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“Yeah, well, my dad doesn’t seem to care.”
Tanner laughed. “Your dad’s an idiot,” he said. “But don’t worry. He’ll sit down with Don Leone.”
I squinted at him and tilted my head. “You had something to do with this, didn’t you?”
“I might’ve.”
“What did you do?”
“I paid the Don a visit.”
I let out a huff. “Seriously, Tanner? I feel like you’re just making things worse. Ramping them up.”
“Well, okay, I didn’t see the Don himself. I talked to his guard, a guy named Roberto. And I made it very clear that it was in his best interest to make sure this little fight goes away. I think my message got through.”
I shook my head. “You really are crazy.”
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.” He frowned a little. “I don’t know, I don’t see it. I feel like I’m pretty rational.”
I walked over to him and put my hands on his chest. He smiled, put his hands on my hips. I tilted my chin up toward him and he kissed my lips, gently at first, then deeper.
“What do you think?” he asked. “We’re going to get through this, right?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Sometimes I think so. Then you idiots do something stupid and I’m pretty sure we’re all going to die. We’re sitting on the brink of war, you know? One wrong move…”
“And it all goes boom.” He grinned and kissed my neck. “Exciting, right?”
“Crazy,” I said.
“Maybe I’m crazy. But I’m on your side. And I think I’m the only one who really is. Your father says he wants to help but I think he just wants to help himself. And everyone else…” He trailed off.
“Better to have a crazy guy than nobody, I guess.”
“Exactly.” He kissed me again. “Let’s go up to your room. I bet your dad’s on the phone for another hour shouting at his people. He probably won’t hear us.”
“You want to sneak into my room to have sex while my dad’s home?” I gave him a look. “We’re not teenagers.”
“True,” he said. “Which makes it more fun.”
“I can’t even begin to understand what that means.”
He laughed and pulled away. “Pack your stuff,” he said. “We’re getting out of here tomorrow.”
“Where are we going?”
“Back to my place. It’ll be safe there for a while.”
“I was hoping you’d say we were going back to the hotel.”
He grinned at me. “You miss that room, huh?”
“I miss the endless room service.”
“I’ll cook for you if that’s all you need.” He walked to the back door and paused there. “I’ll come get you tomorrow, so be ready. And don’t push things with your dad. He’s fragile right now.”
“What a poor baby.” I rolled my eyes.
He waved, opened the door, and slipped out back.
I stared as the door shut silently and shook my head.
“You talking to someone?”
I nearly jumped as I looked back at my dad. He stood on the steps, frowning at me.
“No,” I said. “Who was that on the phone?”
“Told my guys not to bother showing up, the fucking assholes.” He glared at me. “We’re deep in it now.”
“We always were.” I sighed, trying to release some tension. “You hungry? I’ll make something.”
“Thanks,” he said, and stomped back upstairs.
I lingered for a second. I could feel the pull of both worlds. On the one hand, there was my father and that whole thing. While I didn’t particularly like him, being around him meant I’d be a part of his crew and his family. There’d be people to help me raise my baby.
But then there was Tanner, the father of my child. He truly was crazy, but he was also gorgeous and incredible and loyal. I trusted him way more than I should, despite everything.
Two worlds, but there was really only one choice.
I headed into the kitchen to start cooking.26TannerI waited for her father to leave early the next morning before knocking on the door. She answered in a pair of yoga pants and a loose gray tank top. Her hair was in a messy bun on her head and she smiled at me.
“Since when did you knock?” she asked.
“I didn’t feel like jumping the fence,” I said. “You ready?”
She held up a black duffel bag. “My entire existence is in this.”
“Lovely. Come on, then.” I offered her my arm and she took it, shutting the door behind her as we headed along the alley and toward the main sidewalk.
My Lexus was parked a block away. We got in and I drove along the old familiar roads toward my place. I parked a block away from my building and led Elise along the sidewalk. I slipped my hand in hers and tugged her close.
She looked up at me, smiled, but said nothing. A girl with dark eyebrows and huge headphones hurried past. Sunlight slipped dappled through trees. Cool wind blew over my skin. Nearby a car horn blared.
