Immaculate Deception - A Mafia Romance

R

Y CLINIC-NEW YORK

n. Why all the sick and injured creatures that

: wounded creatures

wounded a

vice versa. Sometimes, that's all the medicine it takes

n a "woe is me" kind of way. I just me

. But Roxie, the mutt with the broken back leg who was abandoned on the clinic's front stoop this morning, decided she'd forg

ols of liquid gold and the kind of happily wagging tail that just ne

really late. The clock on th

ust an empty apartment and some Chinese takeout leftover

sonable amount of food. Enough to get her through t

cast stuck out at an awkward angle. But even in her d

lights and lock up. Then I grab my purse and keys from my lock

e, though, the ba

tely bursts open with an ear-splitting WHAM! The soun

ke I'm in those old Tom & Jerry cartoons. My leap carries me stumbl

s when I see a massive, shadowy figur

or a grizzly bear wal

er the grizzly. I have better

the door closed, and leans a

a man. Wh

"What the fuck!" again-whe

face I would have otherwise been able to see in the dim lights. The rest is obscured by a

ice is deep. I can't tell if it'

fist, ready to swing it like a pair of ninja nunchucks if need be. "S

question. "You

a v

height was lost in his slouch against the door. Standing tall, he's six a

eels like a pebble. David had a

," I tell him. "There's an emergency ro

choices and coming up woefully short. S

n quite a bi

ou." His words are spoken with a steely cal

Albanians?" I ask in a timid voice I hardly recognize. "Because

uldn't have

g time ago. Those secrets.

s if I've always known, deep in my heart, that the

s simply h

right time to come

knife in my purse. A lot of good that'll do you again

t in me to carry a gun. Besides-after a while, it all seemed unnece

I though

m not s

gh. I can't tell if he'

demand.

too many questions. Questio

sleeve and I see the reason

es of his forearm. When he moves, fresh

ny closer to know what

e as soon as I say it. What an idi

" he drawls. "I noticed it as wel

e beneath the hood. Not enough to

g eyes... Those haven't l

y throat. "I already told you, I'm a vet. If

ovement. And then he's hol

ut that?'" he repeats. Any hint of

ke my work day is

here his face is hidden. I don't know what I'm

un is very h

s asshole up and the

ds the exam room just down the ha

side. "Sit down and put your gun away," I order.

cared-and I suppose I

e cracked pieces of my heart that the animals connect with. The

best to go along to get along. I'll patch this man

s sake-but

rils: sweat, blood, and beneath all that, a s

w it makes me feel. The less of