A Mafia Heiress Poured Ice Water Over the Waitress—Then Her Brother Asked for the Waitress’s Employment File

I didn't pack anything. I just ran.

I sprinted down the winding driveway of the estate, ignoring the strange looks from the armed guards. I kept running until I reached the main road, where I flagged down a passing taxi.

"Central Bus Station," I choked out, throwing myself into the backseat.

My mind was a chaotic blur. Leandro's kiss. The black ledger. Arthur's threats. I was completely out of my depth. I had a hundred thousand dollars in my bag—enough to disappear forever.

I pulled out my cell phone to check the bus schedules.

Before I could type a word, the screen lit up with an incoming call. Unknown number.

I hesitated, then answered.

"Maya."

It was Leandro. His voice was frantic—something I had never heard before.

"Where are you?" he demanded.

"I left," I said, fighting back a sob. "Your father gave me money. He told me he'd kill me if I stayed. I'm sorry, Leandro. I can't do this."

"Listen to me very carefully," Leandro said, his voice dropping into a deadly serious register. "Do not go to the bus station. Do not go to the airport. My father didn't give you that money to let you go. He gave it to you so you'd drop your guard."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"The man in the study with him. The scarred one. That’s Viktor. He's my father's cleaner. If you go to a public transit hub, you will have a fatal 'accident' before you ever buy a ticket."

"Oh my god," I breathed, looking frantically out the taxi window. A black SUV was two cars behind us, keeping exact pace. "Leandro, there's a car following me."

"Tell the driver to pull over at the 5th Avenue subway station. Get out into the crowd. I am tracking your phone right now. I will find you."

"Leandro, wait!" I cried, the memory of the black ledger flashing in my mind. "I know what you're doing. I saw the safe. I saw the book. You're working with the Rossis."

There was a heavy, terrifying silence on the other end of the line.

"Get to the subway, Maya," Leandro said coldly. "We'll talk when I have you."