Halfway down the marina, Elodie skidded to a stop.

They'd been no house for miles when they drove here, she'd noticed. The road was a long winding one, and thick, tall grasses and trees framed it on both sides. Which meant she'd be a sitting duck if she ran by the roadside.

Her eyes swung up to the nearest yatch to her left, and she was glad when she saw no light on.

It took a bit of effort, and constant glances over her shoulders, but she did manage to get on the rocking yatch, then moved toward the cabin door. Unfortunately for her, it was locked.

Going back down wasn't an option now, because she could hear feet pounding on the wooden plank and rapid Italian instructions.

Elodie dropped into a crouch by the door, heart pounding as the voices drew closer to the yatch she was hiding on.

"Where do you think she ran off to?" Bones asked, sounding so pissed that there was no denying the malice behind his words. If he caught her first, then she was done for.

"She couldn't have gone far," replied another man. "Capo wants her to be found quickly. He's so pissed."

"Probably because she's wasting his time," said Eyes. "I still can't believe that she kicked me in the shin."

Bones chuckled. "You snooze, you loose. Although, the Capo isn't pleased that you shot at her. He'd get back at you for that."

"I think..."

Their voices faded away as they moved further away from her.

Elodie let out a relieved sigh as she sank onto her buttocks, resting her back against the door.

It'll be hard for them to find her here, because they'd think she'd gone off into the bushes or something.

She'd give them a few minutes, then get off the boat. Staying around wasn't wise, seeing as they may decide to start checking the yatchs if they don't find her soon.

If only she could find...

Elodie sat up straighter and hit the power button of the phone she'd forgotten that she was holding. Disgust filled her eyes when the video she'd taken was displayed on the screen. She exited the gallery and went into the contacts list, scrolling until she saw the helpline number Boss had told every angel to call when in trouble.

She dialed the number and held the phone up to her ear, biting her bottom lip.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

She immediately got onto her knees, body locked up in fright as she looked up to see that Angelo was leaning against the railing few feet away from where she was. He was holding a pistol, and it was aimed at her head.

He was still in his outfit from earlier when he was killing that sick bastard, and few flecks of blood still stained his face.

Bones had said Angelo was pissed, but the man standing in front of her looked anything but. His expression was bored, as though this was some tedious task for him.

"Hang up," he told her.

At the same time, her call was answered and Sonia—the operator of the helpline—asked, "Angel E, what may I do for you tonight?"

"Oh, ummm, sorry, Sonia. I must have dialed you without knowing."

"Are you okay? Do you need any help? If you can't speak just mention a random pizza order and I'll track your location right now."

Angelo raised a brow as his right thumb pressed down on the hammer of his gun.

His threat was clear. If she did so much as to say anything suspicious, he'd kill her right there and then. And seeing as he was a man Boss respected and liked a lot, she'd definitely believe whatever cock-and-bull story he told her.

Infusing warmth into her voice, even as her insides raged, Elodie rushed to assure her. "I'm fine, Sonia. Really. This gig is turning out to be the best I've ever had."

"Oh, well, I'll take your word for it."

"Thanks."

"Lay off the booze and don't call unless it's necessary, okay?" She hung up without waiting for an answer.

Elodie lowered the phone to her lap, holding it tight in her grasp. It had evidence, and she'd be so foolish to lose it. "If you let me go, I promise you that I'd keep my mouth shut."

Angelo moved to cross his left leg over his right one, looking so relaxed as the breeze wafting off the Bay surrounded them. "You disobeyed my orders."

Her eyes turned as hard as stones. "I heard someone screaming and I thought that was you. I only wanted to help. But never once did I imagine that you'd be the one doing the killing."

"Are you saying that he doesn't deserve to die?"

"No. No one deserves to die like that. You should have handed him over to the authorities."

Angelo threw his head back and laughed.

Elodie could only watch the mad man.

What was funny in this situation that warranted his mirth?

"You're so naive, aren't you?" He bared his teeth in what could have passed for a smile on a normal person, but just made him look more deranged. "The SBPD pays me to take out trash like that man on my table. No one would do as much as bat an eyelid if you take your flimsy evidence to them."

"You liar!" Elodie clenched her fist, as hatred filled her heart. "You just don't want to go to jail."

He scoffed at that. "Do you even know who I am?"

"Yes," she said. "You're a psychopath. A murderer. A mad man."

"If you think your words have any effect on me then you're mistaken. I've been called worse." He clocked his head, keeping the gun trained on her, still. "You should have listened to me."

She dropped her shoulders, but kept her eyes on him.

Elodie had made a mistake letting Boss talk her into taking this job. The pay had sounded so attractive that she'd over looked the potential danger she'd be putting herself in. It was just her luck that her first diamond client turned out to a killer.

She had never been lucky in life, so why had she thought that this would be any different?

"Look, I'm sorry. Just let me go this once and you'll never hear from me again." She softened her eyes, trying to make herself seem as harmless as possible. "Please, you don't have to do this."

"Indeed...I don't," Angelo replied.

"Then, let me go, please. I promise not to tell anyone about this."

"I think you and I know that isn't an option," Angelo replied in a hard tone that left no doubt that he wasn't going to change his mind no matter how much begging she did.

"How did you know I was here?" Elodie asked.

"I was watching you the whole time. Do you think my men didn't come after you on their own? I wanted to see how far you'd be willing to go to escape, and I must say that I'm disappointed."

