Five Wrong Moves

  Five Wrong Moves

  Escaping the Mafia, 5

  S.G. Zertuche

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 S.G. Zertuche. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the copyright holder, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews

  The following story is for entertainment purposes only. This book may contain strong language, sexual, and/or violent scenes. Reader’s discretion is advised.

  Contents

  1. Adeleigh

  2. Adeleigh

  3. Adeleigh

  4. Bo

  5. Adeleigh

  6. Adeleigh

  7. Bo

  8. Adeleigh

  9. Adeleigh

  10. Adeleigh

  11. Bo

  12. Adeleigh

  13. Bo

  14. Adeleigh

  15. Bo

  16. Adeleigh

  17. Bo

  18. Adeleigh

  19. Adeleigh

  Escaping the Mafia

  About the Author

  Also by S.G. Zertuche

  1

  Adeleigh

  Andy stuck his head around the cracked open door of my new office. “Hey, Addie, I need you to run down to The Mustard Seed and pick up lunch for Bo and me.”

  “No, thanks, I’m busy. Send one of the guys,” I shot back. The Mustard Seed was a popular sandwich shop that served up some of the best tasting subs in Chicago. It was just a few shops down from where we were located.

  “The guys are all out on jobs,” Andy replied as he leaned against the door frame.

  “Well, then send Bo. It’s not like he’s doing anything.”

  What I had thought was going to be an uncomfortable morning dealing with the new hire, who was the reason my office had been relocated to the supply closet, had actually turned out to be the complete opposite.

  Bo Donavan had shown up ten minutes late and disappeared behind a closed door without bothering to introduce himself.

  No ‘hello.’

  No ‘how are you.’

  And definitely, no ‘nice to meet you.’ But did I really expect any type of niceties from a man I had never met before? The answer was a big fat no.

  One time, right around ten-thirty in the morning, I thought I heard his door creak open, so I got up, rushed to my closet door, and shut it. Even though I was curious as to who exactly Andy’s long, lost “best friend” was, I also wished he would fall off the face of the earth.

  Andy sighed. “Come on, Addie. Don’t be that way. Bo is busy.”

  I raised my eyebrows and looked at him. “Explain to me again why he is here?”

  “I swear you’re like a dog with a fucking bone. I already explained when we got here this morning. I’m done repeating myself,” Andy griped as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and glanced at it.

  When I sighed, he slid the phone back into the pocket of his jeans.

  “You do realize I find this entire situation odd, right? Not once have you ever mentioned this guy before, and now you’re telling me you all were best friends? That makes zero sense. If you guys were such great friends, why don’t I remember him? Besides, I thought Eric was your best friend?” I asked, referring to his college buddy, who now worked for the FBI.

  “Bo. His name is Bo Donavan, so stop referring to him as ‘this guy.’ And as I already stated before, he was my best friend in grade school. You don’t remember him because you were just a baby pain in the ass when his dad moved the entire family from Chicago to New Jersey. And Eric is my best friend. A guy can have more than one best friend, ya know?”

  I crossed my arms, hating I couldn’t remember Bo. There was a seven-year age difference between Andy and I. Andy, being the oldest, had experienced an entirely different life before my feet even hit the earth. And I was jealous, especially since our father disappeared from the planet two months before I was born, and I had no memories of him either.

  “And this Bo Donavan has money?” I asked. Andy had already explained Bo did. However, I wanted to hear it again. Mainly because I felt like something wasn’t adding up.

  “Yes, Adeleigh. Bo has money. He comes from a large family with money. When his grandfather passed away, the man left Bo the apartment building you are about to move into as part of his inheritance, which your ass should be thankful for because there is no way I could have moved you into a nice complex like that since you and that dickhead broke the last lease you were both on together.”

  I grunted and threw up a hand to stop him from talking.

  It had been four weeks. Four extremely long, painful weeks, and I still wasn’t ready to discuss Edgar out loud. He took up a lot of my mental space, as I overanalyzed everything that had gone wrong.

  Stupid Edgar. Talk about throwing your heart into a wood chipper. I rubbed a hand over my chest, pressing down gently to remind myself it was still beating. I needed to focus on something else. Such as Andy’s long-lost best friend.

  “So, this Bo Donavan just kindly offered up an apartment for me to move into? Bad renting history and all. And then decided to come work for you. Seems kind of suspicious, doesn’t it?”

  “Addie, you need to stop being so skeptical about the world. Ever since Edgar fucked with you, you are suspicious of every single thing that comes in your direction.” Andy sighed as he crossed his arms and stared at me. “Being suspicious about the world is no way to live. You are only making yourself miserable.”

  I rocked back a bit in my desk chair and frowned.

  “Look, Bo and I reconnected a couple of months back. He is doing us a huge favor by offering an apartment for you to use and helping with the business. Technically, he is not working for me, he invested in the company. We need him,” Andy replied thoughtfully. “You and I both know we haven’t exactly been bringing in the funds. Alan’s Air is struggling, and Bo agreed to bail us out. He is the financial backing we need if we are going to continue to run the business. Can you at least be a little grateful?”

