The weekend was almost here, and this was the last day I would try to meet with Rory and go over any notes. I thought it would be easier if I met him at the office rather than his home, so there would be less trouble with Savio. He put me in another bulletproof, black-tinted Range Rover with additional guards driving alongside and behind us. For the first time ever, I understood where he was coming from.
“Shit!” the guard said.
“What’s wrong?” I looked out the back window.
I was praying it wasn’t another shootout.
“Don’t say anything.”
“Call Enzo,” I told him.
“I can handle this,” Agosto said.
He was brought in as additional security from what Savio talked about.
“Maybe we should call Savio.”
“Boss doesn’t need to worry about this,” Agosto explained.
The window rolled down, and a police officer held the flashlight through the window.
“Can you tell me why I was pulled over?” Agosto asked.
“Get out of the car,” the officer said.
“You are making a big mistake.”
“Either you get out on your own, or I can drag you out.”
“Don’t say anything, Mrs. Calabresi.”
Agosto went to open the door, and the officer hit him on the head with the flashlight.
“Arghhh!”
“Hey! What are you doing?” I screamed as I jumped out of the car, and he pushed me up against the side door.
“Shut the fuck up!” the officer shouted.
“Look, we don’t want no trouble,” Agosto said.
“My men are back there.”
“They’ve already been locked up.” The officer smirked, and my mouth opened and closed.
“You can’t do this.”
“I will tell that to your husband.” He put handcuffs around my wrists and yanked me off the door, along with Agosto, and put us in separate cars. My purse with my phone and notes were in the car.
“Don’t talk, McKayla!” Agosto shouted. The officer punched him in the jaw and the side of his stomach.
“Stop!” I yelled to bring attention, but no one stopped. He pushed me in the back of the car. Tears welled in my eyes from the humiliation. As soon as I thought things were calming down, more drama came out.
The light flickered in the interrogation room. My mouth felt dry from repeating myself. I wanted to shout, beat, and kick this arrogant son of a bitch for thinking he could break me. From dealing with Savio Calabresi, the last thing I needed was another man trying to belittle me.
“Who are you running drugs for?” he asked.
“Officer Harris, I’ve said for the hundredth time, I don’t run drugs.”
“I don’t believe you; you have a pretty face and body.”
“I’m a reporter with a very important news organization.”
“You’re married to Savio Calabresi.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“He’s the don of the Calabresi family.”
“He’s a business owner,” I half-lied.
“Do you know how many deaths he’s ordered?”
“I think you’re misplacing your anger onto me.”
“I think I have the correct person.”
“I want to talk to my lawyer.”
“Do you know about the killing of Nevio from the Colombo family?”
“Like I said, I’m a reporter.”
“I can keep you here all night.”
“Where’s my lawyer?”
“Bitch, you think you’re smarter than me!” he barked.
“I know I am.”
He slammed his hand on the desk.
“Look at these photos outside of Sanctuary nightclub that your husband owns.”
He pushed them across the desk.
“I don’t know anything about this place.”
“Funny because this camera took a shot of you and another woman entering.”
“So.” I pushed them back toward him.
“There’s also a shot of Nevio and your husband entering that night.”
“Then you should speak with him.”
“How much is he paying you? Or did he threaten you?”
A flicker of doubt entered my brain that this was a test.
“That’s it, he threatened you? We can protect you.”
“I want my phone call.”
“Too bad. A girl like you could have been some use to us.”
The door burst open, and Rena walked in with my mom and another officer.
“McKayla, are you all right” Rena asked.
“I’m fine.”
“She’s free to go,” the officer told Harris.
“She’ll be back. Savio can never keep them.” Harris chuckled, and I glared at him.
“Let’s go, honey.” Mom passed over my purse, and I saw over twenty missed texts.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Enzo got a call from Agosto, and they told Savio,” Rena explained.
“Is he here?”
“Outside. He didn’t want to come in and cause a bigger issue.”
“Are you hurt?” Mom inquired.
“No, they just kept asking me the same questions over and over again.”
I pushed the door open, blocked out the sun, and saw the black stretch limo parked out front.
“I’m going home with you, Rena.”
“McKayla, you know he’ll go crazy and force you back to his place.”
