My Head Is Worth $10 Million

"I don't understand what's going on! Since when I saved this Michael Carlito? I don't even know him for Christ's sake!" Lina was confused and at the same time, frustrated that she stuck in such a terrible mess.

"I'm bringing you to see Michael Carlito now. I guess he will enlighten you on your questions personally. Just be patient." At this moment of time, Donaldson had driven the Cadilac SUV out of Los Angeles downtown and was heading towards Santa Monica. "After all, you did save his life. That's for sure."

There was not much traffic in the middle of night, they managed to reach Santa Monica in less than forty minutes. Donaldson parked the SUV in front of a hotel overseeing the beach. 

"Here?" Lina was a little surprised that their destination was a hotel.

"Yup! He could not meet you in his residency. There are many hitmen waiting for you there." Donaldson explained while opening the car door for Lina. "Furthermore, this is our safe house. You will be okay here." 

He paused for a second before adding on, "Well, at least for tonight."

Lina took a deep breath upon hearing that. She suddenly realized that she was stuck in an incredibly shitty situation, way beyond her imagination. 

Donaldson noticed her worries and tried to comfort her. "Don't worry. He is Michael Carlito. He will find a way to fix it."

They went up to the 6th floor of the hotel and stopped at room 606. The door opened before Donaldson knocked it. 

"Michael has been waiting for you." It was a tall girl in her early twenties, dressed in black suit and tie, her long brown hair tied as pony tail.

"Thank you, Monica." Donaldson greeted her while walking in.

It was a room with double bed and Michael Carlito was sitting on the sofa facing the door. He was a well built man in his early thirties. Well built and tall. Lina guessed he should be no less than six feet just by a glance. He was brutally handsome, with sharp features and dressed in a three-piece suit which could not conceal his muscular body. 

Despite the fact that he dressed elegantly, Lina could not help thinking that he would pull out a gun in the next second. He somehow gave her an impression that he was a dangerous person. 

In fact, a very dangerous person. After all, his family literally ruled nearly half of Los Angeles underworld.

"Hi Ms Connelly, my name is Michael." He stood up and shook Lina's hand. He had really big hands which made Lina feel that he was even more dangerous. 

Imagine this, he could probably kill someone just with his bare hands!

"Please take a seat on the bed." He sat on the sofa again after the hand shake. Lina did as asked and waited for him to speak patiently.

"First of all, I sincerely thank you for saving my life." Michael Carlito spoke. For a man of his magnitude and build, he was surprisingly soft spoken.

"This is the part that I haven't figured it out, Michael." Lina just could not wait to ask her question. "I have never met you before this. How could I have saved your life?"

"Ahem..." Michael Carlito cleared his throat before continuing on, "It's a long story but I will make it as short as I can. As you know, my line of business tends to make enemies. Many enemies in fact. And, most of them want me dead."

Lina listened carefully as he spoke but still could not figure out how she was suddenly involved with LA underworld wars.

"One of my arch rivals, the Cimino Family, somehow found a perfect opportunity a few hours ago when I was wandering LA streets unarmed and worse still, without a bodyguard. Led by the youngest son of the Patriach, Albert, they attacked me on the street." Michael Carlito explained further. "I managed to hurt two of them but they really outnumbered me and they had guns. So, I gotta run for my life."

LA streets. Guns. Lina began to get the picture gradually. "Those two guys I smashed were the Cimino Family hitmen?"

Michael Carlito nodded, "Yup. I ran across the street and they were shooting from behind. Just when I thought I would meet my maker, a reckless driver suddenly appeared and smashed two of them."

"Right... And that reckless driver was me..." Lina finally understood how she saved Michael's life. "Are that two hitmen some key persons in Cimino family?"

Michael Carlito let out a sigh. "They are not really key persons. But..." he paused and looked directly into Lina's eyes, "...one of them is Albert Cimino, Robert Cimino's youngest son."

"Oh my God!" Lina did not need Michael Carlito to tell her who Robert Cimino was. He was the Patriach of the Cimino Family who was equally powerful as the Carlito Family. Her entire body turned cold after knowing what sort of deep shit she got herself into.

Robert Cimino would definitely go all out to avenge for his beloved son's death!

"Don't worry too much. I have got the situation under control..." Before Michael could finish his words, his mobile rang. He answered it after looking at the caller's name. 

He frowned deeply and looked at Lina every now and then. Lina realized that this phone call was about her and his facial expression made her worry sick. 

"What now?" She asked immediately after Michael put down his mobile.

"Robert Cimino had increased his bounty. Your head is worth ten million now. It was two million one hour ago." Michael Carlito said it as calm as he could. "Not bad for a reckless driver, isn't it?"

"Ten million!" Lina exclaimed. "Holy shit!"

She knew exactly what this meant. All the hitmen and mercenaries from all over Los Angeles would turn the entire city upside down to hunt for her. This also meant that Robert Cimino would not stop until he saw her head rolling in front of him.

"You don't have to worry. I will keep you safe." Michael Carlito reached out his head and gave Lina a pat on her shoulder.

"Promise?" Lina was undoubtedly helpless. No attorney in Los Angeles had their heads on a ten million bounty before.

"Promise." Michael Carlito replied firmly.

Just as he finished saying that, the room door was suddenly blown apart, breaking into numerous pieces that scattered in all directions.

They were under attack!