The Carrero Contract - Selling Your Soul (Mafia Romance)

These are not Alexi’s men. These are men who have obviously been watching the club and waiting for an opportunity to arise. I just gave them all of me, with my own stupidity. God knows how long they have been hanging at a distance watching the comings and goings in case they got a chance at picking me off. It’s horrifying to imagine they may have been out here this whole time, waiting for a time like this.

I glance at him moving in and the man from the car is now behind me, blocking my path. Aware of both and my senses telling me how far away from actually touching me they are. More aware of the one behind me as it instils a higher fear factor, but my brain calms and the part that works well in a crisis moves in to formulate an exit strategy. Eyes doing a quick scan of every avenue around me. Adrenaline kicking in and I do what I do best. Lift my fucking feet and run like a bat out of hell crazy woman with no desire to die, to my right, down the alley I had come level with and put everything I have into moving like a whippet on cocaine.

Run bitch, RUN.

I’m a pro at sprinting in heels and tight dresses and I’m pretty swift in my departure. The shock of it makes them hesitate so I get a jump start of seconds. Enough time to turn left down an alley out of sight and then left again, down another space, until I get to a recessed door in the street. It’s a total fluke manoeuvre, fuelled by extreme fear but it pays off. The door is set back enough and in the darkest of shadows where it is positioned. Close enough to jump into it before they catch me up. It's deep enough to press my entire body up against the chipping surface so that when one of them runs past they can’t see me. Shielded in the frame of the opening as my hand scrambles behind me to try to get it open. Hand cupping rusty, rough metal as I get a grip on the handle and turn it frantically. It doesn’t budge at all.

They will come back and check these little nooks when they realise, I couldn’t have gone far. I’m blowing out air dramatically, panting and trying to keep my shit together. Chest burning with the sudden exertion, and breathless as I struggle to inhale air. My limbs are shaking badly, and my feet are on fire from running in heels.

I hear one shout to the other about doubling back; knowing he will come this way only sends me into a terror fuelled frenzy. I start frantically looking around for somewhere else to go. They are too close, and I’m too exposed. I have nothing to defend myself with and everything in me is shaking and stammering with dread and I need to get away.

I spy another door further up the alley, in a darker spot, and take my chance; abandoning my locked haven, I make a second run for it. Pushing myself off with speed, giving it my all, galloping as fast as I can without letting my heels hit the concrete in case they hear it, tiptoes all the way and press myself into that doorway as I had the first as I slam into it. I try the handle, yanking until it makes an odd crunching noise and much to my relief, it opens.

Thank you, God.

I throw myself inside, too hyped up to feel relief, right into the abandoned building as though jumping out of a fire-engulfed window. Desperation in every action and still struggling to breathe any valuable amounts of oxygen.

Dust, cobwebs and dirt clog my lungs as I inhale the musty damp air that clings to my face in the tumble-down interior, stifling a cough as I do so. I manage to wedge the warped door shut again as quietly as I can, pressing against it with my butt and pushing hard. I stand with my back to it, aware there are filthy windows nearby; although dirty and smeared they might still see me if I move out of the shadows. I just hold incredibly still, using my body’s weight to make sure they think this one is locked too if they try it.

My phone vibrates again. Knowing it will be Alexi, my heart somersaults, a little ray of hope, and this time self-preservation kicks in above all else and I grab at it to answer. No hesitation whatsoever now I’m in danger that is not from him.

“Alexi …” I whisper harshly, panting and trying to stay quiet while being heard by him. Voice trembling in hushed husky tones.

“Where the fuck are you? I’m standing in the fucking bar …” he snaps like a madman on a tirade, but I stop him mid-yell, crunching my eyes shut for fear they might hear me. My hands trembling as I cradle it as close to my mouth as I possibly can.

“Shh, please. I’m in trouble, Alexi.” It comes out desperately, my voice a weak, raspy whisper, breaking as tears bite my eyes. Hopelessness washing over me at the sound of his voice.

My saviour. My hero.

There’s a crunch of footsteps in the alley which echo my way and I completely freeze and hold my breath, crushing my phone to my face to mute any external noise from it. Alexi has fallen silent for a second anyway and I just pause, afraid to move a single inch.

“Cam? What are you talking about? Where are you?” His tone does a complete two sixty in his recovery and instead of rage is a deep, genuine concern. That cool, controlled huskiness but with a hint of something that sounds like fear, in a hushed tone as though he senses he needs to be quieter. I wait, listening for the sound outside to dissipate, afraid to speak or draw attention

“Cam? Talk to me … tell me where you are.” Alexi sounds strained this time, the fear overtaking his normal unemotional manner. A hint of panic in that normally cool tone pressing me, but I can’t say anything until I’m sure they won’t hear me. The footsteps seem to be going the opposite way, fading out and I exhale heavily, pulling the screen from my mouth quickly. I may only have seconds.

“I came out front and walked right. I may only be a block away, but they are chasing me. I don’t know who they are. Two men. I’m in an old building that’s left past a parked black car on the kerb and then first left again, I think. I don’t know. I can hear them looking nearby. Find me, please.” It comes out fast and muted, scrambled thoughts confusing my whereabouts. Tears prickle my eyes with sheer anxiety, moisture springing up and bubbling down my face as it hits my cheeks. I know he is close, but not close enough to save me should they find me in here.

