Indebted to the Mafia King

*Cal*

Heidi and I get dressed as I consider what to do. I check my phone, expecting to see a message from Sam telling me that the path is clear for me to take Heidi home, but he hasn't texted me yet.

I need to keep Heidi here for a little longer, until I know for sure we can head out without the risk of being attacked.

"I'll get something for us to eat before I take you home," I offer, fixing my hair and adjusting the collar of my shirt.

Heidi arches an eyebrow at me, considering my suggestion. I'm sure she must want to go home, and I can't deny I also want to be alone so I can find out who the fuck was following us earlier, but unfortunately, she'll have to wait. Reluctantly, she scoots back on the couch. "Fine, I'm starving."

"Want me to order some pizza?" I ask, grabbing my phone and opening the delivery app.

"Yeah, I could eat some pizza," she agrees.

Her cheeks are still flushed from our previous activities. Seeing her skin glowing like that makes me want to do it all over again. Fucking her bent over my desk wasn't something I had even imagined until I was doing it. I've never mixed business with pleasure before, and I never once brought a woman into my office.

Until Heidi.

It frightens me a little to realize how much of an effect she has on me. I didn't even hesitate before bringing her here.

The pizza takes approximately an hour to arrive, for which I'm grateful. It's more than enough time for me to receive an update from Sam. When I'm grabbing my third slice of pizza, watching as Heidi licks her lips and savours the melted cheese, my phone beeps in my pocket with a text message from him.

"All clear, Boss. You can take her home now if you want. We'll follow just in case you need us, but there's no sign of them around anymore."

It's not exactly the message I wanted to receive, but it'll do for now.

I'm sure whatever information he got from all of this, he will tell me personally later.

I text a quick reply, telling him I'll be on my way out in fifteen minutes, and then focus my attention back on Heidi as she finishes a slice.

For a split second, I find myself wanting to take her back home with me instead of to her apartment. It's an unfamiliar feeling to me, but I choose to blame it on my sexual appetite. It's like I can't get enough of her, and that's the easiest path to follow at the moment.

I can't-and won't-get attached to her.

Or anyone for that matter.

I saw how fucked up it was for Tony and Chloe, how much they suffered to be together, and that's not something I aim to do to myself. Or Heidi, for that matter. She deserves so much better. After everything she went through, I hope she can get all the happiness she deserves and everything she ever dreamed of.

But selfishly, I also want her for myself.

All of her.

Even though I know I can't have it.

"Is everything okay? You look distracted," she points out, her sweet voice pulling me out of my thoughts.

I look up to see her blue eyes staring at me intently, although there's a small smile on her face. "Yeah, I'm just a bit tired," I tell her.

Heidi nods, wiping her mouth with a napkin. I imagine myself doing it with my tongue instead, but I shake my head, pushing away that thought for another moment.

"We could both use some sleep tonight," she agrees. "That's why I want to go home. Because I know staying with you will be anything but relaxing," she laughs, leaning her head back slightly.

"I can do relaxing," I joke, although inwardly I must agree with her. There's no way I can have her by my side, in the same bed all night, without getting in a few more rounds with her.

"Right, of course we can," she muses, her smile widening even more.

As I told Sam, fifteen minutes later we're heading out of the bar through the back door. My car is still in the same place I left it when we arrived.

"Why are we taking the back door?" Heidi asks, confused.

"It's the best way to leave without walking through the bar filled with clients," I lie.

She seems to buy it without pressing me for more answers.

The entire drive to her apartment, I'm on full alert, my eyes shifting back and forth between the rearview mirror and the side mirror to make sure we're not being followed. I spot Sam's vehicle a few cars behind us, which leaves me a little less anxious, but knowing someone might be following us and finding out where Heidi lives still leaves me on edge.

I park in front of her building a couple of minutes later, and she turns to look at me, her eyes sparkling.

"I had a really nice night," she says softly.

It astonishes me how she can be both endearing and fucking hot at the same time. The way she's looking at me almost makes me change my mind and drive us to my penthouse instead. But I respect her wishes and allow her to go, at least for tonight.

Tomorrow may be another story.

