Indebted to the Mafia King
Alarm Bells

Tony

Whenever I'm in Manhattan, I feel uneasy. I don't like to feel out of control. Staten Island is my territory. That's where I feel most comfortable. However, I had to come personally because of an important matter, so I couldn't send anyone on my behalf. As I stroll into the bar Cal uses as his office, I take in my surroundings, noting it looks different from the last time I was here. Now I can't tell if it is a casino, a bar, or a strip club. Or maybe all of it combined. It looks fancy though, and there's a lot of patrons already even though it's still the afternoon.

Some Irish Kings members nod at me as I make my way through the club and head toward the back door where I know Cal's office is. One of his bodyguards opens the door for me and steps aside so I can pass. I go through another door before reaching the hallway. Cal's office is the last door on my right. I knock and turn the doorknob as soon as I hear him order me inside.

"Ah, if it isn't the man himself," he says as a way of greeting, standing from behind his desk and approaching me. He gestures for me to sit on a black leather couch, then takes a seat on a similar couch across from me. "I thought you'd send someone."

I shake my head, sitting down and tossing the manila paper folder I'm carrying onto the desk between us.

"This is a private matter, so I decided to come myself," I tell him, nodding at the folder so he can grab it and check the reports I brought. "I just got these from one of my men. I've been tracing a few calls and wanted to check if you knew this guy, Eduardo Martinez? Ring a bell?" I ask, studying his face.

Cal leans forward and grabs the folder from the table, crossing one leg over his knee and leaning back on the couch as he studies the reports. Dice didn't replace too much on the private number bothering Chloe, but a name and a location is already something.

"Apparently he is a ghost online, but he has ties to Miami," I add.

Which makes sense, since that's where Chloe lived, and probably whoever is after her too. My mind flashes back to the moment I saw the bruises on her skin, and I clench my fists, fighting the urge to punch something.

"I don't think I've ever heard of him, lad," Cal finally tells me, closing the folder, his gaze replaceing mine. I can see a glimpse of a smirk starting to form on his lips, but I dart him a deathly look so he knows better than to attempt to joke about this. "Mind if I ask if this has anything to do with the blonde?"

I tense my jaw, determined not to give him the satisfaction of knowing he's right.

"Yah, thought so. Never seen you go to these lengths for any of the dancers at Aphrodite's," Cal points out, his tone amused.

"She has someone after her," I offer as an explanation.

Cal simply shrugs. "Some of the dancers you banged had boyfriends who beat them up every night like the 9 o'clock news."

He has a point, but I won't indulge him. "This is just business," I dismiss, my tone unyielding. "She is under the protection of the Saints, so it's not like I can turn a blind eye to it. It's my duty as the boss. I'm sure you'd do the same if you were in my shoes," I add, hoping he'll drop the prying and give me something useful.

The ride here has been proven to be a bust. I was hoping Cal would be able to help me, but I'm back to square one. I'll have to do more digging to replace out who this Eduardo is and why he's fucking calling Chloe and scaring her like that. I stand up abruptly, surprising Cal who has been lighting up a cigarette.

"Leaving already, lad?" he asks.

"Can you let me know if you hear anything about the guy?" I press.

Cal nods, puffing smoke into the air. "Sure thing. I've got you covered."

As soon as I slam the door of Cal's office behind me, my phone vibrates on my suit jacket and I reach to grab it, seeing Armando's name on the screen. "Yes?"

"Boss, we have a situation at Lou's," he informs me promptly.

His voice doesn't sound like it is a 'we're being attacked' kind of situation, but it still gets me anxious. I tell him I'll be right there and rush to my car, starting the engine and speeding up toward the expressway. It's a forty-five-minute drive back to Staten Island, but I manage to do it in less than thirty minutes. I'll probably need to have an officer on my payroll to handle the fines I've certainly gotten.

Armando is nowhere in sight when I get to the deli. I rush to my office, and the scene I'm met with is bewildering to say the least. Chloe is sitting on my couch, looking as pale as if she has just seen a ghost. There's an untouched sandwich and orange juice at the coffee table in front of her. Her daughter is toddling across the carpeted floor, carefully balancing on her tiny feet and playing with what I think is one of my office's decor.

Armando is leaning against the opposite wall, eyes on Chloe and Ellie as if he fears someone might show up at any time to take them from under his watch.

What the fuck is going on here?

When he called me, I expected anything to be considered 'a situation'. But this wasn't it.

Crossing my arms, I nod to Armando, gesturing for him to come to meet me at the door.

"What the fuck is going on here?" I ask in a hiss as soon as he comes out into the hallway. I don't want Chloe to listen, but I also don't want to go in there without knowing anything.

"I found her scared as hell out back. After she calmed down, I tried to ask what happened, and all she told me was that she thought she was being followed," he explains. "She hasn't said anything else ever since."

I nod, already aware of her situation. Then I enter my office and head toward my desk, circling it and sitting on my leather chair.

"Take the kid upstairs, and get an ice cream or something," I order to Armando.

Chloe looks up at me with widened eyes, and seems about to protest, but I dismiss her with a shake of my head. "Armando has four kids, he knows how to handle a baby." I didn't mean to sound rude, but by the way she winces, it certainly sounded like it. I inwardly curse myself. I just want to hear what she has to say and see the whole picture. I hate being in the dark.

