In Too Deep(89)

I shook my head, perhaps the first time in all the years I'd worked for Sal that I'd ever rejected him so flat out. "No way, Sal. You talked about your rules, but you know I have rules too. I've killed a lot of men for you, and injured some more. But I've never, ever shed innocent blood. That isn't going to change. And Sophie is innocent."

Sal nodded slowly, almost sorrowfully. "Marco, I'm not asking you. I'm telling you. You know, I'm not the only man in the city you have worked for. All of us, well, we are in agreement. Owen Lynch cannot have an opportunity to exploit your weakness. This is an order from the Council, Marco. Sophie White must die."

"And if I don't?"

Sal looked at me as if my IQ had just dropped fifty points. "Then both of you will, by our own hands. Because of your loyalty, and because you've been such a good soldier for so long, I got the Council to agree. You have until midnight tonight. If not, the Snowman goes into the broiler."

Without another word, Sal got up and left me on the park bench. I sat there for another thirty minutes, giving him and his men time to leave the Park. I checked my watch. Three in the afternoon. I had nine hours to make sure Sophie lived.





Chapter 15


Sophie





I was surprised when my phone buzzed just seconds after hitting the send button on my text message to Mark. "Hello?"

"Sophie, is everything all right?"

There was something strange about Mark's voice, it sounded strained and even a bit fearful. "Yes, everything is fine. Why?"

I could hear Mark let a long, shuddering breath go, and his voice sounded much closer to normal, although it was still not quite there. "I need to talk with you."

"Well, you can come by my place tomorrow if you want and we can....."

"Sophie, it can't wait until tomorrow. I need to talk with you as soon as possible. Please, is there any way you can get the rest of the night off? I promise, no deceptions, no hiding anything. But I need to talk to you immediately."

I knew I should have told him no, and that we'd get together the next day. But there was something in his voice that convinced me. "Okay. Where do you want to meet?"

"Your place, as soon as you can. I'll meet you in the parking lot, if that's okay."

"Yeah, sure," I replied, wishing I had given Mark a key. The idea of him hanging out in my parking lot made me feel like an idiot. "Say, a half hour or so?"

"Thirty minutes. I'll be there. Thank you, Sophie."

"It's all right. I'll see you then. Bye."

"I love you. Bye."

His last words stunned me, and I stared at my phone, which dumbly just said Call Ended, 3:04. I went to slip it in my pocket when it buzzed again, and I saw I had a text message. Yes, I meant it. 30 mins. Mark.

I don't really remember what excuse I gave to Juan and the two front house staff about needing to get out, but I knew I was probably going to get an ass chewing from Liam before my next shift. I really didn't care, though. The whole time, all I could think of were Mark's last words to me and then his text message. In my entire life, I'd never had a man say that he loved me before. I mean, sure my dad said it, and my grandfather, but you know what I mean. Driving back to my apartment, I'm glad I didn't run any red lights or hit anyone, I was so busy questioning myself about my feelings to really pay attention to how I was driving. After the secrets and the deception, did I trust Mark enough to give him my heart? While I'd never had a man say he loved me before, that didn't mean I hadn't fallen in love, myself.I thought I had, twice in fact, but both times I'd been hurt badly, and I didn't want to repeat the experience.

I was still undecided when I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment building, and I didn't see Mark's car. My heart dropped almost to my toes before I saw him climb out of a black Toyota pickup, wearing what looked to me like dark blue or black military clothes. My heart swelled in my chest, and I knew my decision. Shutting off my car, I jumped out and ran over to him, throwing my arms around his neck. "I love you too," I greeted him, pushing him back against his truck and mashing my lips against his before he could reply. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Mark pushed me back slightly, his smile lighting a fire inside me. "Well, I guess that's the answer I was looking for," he said, smiling softly. Still, there was sadness in his face, and he looked down at my feet. "Listen, there's a lot we need to talk about, and not a lot of time to do it. Let's go inside, quickly."

Mark reached inside his truck and pulled out a small backpack that he slung over his shoulder while I locked up my car. Holding my hand, he led me up the stairs to my apartment, his eyes darting back and forth the whole time. "What's wrong?" I asked, perplexed. "It's just my apartment building. I mean, you were here just three days ago."

"Inside, I'll tell you everything," Mark replied, pausing at the top of the stairs to look back at me. "Sophie, I promise you, I'll tell you everything, the good and the bad."

Mark turned his back while I unlocked my door, putting his hand on my shoulder once the door was open to go in before me, his hand on his backpack. Once he turned the lights on, he let me in before closing and locking the door behind us. "You don't know how much I regret what happened this morning."