Mobster's Gamble: Chicago Mob Series Book 1 by Amy Rachiele, Christine Leporte Page A

can’t stay.” Julius is chewing and swallows when he asks, “Where do you have to go?”
    “I have to go back.” He shakes his head and it’s evident that he thinks my request is ridiculous. And I get it. I’ve had my medical needs tended to, I’ve been fed, and put in a comfortable place. “Everything comes with a price.”
    “You think Carlo’s family and everybody who works for him expects something back from you?”
    I nod. “It’s not just that. I realized something over the past few days.” Enraging Priest, him bringing in false members, and my blatant disrespect of him has upset the small balance that we had. Emotions war inside me. It has become abundantly clear that it hasn’t been Priest keeping the followers together. It’s been me. “The people of Anointed Heavens aren’t safe without me there.”
    “You aren’t safe being there!”
    He is right.             

Chapter 16
Carlo
     
    “What the fuck is your problem?” In all the years I’ve known Doc Howie, and it’s been a lot of years—since I was a child—I don’t think that I’ve been as pissed at him as I am right now.
    Pop whacks me in the side of the head. “Watch your mouth! You don’t talk to the doctor like that, he’s family. I raised you better.”
    “Sorry,” I mumble.
    Pop looks at Doc Howie. “She can stay here as long as you feel she needs to. If she were my daughter, I would want someone to look out for her. She needs an escort though. My rules are my rules. I don’t want her in any high-security areas and she’s not to learn any passcodes.”
    “Should I put a fucking bag over her head too, Pop?” I can’t help my sarcastic nature. I’m angry and I don’t mean to be. Shit is coming out of my mouth like diarrhea.
      Doc Howie’s features turn into a dark mask. “This is exactly why you need to stay away from her. Your personality is going to send her running out of here and straight back into the arms of the people who almost killed her.”
    The thought of Priest touching her makes me nauseous.
    “Carlo! Stay away from her.” Pop’s eyebrows are raised and his lips are twisted in a downward frown. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but I’ve been hearing rumors that you haven’t been sleeping.”
    I have no argument for that. I haven’t been. The most sleep I’ve gotten is about three hours at a time and maybe that’s my problem—it’s catching up with me.
    “Today’s a slow day.  Take an afternoon nap, clear your head. I need you at your best especially when the weekend rolls around again. Alex can take over.”
    Pop turns to Doc Howie.  “Have Bobby relieve Julius when it’s time.”
    Pop waves his hand in our direction, dismissing us. In the hallway, Doc takes out his cell phone.
    “How she doing?” he asks into the receiver.
    “I see.” He pauses. “If she feels she’s well enough, I don’t see a problem. But after that she really needs to lie down.”
    I am losing control. All the shit is going on around me without my consultation. The doctor turns to me. He opens the bag he is carrying and pulls out two small white pills.
    “Take these. The way you are wound up you will never fall asleep on your own.” I let him drop the small pills into my hand and he strides away. I spin on my heel and walk down to the end of the hall to my personal apartment.
    Inside, I head directly for the faucet in the kitchen. I grab a plastic cup off the back of the sink and fill it. I take the pills two at a time washing them down. I rip my cell phone out of my pocket, switching the ringer off, and strip down to my boxers right there, tossing my clothes aside. Housekeeping has been here and my bed is already made. My heart rate is high, I notice, as I throw the covers down the bed and climb in. I lie there facing the ceiling with my hands cushioned behind my head, not an ounce of sleep is coming. Too many things are running through my mind. The security shifts, the