Page 220 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

“I don’t give a shit. Make an appropriate excuse, when asked.”

Elena nodded. “I can do that.”

“And I’ll try to keep my … activities, a bit more quiet,” Gian said. “I certainly don’t mean to toss them, or this, in your face, as you said.”

“Well, you do. Often. More than you realize.”

“I’ll be more aware of that, or try.”

It was the least he could do.

“Oh, and Elena?”

“What, Gian?”

“You have no reason to be jealous or to compete with any of those women out there, so I’m not sure why you continue to play these games with them like you do.”

Elena shot him a look over her shoulder. “Don’t I?”

“What do they possibly have, that you don’t?”

“Freedom, Gian.”

“Well, we both know why that is, don’t we?” he asked.

Elena only smiled fleetingly and coolly in response.

He would much rather see another woman smiling at him.

“Here, love,” Gian said, offering Cara his hand to help her from the car. She took it, her fingers warming his as she carefully maneuvered her way out of the backseat. “There you are.”

Cara eyed the walkway from the side of the road to her apartment building’s entrance, and frowned. “That’s a long walk.”

For a heavily pregnant woman with a bruised rib and lingering headaches from trauma? Yes, it certainly was a long walk. He could fix it for her, and he didn’t mind doing just that.

Gian chuckled, and before Cara could refuse him, he swept her up in a cradle-like hold. Her arms flew around his neck, her eyes wide. She was still as light as a feather to him, but he was careful not to jostle her too much in case it caused her unnecessary pain.

“There, that’s easy enough.”

“Gian, put me down.”

Chris strolled behind them, carrying what few bags had been in the back of the car. The enforcer said nothing, only grinned as Gian ignored Cara’s demands.

“You’re fine where you are, mon ange,” Gian said. “Enjoy the view.”

“I’m too heavy—”

“No, you’re not.”

“The scale says I am twenty-five pounds heavier.”

“The man that loves you says you’re perfetto, bella, mia tesoro.”

She pursed her lips, half-heartedly glaring at him. “Why do you always do that?”

“Hmm, do what?”

“Say the right things all the time.”