I sighed and paused before taking a step forward, and the door started to open. I knew he would freak out if I didn’t come right to him.
“You’re right, Rena. Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you later.”
“Be safe, baby.” Mom kissed me on the forehead.
Enzo stood at the car door and held it for me to slide in. I thanked him and fastened my seatbelt.
“Did they touch you?”
“No.”
“I apologize for leaving you in there.”
“They have photos.”
“What photos?”
“Of me, Rena, and Nevio entering the club.”
“They must have had help.”
“Why are you hanging onto me, Savio, if you can’t protect me?”
His eyes met mine. “Can’t protect you? Is that what you think?”
“It’s how I feel.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then help me to understand!”
“You’re a pawn, McKayla! That’s it. Maurizio set this up to show he can touch you.”
“I don’t care about your games!”
“Baby, we’re long past that.”
“I need a bath and food. Just take me home.”
“I’ll make this right.”
“Something tells me this won’t be the last time you have to make up for me getting hurt.”
Once I got out of the shower, I blew dry my hair and curled up with a blanket in my room, watching TV. My head was still hurting from a migraine and then the argument with Savio, and I wasn’t in the mood for any company. It was late afternoon, and Marilyn had cooked spaghetti, roast beef, and salad to avoid me ordering out. Savio was up in his office somewhere, and we hadn’t spoken since we got out of the car a few hours ago.
“Mrs. Calabresi.” Marilyn knocked.
“Come in, Marilyn.”
“I wanted to check on you before I go tonight.”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“I have the food wrapped up if you get hungry.”
“Thanks, but I’m still working off the first plate.”
“If you need to talk, I’m here for you.”
“I know, thank you.”
“Sure. Mr. Calabresi is still in his office.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
I picked up the remote, flicked through the channels, and heard the door shut. Already restless, I wasn’t in the mood to finish working, and I never called Rory back. Joseph texted and wanted the list of what had happened, but I ignored his call as well. I pushed the covers back, rose from the bed, and went to take my plate back to the kitchen. I was half full, and my stomach was stuffed. I came around the corner and almost tripped.
Arf!
“Oh my God! Where did you come from?” I put the plate down and picked up the cutest brown pup I’d ever seen.
“How did you get in here?” I thought aloud and then looked up at the closed door of his office.
I took the plate to the kitchen, held onto the dog, and went to find out what made him buy me a dog.
“Yeah,” he called out.
“Hey.”
“I see you met a friend.”
“What’s his name?”
He shrugged.
“Where did you get him?”
“Rena picked him out.”
“So, this a makeup gift.” I walked around his office, admiring his photos of when he was younger and pictures of his family.
“Call it what you want.”
I jerked my head back.
“Can you ever say you’re sorry?”
“I don’t.”
“When I think we’ve made one step forward.”
“Come here.”
“Why?”
“I’m not about to yell across the room.”
I sauntered over and stood in front of his desk.
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“What would you like to call him?”
“Savi.”
“No.”
I giggled and kissed Savi on the head.
“Yep, I like getting the chance to boss you around.”
“My mother called and yelled at me about you.”
“Really.” I took a seat on the edge of his desk, crossed my legs, and my shorts rose. I noticed he licked his lips and stared at my thigh.
“Eyes up here, big boy.”
“She was pissed, and so was my father. I’m going to have a talk with Harris.”
“Officer Harris?”
“Yep.”
“No killing, Savio.”
“I don’t need to kill him to get my point across.”
“What point is that?”
He stood from the chair and moved between my legs.
“What belongs to me is not to be touched.”
“What about Maurizio?”
“Him too.”
“I don’t like this.”
His thumb skimmed down my cheek as he leaned over and kissed me.
“Did you apologize to Rena?” I backed away from the kiss and watched his expression.
“I promised her a shopping spree.”
“Great, and I’ll pick up some things for Savi.”
“You are not calling him Savi.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I have work early tomorrow, so I’ll be up for a while.” He waved around his office.
“No problem. I’m sleeping in my bed tonight.”
“I won’t even answer that statement.”
“We’ll see.”
I walked out of his office carefree. I was taking a little control back of the situation, and the breaking down of his walls was letting me see a side of Savio Calabresi that no one else was allowed to see.