Trapped in his End Game (Series)

A violent surge of disgust and loathing makes me bend over at the waist and retch. My knees dig into the hardwood floor as a pool of blood creeps towards me. Another body stains the floor. Like a brand, it sears into my mind. My memories can’t fade no matter how much I try to run away from them. His murder keeps coming back to me full circle. Another body lies on the hardwood floor of this house. My body wracks with sobs as Vince stands over my mother, preparing to kill her, too.

I don’t want her to die.

“Please, Vince.”

He gives me an incredulous look. “This bitch would have seen you killed if it meant she could save her own stinking skin.”

She’s still my mom.

His jaw sets. “I know she’s your mother, but she witnessed two murders. And we already know the depths of her loyalty.”

“I would never hurt my own daughter,” she screams through her tears.

“You would have helped kill the man I love! How is that not hurting me?”

I stare at her, my eyes hot as she blubbers and cries. Vince gives me an unhappy look as he slides the gun back into his waistband.

Nicky steps out of the bathroom and hands me a towel, dropping a garbage bag in front of me. “Put it in there when you’re done.”

I dab my face with the off-white towel and the sprinkling of blood peppers the fabric. Vince is on the phone, calling for help.

They need to get rid of two bodies. Somebody must have heard the gunshots.

His eyes smolder when they fall on my mother. She still sits on the floor, wiping her eyes.

“We’ll be watching you, Mrs. Baldino. If you talk to anyone, you’re dead. You will not talk to Adriana. If I find out you’ve attempted to contact her, I’ll put a bullet in your fucking head.”

My heart wrenches with grief when she looks at me, tears flooding her face.

“Adriana, please. My baby-don’t take away my girl!”

“She’s my girl, now.”

She makes an unnatural sound as he bends down and picks me up. “You’re dead to me, Mom. I don’t want to see you again,” my voice shakes with a sob and Vince’s arms wrap around me.

“No, Adriana!”

I walk through my old house for the last time, the sound of my mother’s crying fading away. It’s like a horrible, black cloud sits on my shoulders, and I’m not sure if it’s going to suffocate me or rise through the air.

* * *

Silence.

I hate the quiet. It’s suffocating. Despite the fact that I’m sitting next to the man responsible for the bodies soaking in the trunk, I feel like I’m the monster.

I can’t stomach it. My own mother. I should have let him kill her. A second later, the thought sickens me. Who the fuck am I?

There’s no one left who cares about me. Only him.

“Adriana, talk to me. Are you all right?”

Vince keeps giving me worried looks, like he’s afraid I might have lost my mind.

It’s possible.

“No, I’m not,” I say in a hoarse voice.

“You will be. I’m taking you to a safe house. The other guys’ wives are already there.”

So he’s leaving me there. I’m still numb. “Where are you going?”

“To another safe house while we try to make a deal with Tony. If not him, then his capos. I’m not sure they’re all thrilled about this war. The less you know, the better.”

As we drive by, I find myself wishing I was buried under the snow.

“I can’t believe she did that to me,” I say in a reedy voice that disgusts me.

Don’t fucking cry.

He squeezes my hand. “At least now you know the truth. We found out who your dad owed those debts to. The Rizzos.” His voice rises sharply. “I knew those FBI cocksuckers were lying. I’ll ask Jack about it, see what he knows.”

I blink as tears bead on my eyelashes. I didn’t even think about that yet. All of it seems so far away, now. I’m still staggering from my mother’s betrayal. Tears keep falling, and I turn my head so that he can’t see.

“You’re not alone, Adriana. You’ll always have me.”

His hand tightens over mine until the grip is almost painful. I’m not sure he’s enough. I can’t just survive off one person.

“How’s your mom?”

He exhales a long breath. “Still recovering. She’ll be there, too.”

The car grinds to a halt in front of an unassuming house in the suburbs of Long Island. Vince inclines his head. “They’re in there.”

He looks at me with a grim expression, and I realize this might be the last time I see him.

I launch myself towards the driver’s seat. My arms wrap around his neck as he lets out a grunt. I screw up my face against his chest. “I’m sorry.”Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

“Sorry for what?”

I cringe as he strokes the side of my face. I don’t deserve his kindness. “I almost got you killed.”

“That bastard was going to come after me one way or another. At least you tipped me off. My clever little thief.”

I’m such an asshole. All those times he pleaded with me to stay put, and I didn’t listen to him. He’s always been there for me when it counted. He’s always cared for me. Why did it take me so long to see it?

He tips my head back and kisses me. It may be for the last time, so I pull his face closer to mine when his burning lips touch mine. My hands sweep around his shoulders and bury themselves in his fine hair. Then I reach down, touching his chest, his abs, the firm muscles hardening as my palm sweeps over them. His mouth crashes against mine before he holds me back, his mouth parted and his face flushed.

“This isn’t goodbye.”

“Please don’t take any stupid risks. You’re all I have now.”

The desperation in my voice makes me feel pathetic. I suck in my breath as he kisses the tears from my face.

“Go inside.”