Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

My eyes bulge in horror. “Used to it? Will this kind of
thing be happening frequently? Guys will be dropping around
me like flies?”
His voice turns firm. “Natalie. Beautiful girl. Take a deep
breath.”
Forehead resting against the smooth wood tabletop, I close
my eyes and obey him.
“Good. Now do it again.”
I mutter, “Bossy,” but obey him anyway.
After a few moments of silence, he says, “I was called
away on business early this morning. I don’t know how long it
will be before I can come back. In the meantime, you can
contact me on this phone at any time of day or night. If you
need anything, just let me know. Don’t talk to anyone about
what happened except Sloane. And get rid of your other phone
as soon as possible. Today. Understood?”
He doesn’t interrupt my silence. He lets me think
everything through until I’m ready to speak.
When I sigh heavily, he demands, “Tell me.”
“I signed up for this. I said yes—”
“Are you regretting it?”
“Shut up and let me talk, please.”
A low, rumbling growl comes over the line, signaling his
impatience, but he complies.
“As I was saying: I said yes to you. To this thing between
us. To being kept in the dark about a lot of stuff, and basically
living separate lives, only seeing each other…well, whenever
it suits you, if we’re being accurate—”
“For your safety. For you.”
Steaming mad, I jolt upright in the chair. “I’m talking now!
Your turn’s next! Where are your manners, mobster?”
There’s a small sound. A muffled chuckle, perhaps. Then
he comes back on the line, sounding contrite. Also like he’s