Serafina
I was just leaving Jade's apartment to go to work when the cell phone Enzo gave me buzzed in my bag. Opening the passenger's side door to my car, I set it on the seat and pulled out the phone.
Do not go anywhere. Stay where you are and wait for me to contact you.
Frowning, I typed a response.
I was just going into work. One of the girls called in.
His response was immediate.
Sera, do as I say. I will explain as soon as I can.
A second text came in right after.
Tell me you understand.
Oh, I understood fine. But I still needed to go in. He would be angry with me, but I already told my boss I would be there. Besides, I wasn't completely stupid. Enzo had promised me enough money to start a brandnew life... when he was done with me. But what if something happened between now and then? What if he decided I wasn't worth it, or changed his mind for some other reason? What was I going to do then? March into his hotel room and demand my money? I almost laughed out loud. He was mafia. If he lost his infatuation with me, or I did something to offend him, he'd put a bullet through me without thinking twice about it and my body would disappear, never to be found again.
I dropped the phone back into my bag, closed the door, and walked around the front of the car to get into the driver's side. But instead of starting the engine, I just sat there for a minute, staring out the windshield.
Butterflies fluttered around inside my stomach and my heart pounded behind my ribcage. As cool as I tried to sound via text, the truth of the matter was I was very much affected by the thought of seeing Enzo again tonight. Last night had been hard. I'd spent most of it trying not to cry, and not just because of the physical pain of a man entering my body for the first time, but also because of the emotional rollercoaster I'd gone through. Emotions I hadn't been expecting and that I'd tried very hard to hide. It had all been so... overwhelming, to say the least. I'd almost hated him last night. And I'd almost hated myself for getting myself into this situation.
But this morning had actually been kind of... nice.
No. Nice wasn't the word. Mind blowing. Yeah, that was it.
My phone rang right as I started the car and was about to pull out of the parking lot. I put it back into park and rummaged around in my bag until I found my cell. "Hello?"
"Sera." Enzo's voice was hushed, but no less commanding.
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you answer my last text?"
"Because I'm in my car. I'm going to work." I kept my tone firm. I really needed to make up the time I missed last night because of him. "You can't go into work, Sera. You've been found."
My heart stopped and my entire body went ice cold. "What?"
"My boss found out you're here in Austin. But don't panic. I talked to him and he's not going to turn you in just yet. However, your location has been leaked to the boss. We don't have very much time to get you somewhere safe. You need to lay low today until I figure something out."
It took me a moment to find my voice. "I appreciate that. But I'm not your problem, Enzo."
"Sera-"
"Goodbye, Enzo." I hung up the phone and shoved it back into my bag, ignoring it when it started ringing again, then I turned off the car and ran back upstairs.
It took me all of fifteen minutes to change into jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt and hoodie (so I could hide my hair), and pack my clothes in a suitcase I took from Jade's closet. I left her a quick note, thanking her for letting me stay there and for everything she'd done for me. I didn't sign my name, or tell her I'd be in touch. Because it would be a lie. I couldn't risk any communication once I was gone.
I had cash hidden in a rip in the fabric underneath the couch. No one other than me knew it was there. Not even Jade. I pulled out the cloth tote bag and unrolled it. It looked like everything was there, so I rolled it back up and stuck it down into my suitcase.
Back in the car, I debated stopping by the club one last time to try to pick up the paycheck they owed me. It was the end of the pay period, and they actually paid pretty decent, so it would be a sizable chunk of change I'd be leaving if I just took off.
I ran through what Enzo had told me on the phone. If what he'd said was true, I should be okay to stop there one last time and let them know I was leaving and get the money they owed me.
Mind made up, I maneuvered my way out of the neighborhood and onto the highway, heading toward work.
When I got there, the club was just opening, and the back lot was already pretty full of vehicles owned by the other employees. I pulled into my parking spot, got out of the car, and locked it with my key fob as I hurried toward the back door. The guard assigned to me wasn't there, but I was filling in for someone else and it wasn't on the schedule. He probably didn't know I was coming in.
"Why aren't you dressed for work?"