Hearts Divided: A Mafia Love Triangle Volume 1

Chapter 12 - Cain

I shut the passenger door and breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't react more violently. I half expected her to shriek or bolt as soon as she saw me, though it would have been difficult with the high heels she wore. I made a conscious effort not to leer at her legs while she sat on the bench, knowing my sick thoughts.

I secured my seatbelt as I sat in the driver's seat, stealing a glance at her. Our eyes met briefly, filled with uncertainty. She quickly looked away as I turned on the ignition and drove off. The hour was not late, and daylight still flooded the streets, but it bothered me to see her sitting alone on that bench. I was left in the dark about what happened at the police station, and Eric and I didn't have a chance to talk more about it. He simply texted me, saying we would meet later at my restaurant.

Fortunately, the city was not as packed with people as usual. The silence between us was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, but her fear was radiating off of her and making me feel sick to my stomach. I had killed countless people before, so I couldn't understand why her fear was affecting me so deeply. At a red light, I noticed her trembling and huddling closer into her coat. Without looking at her, I adjusted the temperature in the car. As we drove on, she seemed to relax a bit. Even though I wasn't making eye contact, I could sense her glancing at me occasionally with a look that hinted at wanting to say something.

"I know you have a lot of questions,"  I began, eyes still on the road, "but they will have to wait a while longer.".

Her silence confirmed Kristopher's earlier warning - I should not have pressured her to come with me. In hindsight, it would have been wiser to wait until tomorrow. It was highly unlikely that she would speak to me at all tonight. I regretted my actions, but at the time, I didn't see any other choice. It was unusual for someone to not respond when I asked a question or simply disregard me. I desperately wanted to know what she had disclosed to the police.

Eric had definitely intervened on my behalf; he must have talked to her, or else I would have been stuck at the station for hours. I silently praised myself for agreeing to his involvement. Without him, running our illegal activities would have been much more challenging, if not entirely impossible, especially with the increased surveillance on me. Thankfully, it was only a matter of weeks before I could clear my name completely.

I pulled my car to a stop in front of the restaurant and glanced over at Scarlett.

"I figured a dinner would be the perfect time to chat,"  I lied to her.

Bringing her here wasn't purely for the purpose of conversation. I wanted to extract more information from her, and if she refused, I had alternative methods. No one in the restaurant would bat an eye if anything were to occur. I was familiar with every patron who entered this establishment, and they all had their own affairs to attend to.

I received a nod in response to my question, but no verbal answer. I climbed out of the Hellcat and walked over to the other side, opening the passenger door and extending my hand once more. She took it again, without hesitation.

"I promise nothing bad will happen to you,"  I lied again, sensing her lack of interest.

It struck me that Scarlett was meticulously memorizing her surroundings, as if anticipating a potential threat. Repressing a wry amusement, I resisted the urge to giggle. The notion seemed almost comical to me—if my intentions were so dark, she could barely afford the luxury of a moment to consider escape or call for help.

Despite the stressful situation, she remained remarkably composed. Most people in her position would be searching for a way out and worrying incessantly, but she seemed unfazed. I couldn't help but admire her demeanor silently.

"Why don't we head inside?" I suggested it nonchalantly. "The temperature seems to be dropping, and I don't want you catching a chill," I added.

I let her lead the way, my gaze once again roaming over her body. The fact that she didn't know I was doing this only fueled my inclination. I was far too captivated by her and found it impossible to resist.

Considering the conversation we were about to have, I knew I couldn't give in to my desires and bend her over the first table I see. My mind needed to focus, but her alluring walk kept distracting me, making it difficult to think straight.

Trying to push away the intrusive thoughts, I only made them stronger. I escorted her to my regular table before excusing myself and heading to the restroom. I hoped the brief break would help me regain composure. As I leaned against the smooth marble counter, I couldn't help but admire how Kristopher and Skyler had transformed this place from a run-down dump into a charming establishment that catered to all tastes. My cousin had been given free rein to decorate the women's bathroom, but everything else was designed by both of them.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, sending Kristopher a few messages:

If the coffee shop isn't busy, head to her workplace and retrieve her car from the agency. You already know where she lives.

I anticipated this, so the car is already waiting in front of her house.

Perfect

We'll be there soon.

I haven't talked to her yet.

Before I left the bathroom, I quickly sent him one more text and then shoved my phone into my pocket. It buzzed once more, but I ignored it. When I turned to her, she was furiously typing away on her own phone. My mind immediately jumped to Blaze, wondering if they were in some kind of texting battle. But I pushed thoughts of him aside; I had bigger things to worry about, like finding out more about the person who would be accompanying me to that important event. Scarlett could either willingly tell me what I wanted to know, or there was a less pleasant option.