Armando nods and carefully approaches Ellie, who giggles at him. "I certainly do," he agrees, looking at Chloe. "That's why I know I can't give ice cream to a toddler," he adds in a cheerful tone, smiling at her.

I frown and bite my tongue, caught off guard. I know toddlers shouldn't have sugar, I just meant to say anything to get him and the kid out of here as quickly as possible.

He takes Ellie in his arms, assuring Chloe that everything will be okay and that he will be right upstairs with Lou's wife, who also loves kids, so she has nothing to worry about.

As soon as he is out of my sight and the door is closed behind him, I turn my attention to Chloe. She still looks pale and small, as if she wants to disappear into the couch. I notice how her fingers are tightening the fabric of her floral dress above her knees, her knuckles turning white from the lack of blood circulation.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" I offer softly, gesturing for her to start, and crossing my arms in front of my chest while I wait.

Chloe nods slightly, her beautiful eyes lowering to her lap.

God, how I wish I could walk over to her and take her in my arms. Fuck, my entire body is tense, and for the first time in years I don't know what to do. I need to fucking help her and I promised her I would, but I don't know from what or who. "I wasn't transparent with you the last time I came here asking for your help," she begins, sounding sorrowful. "And that wasn't fair. I just...my ex has people working for him and he wasn't happy that I left Miami. And him, for that matter." I rejoice at hearing she has an 'ex'. But this shouldn't be a moment to feel joy. Get a fucking grip, Tony!

"Okay...and do you think he is here now? To get you back?" I attempt.

Chloe shakes her head. "No, he's not. At least not that I know of. Last time I heard, he was in Columbia."

Alarm bells go off in my head.

Columbia? That doesn't sound good.

"He has guys who can get to me though," she carries on. "Maybe to scare me. I don't think they would simply kidnap me or anything, but still...I don't know what to do. What if they take my baby from me?" She starts getting worked up, and I get to my feet, walking toward the couch. I don't get too close to her, in case she might feel like I'm invading her personal space, but I'm still close enough in case she gets into a panic attack or something.

"My mom thinks everything is okay now, but she is wrong. We're not safe, I don't think we'll ever be safe," she cries, a sob coming out of her throat.

My stomach twists at the sight of her so distraught and vulnerable. It kills me not to be able to kiss her worries away, to reassure her that no one will ever touch her again.

Sure, I made that promise, but what if I can't keep it? I have no idea what we're dealing with here, and that scares the shit out of me.

"I don't think you will tell me his name if I ask, right?" I guess.

She looks up at me, her blue eyes glimmering with tears. "I don't want to get the Saints even more involved. I am sorry I came here actually. I just bumped into Armando by accident, it wasn't my intention to bring you more trouble..." She stands and turns to the door, signaling her intention to leave, but I grab her arm before she manages to escape from my reach.

"You're not bringing me any trouble, Chloe. I told you I'd protect you," I soothe her concerns, or at least I hope I'm doing that. "No one is going to hurt you, and if they try, they will have to go through me first. But you need to let me in on the details."

Every fiber of my being is on fire. My fingers touching her skin are tickling and my body is thrumming with excitement from being this close to her after so long. But I have to shove these feelings and thoughts away. Chloe needs my help, and I can't do that while being distracted.

Her eyes fall to where our body is connected, and I drop my hand from her arm as if I have been burned. I don't mean to scare her. I shouldn't have grabbed her like this, but I wouldn't let her leave like that either.

"Armando will take you both home and stay near your house for a while," I carry on, clearing my throat and changing the subject since I know she won't tell me anything else today. Maybe I can try another day when she is less agitated and on edge. Pressing her to tell me more won't get me anywhere.

As soon as she leaves with her daughter and Armando, I rush back to my desk and call Dice.

"Any news?" I ask as soon as he answers the phone.

"Yeah, Boss. I finally got a return number," Dice tells me. "I was just about to text it to you. Hang on. There you go."

I pull my phone from my ear, and sure enough there is a text message from him with a phone number. I murmur a thank you and hang up on him, dialing the number right away.

After the fourth ring, a man picks it up.

"Eduardo," he answers bluntly.

Fuck. It really is the motherfucker who was calling Chloe.

Eduardo fucking Martinez.

Without even realizing what I'm doing, my mouth acting on its own accord, I snarl to the microphone, "If you don't fucking leave my girl alone, you will have to answer to the Saints, and I'm sure you know how that ends." But of course Eduardo only laughs at my threat.

"Ah, my boss will certainly love this new development. He's been dying for some action," he replies, his tone disgusting as he mocks my attempt to scare him away. If he were in front of me, I'd make sure to punch that stupid laugh down his throat.

"Tell your boss to call me," I order, realizing the alarms in my head were right from the moment I heard the word Columbia coming out of Chloe's mouth.

She messed with the wrong people. The worst kind, to be more precise.

"Sure, Morales will be thrilled to have a word with the man who stole his girl," Eduardo says before hanging up on me.

Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Chloe is involved with a fucking cartel. This is way more serious than I had expected.