  “You mean he is more like a silent partner?” I asked.

  Andy nodded once. “Yes, a silent partner.”

  “Just so you know, I don’t appreciate being booted to the storage closet so the silent partner can do his job.”

  Andy rolled his eyes and changed the subject. “Are you all packed for tomorrow?”

  “Yup,” I lied as I kept filling out the finance spreadsheet on the computer in front of me.

  “Really? I was going to offer to come over tonight to help. Maybe bring dinner? We can invite Bo.”

  I sighed. “No, please don’t. I’m fine. I don’t need anyone’s help. And Bo hasn’t even made an attempt to introduce himself, which I think is plain rude. Besides, I want to turn in early tonight since the movers are arriving first thing in the morning.”

  “Ma is worried you may not sleep too well on your own.”

  I gave up on the spreadsheet I was working on and rocked myself back and forth in my desk chair again. Maria Moreson meant well, she really did. However, as a single parent, she smothered her only two children to a slow death.

  “Oh, for crying out loud, I’m fine,” I replied, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.

  “Okay, okay, calm it down. I just thought I’d mention it. Now get your ass up, and go pick up sandwiches for Bo and me.”

  I glared at him.

  “Addie,” Andy said with a firmness in his voice that clearly stated he was my
boss, and if I didn’t do what he was telling me, there would be a price to pay. Knowing my luck, he would probably call Ma and report I was misbehaving.

  I grunted and yanked my wallet from my handbag on the floor at my feet.

  “You don’t need to be so pissy about it. I swear if we weren’t related, I would fire your ass.”

  Walking around the table that acted as my new desk, I yanked the cash from his extended hand.

  Andy grinned. “Why don’t you grab a sub for yourself too? My treat.”

  “No, thanks. I packed lunch,” I replied, looking up at him. Andrew Moreson was all large brown eyes, sandy brown hair, and a mischievous smile. I would never be able to understand why my loser brother was blessed with all the good genes. “Let me guess. A ham sandwich, provolone cheese, on two pieces of dry white bread.”

  I frowned. Was I really that predictable?

  Andy laughed. “Boring old lady, live a little. Besides, I’m buying. Just add your sandwich to the order.”

  The urge to dispute my “old lady” ways was on the tip of my tongue, but I heard rustling coming from the room next to mine and decided to save the argument for another day.

  “Fine, I’ll order a sandwich, but only because I’m starving and you’re paying,” I called out over my shoulder as I walked off.

  Someone should inform Andy that submarine sandwiches were not cutting-edge living. But if the man was paying, I was going to order the biggest sub available with nothing on it but ham and cheese.

  2

  Adeleigh

  “How long is it going to take for the movers to get here? At this rate, it might have been faster if I moved you myself,” Andy complained as he looked around the empty living room.

  It was Saturday morning, and we were standing in my new apartment, waiting for the movers to arrive.

  Knowing my brother was overbearingly overprotective, I also glanced around as I tried to figure out what exactly he was seeing. All I saw was a big open space that held numerous possibilities. Possibilities I desperately needed and craved after the mess with Edgar.

  I wasn’t sure how to tell Andy that hidden imposing threats weren’t currently my main concern. My concern was some strange guy appearing out of nowhere and Andy claiming him as his long lost best friend.

  And I was still pissed about the lack of effort Bo made yesterday to say hello. True, I didn’t extend the welcome mat on my part, but that was because the entire situation was shady.

  At mid-day, curiosity had gotten the best of me. Big, bulky men arrived with Bo and then proceeded to parade in and out of Bo’s office.

  Andy acted as if he knew them, calling them Santiago and Phillip. He conversed with them and even passed a few jokes, which they all laughed over. But I, once again, was left out of the loop. They all ignored me, even my own brother.

  The day ended, and I never once saw Bo.

  What I did see was a sleek black Porsche ease out of the parking lot right before five in the afternoon. When I whistled at the car, Andy said, “Oh, yeah. That’s Bo’s car.” To which I frowned.

  “Bo Donavan,” I whispered, walking into the small kitchen that was separated by a waist-high counter bar. The area was small but modern looking with black cabinets, white and black marbled countertops, and all new appliances.

  “The guy who didn’t even bother to leave his office to meet me yesterday … he lives here? In this building?” I asked Andy, giving him side-eyes.

  “Shit, Addie. Are we really going to do this again?” With a raised eyebrow as a response, Andy continued, “Yes, Bo owns the fucking building; and yes, he lives in the penthouse on the top floor. I’m sorry he didn’t get a chance to meet you yesterday at the office, but he was busy getting settled in. Cut the man some slack.”

  I walked back to where Andy stood, glaring at his watch. “You mean Bo was too busy talking to his many friends who kept dropping in to do any type of real work, right? What was that anyways? I mean, who does that on their first day of a new job? You aren’t seriously going to allow that to continue to happen, are you?”

