Page 95 of The Gangster King

He always has.

And I’m smirking back at him.

Oh god.

I love Dante Baldassare.

This is a disaster.

TWO HOURS LATER I’m on a Greyhound bus heading to California. Sixty hours to go and I’ll be starting my new life.

Leaving home was as easy as I expected. I’d run back home so I guess my father never planned for me to run away again. And I’ve never been disobedient, so he probably thought I’d stay and marry Roger.

Plus, the house is surrounded by guards...but what he didn’t think about was telling them to keep me inside the property.

I come and go like any normal free human.

Free, used loosely.

Dressed in a black cap, leggings and a black sweatshirt, I greeted the soldier at the gate. “Morning, Jackson.”

“Ms. Baldoni. Heading out early?”

“Going to a hot yoga class with the girls. Can’t believe they talked me into this.” I said, glancing at my smart watch.

It was just after quarter to six. The sun was still rising.

He snickered. “Better you than me. I hear it’s, um, noisy.”

I giggled. I knew he meant all the flatulence.

“Wish me luck,” I said as the gates silently slid open.

Then I pulled out onto the road...and to a life of freedom.

I’ll be honest, I let out a squeal of excitement despite everything. I’ve been planning this for years, so it didn’t take any effort to enact my escape plan.

I drove my car to a parking lot, unloaded my bags, then walked to the train station. I caught a train and then walked to the bus station where I bought a ticket.

Twelve long minutes later I was on board and shaking light a leaf.

I’d done it.

I was free.

No more mafia.

No more...Dante.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

DANTE

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I sit and wait and watch. Like a stalker.

She is my prey.