They want me and I have no doubt they are the people who tried and failed the first time around. The people Alexi spoke of, who’ve murdered two women already.

Alexi needs to come. I can’t fight them, and I can’t hide forever, they won’t give up if they know I’m close.

“I’m coming, baby. Stay calm, keep your head and find someplace to stay hidden. We’re coming. You, you and you follow me, in my car. NOW … Cam, I won’t let anything happen to you, I promised, didn’t I? Just try to keep your head in the game, don’t fall apart. I’m moving, getting to the car.” I can hear his steps, on the verge of a run, and the crunch of gravel and muffled voices as Alexi assembles his rescue party into vehicles. Giving orders mid-conversation and it’s a relief to know he is moving, acting fast. He’s coming for me.

My baby is coming.

feel safe even though I know he can’t help me right now. I just

until I get there. I’m already

look? I’m in a building, what if the car has moved?” I cry a little more desperately in afterthought as I realise, I don’t know how to navigate him. I don’t know the street names or even how far I

will ever happen to you.” It’s a certainty in his tone, a fierce statement with a hint of that deathly snarl he can pull off easily. He means it and it gives

Will they?

have every faith that he will. I just need to wait until he finds me, and

the fear. Alexi is quiet but I can hear noises on his end as I clutch it to my ear. I think he is checking his screen for my location and leaving the call open, but he isn’t listening. I can hear voices in

to my own otherwise they could creep right up on me and

on the other side of the door. I didn’t hear them approaching and

doors, even

FUCK

is at least ten minutes. By car a lot less, but only if they already have them out of the lot. The

or running my arse out the door screaming on Alexi. I’m just so desperate not to be in this situation anymore. I need to stop myself freaking out and blowing my hiding spot.

clearly through my wooden safety barrier as though they are right next to me and I would put them at standing maybe six feet away. There is more crunching of shoes on loose stones, scraping, which then turns to steps on concrete and I bite on my lip insanely hard to still my pounding heart. I taste blood, trying to quell an impulsive yelp

he opens it, I move too and hide behind it. All he will

he check behind

like I’m having a heart attack and I know all they need to do is get hold of me and get me into that car and we’re

phone but it’s whether he gets to me before they do something. The intention is murder and they might do it right

Shit

with my hand to curb the terrified squeal and I hold my breath again, biting down hard on my tongue to distract myself with pain. My body is against the door pushing with all my might so that when he tries to open it, he meets resistance. I pray he thinks it’s jammed and moves on, but he persists. Nudging, bumping into my spine and heightening my

and wait. Trying to figure out if he has decided it’s locked and is moving on away from me. Too tense to hope for that and just poised and still in a horrible long tense second that

dirty, shrapnel strewn floor in a chaotic throw. My shoe catching on a little step and I’m flung on my knees painfully into the dim light of this derelict prison.

the hair and pulls me forcefully up against him. Dragged to kneeling and flailing limbs

triggers

held captive and already high on the fumes of terror and fear knowing this man is here to harm me. I start fighting back uncontrollably with slaps and kicks as I clamber to my feet, clawing nails at whatever I can reach. Blinded by memory and the will to survive. Screaming my loudest at him so my hero, who I know is coming, can

over my mouth to silence me, an arm around my ribs as I throw my body weight backwards into him to knock

me with enough force to crack a few and winding me in the process. He is trying to reduce

little victim. I’m Alexi’s little hellcat and I won’t

right now and I will use it to both hurt him and let Alexi know they have caught me if he puts it back to his ear. I whack at what I can

only hope in getting out

nails to grab hard and dig into the flesh I manage to cup there. Piercing into softness and digging with all my might. There’s an angry roar as acrylics connect fully and he cruelly yanks my face sideways, pushing my body by letting me go with the arm around my waist. I’m spun towards him and he delivers a brutal slap right across my left cheekbone and eye socket,

the ground to the side

more. Hand sliding over my leg, then ankle and grabbing my shoe as I do so. My wits about me, even

don’t just buy cheap shoes either, with no real strength to the heels. I buy solid expensive and sleek footwear that has enough heel strength to use as a weapon should I ever need it. I learned the value in a good

my shoe so the heel is gaining strength from the palm of my hand. A thrusting motion with intent. It’s

as he yells out in pain and blood instantly spreads around the embedded weapon. He throws another swing at my face, less coordinated but this time I duck, and he catches my hair in

with him and grasps my shoe-wielding hand so tightly he crushes my wrist bone with the ferocity of his anger. He is trying to stop me pushing it in

I will rip your fucking pussy to shreds and enjoy every minute.” It’s a snarl in the shadows and I’m half blinded by the bright light flooding in through the open door behind him, unable to see him properly. Eyes blink at the sudden assault and a blur of dark

wound. My only hope of fighting

my eye across his shoulder as I ponder my fate and try to figure out how else to get loose, but I don’t have the vision to see what it

end of the road now.