As she watched him, a whole range of emotions and increasing alarm ran through her mind; about who Angelo really was and what he was planning to do with her now that he'd found her.

"Are you planning to kill me?" She asked.

Angelo's eyes dropped to the muzzle of his gun, then came back to rest on her. The corner of his mouth shifted into a derisive smile. "Now, tell me why I would do that when I paid a lot for you?"

"If you won't kill me, then why do you need me here?"

"I did pay a large amount of money for your services, and I expect to use my money's worth."

He held her gaze, the implication of his words clear on his, and only replaced it with a stoic look when he he thought she'd gotten his message.

"What do you mean when you said you had the SBPD in your hands?"

"Money can make even the most honest person change. The law will turn a blind eye if their palms are greased."

A paralyzing sensation of despair washed over her.

The more Angelo spoke, the more she was starting to realize the deep shit she'd gotten herself into.

Why, oh, why, hadn't I followed his instructions?

Why did I leave the safety of the cabin?

"Come here," he ordered, voice soft and as compelling as a siren's.

It almost worked. Almost.

"You just want to take away the evidence I have, don't you?"

Angelo cocked his head to the side. "I can take it from you if I want to, and I wouldn't even move an inch from here." He licked his lower lip. "Now, come here."

Elodie slowly rose to her feet, body poised to run at any opportunity. She may not get far, but it was better than not trying. "I'll throw myself overboard."

The corner of his lips lifted slightly, and he seemed to relax even more. "Be my guest."

It was all she could do not to gape at the bastard. He may look like one of those Greek gods she'd read about, and have the body to go with it, but deep down he was just a monster.

"I'll really do it," she threatened, making no move to do as he commanded.

Instead of answering, he merely raised a brow, taunting her.

It was too late to back out now. She was no chicken, and she wouldn't let this son-of-a-gun win. She'd show him that Elodie Evans didn't get to where she was today by cowering in the face of fear.

She turned toward the railing of the yatch after stashing the phone in the bodice of her dress, grabbed it with her both hands, and lifted her right leg, shoulders burning as she hoisted herself up. Then, she was flying through the air, breath held as she braced for impact.

Her body hit the large liquid surface with a painful thud, and she sank down into its icy hands, eyes closed, chest burning with each second she spent sinking. It took her a few precious seconds to start kicking her feet, hands spreading out in a forward stroke as she fought to get to the surface.

Her muscles burned, the weight of her clothes threatening to pull her back down if she didn't hurry.

Then, she broke through the surface of the water, face up as she took in deep, greedy gulps of air, lungs burning with each intake. Her feet still kicked and her hands also continued the strokes necessary to keep her floating. Her eyes burned when she opened them, and she blinked several times before her vision finally cleared.

Angelo was leaning his elbows on the railing now, and was watching her as though she was some circus show.

Elodie broke their gaze, head swiveling right and left in search of an escape route. The more she stayed in the water, the higher the chances she had of catching pneumonia. Cold was beginning to seep in through her bones, and her teeth were clattering.

The closest way to get out of the water was to get on the marina, but what choice did she have?

After taking one last look at Angelo to see that he was still in the same spot, Elodie began to swim forward.

It'd been a while since she'd been in the water, so it was understandable that her shoulders burned with each stroke. Besides, she'd only swam in pools as per Boss's orders and not this large amount of water.

She was exhausted by the time she got to the marina. She used the last of her strength to hoist herself up onto the wooden stilts, and laid back, arms spread out wide as her chest heaved with her exertion.

Why she thought throwing herself into the water was a good idea was beyond her. It had sounded so plausible at the time, but foolish now. She couldn't even muster enough strength to make her stand.

Angelo's dark figure appeared in her line of vision, blocking her view of the starless sky. "That was as entertaining as I'd hope it would be, Elodie."

"Go fuck yourself."

He leaned from the waist, putting himself a few inches away from her face. "I'll let it go, just this once," he said, tone very calm. "Disobey me again and I promise you that you'll lick the soles of my shoes while you beg for mercy."

Her eyes caught on the pistol, still held loosely in his right hand.

Maybe it was the thought that her death would go unnoticed if Angelo decided to add her to the many bodies he'd amassed, or the adrenaline simply coursing through her veins—and Mace, who would take care of him if she died?—but whatever it was,  Elodie forgot his warning, and did what she needed to in order to survive.

She lunged for his weapon.

Angelo moved with the precision of a king cobra, catching her wrist with his other hand, and holding it in a crushing grip that made her wince.

He shook his head ever so slightly, two twin lines appearing between his brows. "I did warn you about crossing me again, didn't I?"

Elodie opened her mouth and...spat in his face. "Go to hell."

His nostrils flared as her saliva dripped down the bridge of his nose. "Cazzo puttana," he said, voice as hard as steel. "You seem to take pleasure in disobeying me."

She bared her teeth at him. "Go fuck yourself, you psychopath."

Elodie saw the butt of the gun coming toward her chin even before it made impact.

A/N:

Hmmm. What a chapter, right?

I apologize for the delay in update of this chapter. I've been busy, thats why.

What do you think of this chapter?

Was Elodie wise to have provoked Angelo like that?

Do you think he'd let her live as he'd promised?

What do you think would happen next?

Don't forget to vote, comment and share❤️