“It’s my job. Well, mine and Giovanni’s. We don’t let anyone get close to Bash without having a full background check done on them. It goes further than that. We do an extensive look into their lives. It’s so we know where they come from and what their motivations are. I knew about you before you even knew I existed.”
“Fuck.”
“Regretting the twat waffle comment yet?” Bash looks all too amused with himself.
“No. If anything, I think he’s even more of one. I mean, who does that? Let someone sit here and think they are going to die. You two should be ashamed of yourselves. I should tell Sofia about this.”
Bash smiles. “Maybe you should tell her who you really are first. I never mentioned it because I thought she knew and was protecting you, but now it doesn’t feel right knowing something I know will affect her so deeply.”
“I plan to tell her tonight, along with Izzy and Matt.”
“Hold up. Izzy doesn’t know?”
I glare at Lo. “I told you. No one knows. What part of that didn’t you understand? Are you dense?”
“Fuck.” Bash smirks. “I might need to let you two fuck this out and get it over with. The tension between you two is palpable.”
“We aren’t fucking.” Oh yeah, I’m bitter about it too.
Bash catches wind of my tone and changes the subject. “Do you still want the job?”
I look back to him. “Yes.”
“No.” Lo speaks at the same time as me.
“This isn’t your decision. Its mine. Bash, I accept your offer.”
I look at Lo as he grits teeth.
“Good deal. I will let Sofia know you took the job. Obviously, you will be with Dr. Fields until further notice, which means you won’t be able to work at Bello Italiano.”
I hadn’t thought about it, but it makes sense.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Bash. Oh, and thank you for not killing me.”
A sinister smile covers his face. “Don’t thank me yet. You still have to tell Sofia. Depending on her reaction, I might have to kill you.”
I chilling feeling runs down my spine, and Lo reaches out to rub my back.
“You’ll have to kill me too, Bash. She’s under my protection. Even from you.”
The shock on Bash’s face is surprising before he covers it up.
“Of course. I was kidding. Go on your two. I have work to do.”
∞∞∞
“Just so we’re clear, I am not complaining, but what’s up with this impromptu girls’ night?”
Matt groans at Sofia’s words.
“Sorry, Matty boy. Just face the truth, you’re one of us.”
Izzy accentuates her statement with a wink, and he groans louder.
“I’m going to lose my man card if I continue to hang out with the lot of you.”
I want to smile and laugh with them, but with all the thoughts weighing on my mind, I just can’t bring myself to do it.
