

Without a word but with relief, I pull him into a tight embrace.