  Andy’s phone pinged. Looking down at the screen, he blew out a breath. “Fucking finally. The movers are here. Why don’t you go downstairs and show them up?”

  I was being dismissed. At this point, I was so irritated with Andy that I wish I could dismiss him. Since I couldn’t, I settled for the next best thing: leaving the apartment to do as I was told.

  Once I reached the elevator, I thought about my relationship with Andy as I waited for the car to arrive.

  My intention wasn’t to be an annoying, bratty, little sister, but Andy’s lack of willingness to give detailed information about our dad’s business was really upsetting me, especially since it was the only connection we had to him.

  After our dad had died, our uncle Silias, our Ma’s only brother, assumed temporary head of Alan’s Air, which he continued to run so Ma had a source of income. When Andy turned fifteen, Uncle Silias started grooming him to take over Dad’s business. Once Andy turned twenty-one, Alan’s Air was completely handed over to him. Ma said it was exactly what Dad would have always wanted.

  It was a proud moment for Andy, Ma, and even me.

  And the first several years, after Andy assumed control, the business had an excellent run. We were bringing in money left and right. Andy had even assisted putting me through college, which allowed me to graduate with my degree in accounting.

  My senior year of college, I began working for Andy. Once I graduated, I assumed a full-time position as Alan’s Air accountant/office manager. Even though Andy held full reign, I had always felt Dad’s business was part mine.

  And it was. Andy would often give me insight as to what decisions he was making about our lively hood, except not once did he ever mention Bo’s name. We needed financial help. I had taken care of the books for a few years now, and I knew we were financially struggling. Instead of telling me, he went out and agreed to hand over a portion of Dad’s business without a word. I didn’t know what to make of it.

  The elevator chimed loudly, announcing its arrival. I was in the process of rubbing at the pain radiating across my forehead when the doors slid open, so I didn’t immediately take notice of the wall of ink blocking my way until it shifted. It was a man. A really tall man, who towered over my five-foot-six frame.

  Thrown off, I froze as my eyes darted all over his body, trying to take him all in at once, but only really seeing the designs that were covering two tanned defined arms.

  I visually traced impressive patterns up to his shoulder and along his neck before letting my gaze fall back down to his biceps.

  Swallowing, I tilted my head back to get a look at his face.

  His jaw and top lip were covered in a dark brown scruff that matched the color of his hair. Cut shorter on the sides and longer on the top; the longer part appeared to have had worked its way loose from being slicked back from his forehead and hung to the right side, barely covering one eye. Every strand looked so soft, and just as appealing to my fingers as the markings on his body. I had the urge to reach out and touch him anywhere, everywhere, but when I saw the scowl in his dark eyes, I took a quick step back.

  A rash of goosebumps broke out along my arms as I continued to stare at him. He was intense. And scary. Dark energy vibrated off him in waves and silently hit the center of my chest. I turned my head to the side and glanced at the hallway I had just walked down. I wanted to turn and run back to the apartment where I knew Andy would save me, but the independent part of me, who was learning to spread her wings, decided to stand her ground.

  Taking a deep breath through my nose, I opened my mouth to say ‘hello’ and was immediately interrupted.

  “Are you getting in or what?” he snapped, clearly agitated.

  I suddenly found myself at a loss for words. Was this the kind of man Bo allowed in his building? Where the hell had Andy moved me?

  “Are you okay?” the man asked, tilting his head to one side.

&nb
sp; Still unable to speak, I raised my hand in response. I was not even close to being okay because I was more than a little scared of the man. I took another step back as I thought some more. Was it the dark look in his eyes, the anger written on his face, or the fact that he was covered in tattoos?

  Edgar, my ex, had openly despised people with tattoos. His extremely opinionated-self claimed they were most often bullies, mean, and aggressive. I didn’t agree with any of his thoughts but often said nothing when he spewed his hate. When his hatred fell on my brother and his then-girlfriend, Andy accused me of being a coward for not standing up for what I believed in.

  Like an idiot, I defended Edgar, saying he was entitled to his opinion, just like everyone else. Andy was livid and walked out the door with Cecila before dinner was even over.

  I had been so angry at Edgar, but I kept it all inside. Again, like an idiot. I was in love. And love screwed with my head.

  As he used one hand to hold the elevator door open so it wouldn’t close, the guy asked, “You getting in or not?”

  “Sorry,” I finally croaked. Pressing my back up against the side of the open doors, as far from his hulking body as I could get, I inched my way past where he stood. Once securely inside, I reached forward, hit the button for the first floor, then dropped my gaze to the tops of my running shoes as I waited for the doors to slide shut.

  His penetrating gaze belonged to me the entire time. What the hell was his deal?

  The doors closed. And as soon as the car began to lower, I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding.

  What was that, Adeleigh? I asked myself as I ran a hand over my clammy forehead. Wiping the beads of perspiration off my face, I said a silent prayer that I’d never run into the man again.