"I had the best time," I reply firmly. "Can we see each other again?" Anticipation creeps up on me. Why am I so eager to see her everyday now? The sex is fucking good, I know that, but is this the only reason why I want to spend all my free time with her?

"Uh... sure, I guess," Heidi replies, a bit hesitant. Her face screams surprise, and I know she must be wondering why I'm asking her out everyday.

I don't even recognize myself.

"Unless you don't want to," I add, unsure.

"Oh, no!" She dismisses me immediately with a dramatic wave. "That's not what I meant. I just didn't think you'd want to see me again after today," she confesses.

I frown at her. "Why not?"

"I don't know." She shrugs, a chuckle escaping her beautiful lips. "I thought you'd get tired of me after one night, but technically, we spent two nights together, so... maybe I was wrong."

"You were," I admit, my voice firm and my expression resolute. "I want to see you as much as you allow me." Her cheeks redden with embarrassment, and it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

"Okay then. I'll text you tomorrow." She leans forward, kissing my lips, her hand already on the door handle.

I deepen our kiss, finding her neck with my hand and keeping her trapped against me. It's only when I hear a honk behind us that I let her go.

"I'll be waiting for your text."

With that, Heidi leaves the car, and after I make sure she's safely inside, I head back to the bar.

Sam meets me in my office with Hunter on his tail. "What did you get?" I ask, not waiting for them to start the conversation.

I sit in my chair, pictures of Heidi naked on the desk in front of me occupying my mind for a split second before I force myself to focus on the two men inside the room.

"They are indeed the cartel. It's the same car that attacked us on Christmas' Eve," Sam begins, making himself somewhat comfortable on the couch.

Hunter remains standing, leaning against the wall beside the door, his arms crossed over his chest.noveldrama

"Okay, we already knew that," I note.

"They were driving around the neighborhood, clearly looking for you, but once they realized something was off, they left," he explains.

"Did they see you?" I ask with my brows creased.

Hunter shakes his head. "No, but I think they knew we were watching them. We waited to see if they would head back to their headquarters, but they stopped at a motel, probably to try to outsmart us."

"Do we have any news from Mouse and Pirate on that unknown number?" I recall.

Both shake their heads, their mouths turned down in disappointment at telling me something I don't want to hear.

I nod, trying to decide on our next move. We have nothing on them yet, and Tony hasn't reached out to let me know if he found out anything new, which is a sign he must be on the same page as us.

"Let's keep an eye on the bar and the surroundings," I order. "Make sure every establishment and business we own has the security reinforced, without catching more attention than necessary. Let's keep it quiet but also keep our eyes wide open. I don't want any more surprises."

Both men nod sharply in agreement.

It frustrates me to know so little, but for now, there's nothing more I can do. I get some work done and then go back to my apartment.

I sleep well for most of the night, except for some nightmares of faceless men getting to Heidi and taking her away from me. But other than that, the other dreams I have with her are enough to make me forget about the cartel for a while when I head to work the next morning.

Heidi hasn't texted me yet, so I have no idea if she plans on meeting today, but since I don't want to suffocate her, I decide to focus my energy on my businesses, which are somewhat lacking my attention lately.

Most of the day goes by with me driving from bar to bar, casino to casino, port to port, checking on things and making sure nothing happened that I'm not aware of. A couple of meetings are the last thing on my list before I head back to my office, eager for a shot of whiskey.

As soon as I step inside, I greet Ian, who's preparing to open the bar, and my phone buzzes in my pocket. A text message from an unknown number pops up on my screen, making me clench my teeth hard as I read it. "You will do well to protect what's yours."

"What the fuck?" I mumble to myself, my jaw tense.

"All good, Boss?"

I rush to my office, not caring to answer Ian, my mind racing a thousand miles per minute.

Should I warn Heidi? Should I tell her someone might be watching her, following her steps? Should I check on her?

I don't want to scare her, but right now, I know nothing. I have no control over the situation. I can't protect her.

It's too late to step away from her and whatever we have going on between us. The cartel must already know she means something to me, and they won't let go of it now that they know they are in control. I don't know how long I've been in my office, brooding, when there's a knock on the door.

"Yes?" I grumble.

Clara pops her head into the room. "Sorry to disturb you, Boss, but your girl is at the bar upstairs, probably waiting for you."