A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

She stares at me as if I have sprouted wings on my back. “Wait, you fucked her already?” When I don’t deny it, she closes her eyes looking up, inhaling a deep breath. “Shit.” When she opens her eyes again I can tell she has made up her mind. “So, what do you need me to do?”

***

I feel like I’m finally able to focus on the tasks Nico set out for me when I know Gianna is safe. Knowing Marina is having Elijah pull some strings in Chicago to keep Enzo busy helps me to relax. She fills me in on what is going on, and having eyes on Enzo allows me to ensure he stays the fuck away from her.

I know this favor will cost me big time but I don’t care about the price. I just need to work on setting everything in motion now. Upon Nico’s arrival, we sit down to discuss what we are going to do about the shipments we passed through Los Angeles. Now that Antonio is gone, he needs someone to help work the few remaining ones on our contract before we can call it quits. Knowing he has limited options on who to send, I step in offering to oversee them myself.

“You know you will be gone for two months right? I mean, you could fly back and forth but that might raise too much suspicion. You will have to lay low while you're there, it will be hard enough to get the shipments through unnoticed with Antonio not there to help slip them through.” I nod knowing exactly what I am signing myself up for. “Why do you want to do this?” He watches me trying to figure out why I would not only agree but be so willing to go to L.A. to hide out while arranging shipment deliveries.

“Just a nice change of scenery I suppose.” I shrug my shoulders carelessly. If I were to tell him about Gianna, he wouldn’t allow me to go. In fact it would be the opposite; he would do everything in his power to keep me from her. Knowing what would be at stake he would order me to drop it, to get over her, and move on with my life.

He watches me silently for a few more minutes and I almost think he is going to decline sending me. Not entirely sure he believes me but trusting me anyway he drops it. “Okay then, I need you to leave tomorrow. We have a shipment the following day that needs to be worked out. You will have only a handful of men at your disposal, so watch your back.” Nodding I left his office, eager to see her again.

Present Day and Time

Working through all the final details for this shipment with our men takes time. With not having the resources we have back in New York, the men, and the behind the scenes security of Elijah clearing the way, it’s a little more work to ensure it goes smoothly. I’m on edge the entire time, knowing the slightest wrong move would draw attention.

When we are finally done, I take off, since it's already late and dark I head over to Gianna’s, not having to worry about the risk of being seen. Making my way up her fire escape to her window, I slip my knife under the window seal, flipping the lock. As I pull up on the window it doesn’t budge. What the fuck?

As I inspect the window, I don’t see any reason why it shouldn't be opening. That is, until I notice the two slabs of wood she has jammed at both sides of the window track. Braced against the windowpane and the top of the window seal. I groan at her for being such a pain in my ass. Of course she is going to make this hard.

Grabbing out my phone, I dial her number. After a few minutes she finally answers. “What do you want?”

“I see you’ve added some extra security measures to the place.”

“Yeah, I thought it was necessary to keep any unwanted guests out.”

“Gianna, open the damn window. We need to talk.”

“Actually we don’t, I don’t have anything to say to you, and you have nothing I want to hear.”

Trying to contain my frustration with her, I draw in a deep breath. “Gianna.” I say her name in warning.

I see motion from the corner of my eye inside her apartment. Looking up, I see her walking into the living room and over to the window in front of me. Just as I think she is about to remove the pieces of wood, she grabs hold of the blind’s string, flipping me off as she draws them closed just before the line goes dead.

13

GIANNA

The moment I flipped him off felt like a small victory as his smug expression was wiped off his face. Feeling proud of myself for having thought of using the wood to bar the window from being open puts a smile on my face. I had thought he would blow up my phone after that but it hasn’t rang again yet. I shrug to myself, he probably just left like before.

Settling down on the couch, I lean my head back as I debate whether or not to go out tonight. The loud crack of splitting wood along with a thump sounds as something strikes the door hard. Busting the hinges as it flies open at the force slamming into the wall behind it. Startled, I fly off the couch at the intrusion, landing on the floor.

Daveon enters through the now broken doorway. Irritation painted clear over his face as he scans the room. Jumping up from the floor I throw daggers at him with my eyes. “What the hell are you doing?” His eyes land over me as he makes his way towards me.

“I said we needed to talk.” He grinds