“They deal in racketeering, drug trafficking, and contract killing. My father had immense power, and he wanted my mother back. And me.”
“But you said he died?”
Kara nodded. “I had hoped they would leave me alone after that, but mom… she said they would never stop looking for me. That they would never stop coming after me. I’d been trying to convince myself for months that she was overreacting, but it seems she was right. I’ve never met my father, and yet even dead and buried, I’m not safe from his legacy.”
“But why? Why would his men want with you?”
“I honestly don’t know. My mother said that he wanted a child to take over his empire but he couldn’t have any kids because of an injury. What if his men feel the same and want Sean O’Brien’s child involved in his business? Mom always thought he’d want me to marry his second in command, whoever that might be when I got old enough. That’s probably the man after me now that my father is gone.”
“So you’ve been on the run your whole life?”
She nodded, tears suddenly escaping her eyes.
“Are... are you in the witness protection program?” he asked, uncertain.
“No. My mother said we couldn’t trust the police or the FBI. My father had contacts everywhere. It’s impossible to know who to trust. I don’t have a cellphone, I use a fake name, have a low-profile job and live in apartment paid for with cash. I have to be able to leave at a moment’s notice and leave with no trace. That’s my life.”
“Dante said you basically had nothing but a bed.”
“Yeah.” The word came out as a soft exhale. She was so close to breaking down, but she couldn’t, not yet.
She met his gaze. “That’s why I can’t stay, Angelo. The people looking for me? They’re too dangerous. I can’t put you in danger like that, or your family. I have to disappear.”
Angelo raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles softly, never breaking eye contact.
“You may not want the world to see you, Kara. But I do. I don’t want you to disappear. Let me help you. Let me keep you safe.”
“You can’t,” said Kara.
“You might be surprised,” said Angelo. “I might seem like a humble restaurateur, but I’m not without resources.”
“And just how long do you intend to keep me safe?” As much as she wanted to trust him, it was hard to keep the disbelief out of her voice.
He was silent a moment before he replied. “As long as it takes. Until I’m certain you’ll never be in danger again.”
“What about your family?”
“They’ll be safe. Dante will watch over you and them until I can leave the hospital.”
“Dante knows?” That would explain his behavior earlier.
“Only that a cop attacked me and that the man was asking about you. I won’t tell him anything else unless you want me to.”
“I… I think you can tell him. But just him. I don’t want anyone else in your family to know.”
“Okay. What about Jared?”
She nodded. Weirdly enough, she trusted Jared.
“Then this is what we’ll do: you’ll continue to stay at my home, play the part of my fiancée until we find out a way to stop these men from coming after you. Jared and I have a friend who can send a private security team to help watch over you.”
“You make it sound easy.”
“Have a little faith in me,principessa,” Angelo said.
“Principessa… princess?” She guessed at the translation.
“Yes, my Irish Princess,” he replied with the smooth, natural charm of a man with a kind, but fierce heart.
