Chapter 10 - Stepping Out
Monday morning arrived with brilliant autumn sunlight piercing through the heavy mountain mist.
True to his word,
Dominic had Leo transfer the funds into my bank account at midnight.
My landlord's eviction notice was officially powerless against ten thousand dollars of cold,
hard cash.
Still,
I needed to return to my apartment briefly to pack my essential belongings and officially settle my lease.
Dominic was vehemently opposed to the idea.
"It's suicide,
Nora,
" he argued,
pacing the length of his bedroom floor like a caged panther.
"Vince's men are watching every hospital,
bank,
and apartment complex associated with you.
"
"I am not a prisoner,
Dominic,
and I need my clothes and medical textbooks,
" I countered,
zipping up my jacket.
"I'll take the armored Mercedes,
and Marco will drive me with a loaded shotgun in the back seat.
"
Dominic stopped pacing,
his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might crack.
"If you are so much as scratched,
Marco will answer to me,
" he growled.
The drive down the mountain highway was smooth,
the heavy bulletproof glass shielding us from the outside world.
When Marco parked outside my shabby downtown apartment building,
my heart raced with nervous anticipation.
"Stay in the car,
Marco,
" I instructed,
grabbing my canvas bag.
"I'll be back in twenty minutes.
"
Climbing the familiar stairwell,
I unlocked my apartment door and stepped inside.
Everything was exactly as I had left it five days ago,
yet it felt like a lifetime had passed since I walked out.
I packed my clothes and books into two large suitcases in record time.
As I zipped the second bag,
I heard a faint metallic click behind me.
I froze instantly.
"Don't turn around,
nurse,
" a cold,
unfamiliar voice whispered from the doorway.
May you like
"Vince wants a word with you about his favorite mafia boss.
"
