Page 11 of Daddies of the Underworld

I doubted this man had ever been rescued before, and I waited with bated breath to see how he reacted.

The door creaked open, allowing Matteo to step into the space. He looked us over, his heavy gaze stopping on me. “You heard the men who organized this attack. You told us, and we were prepared for them. They might not have seen you, but they will be suspicious. If they identify you from the event staff, you will be a liability.”

Um…what? I wasn’t prepared for the rush of words, and they made no sense.

Matteo stepped back, ushering us out with a wave of his hand. “Until we understand who orchestrated this and ensure they do not assume you are a thread, you will remain here.” He tipped his head toward Dante, then back to me. “Under our protection.”

Protection?

Again, I knew the words, but they made no sense. A week ago I would have argued.

I’d have found a polite way to explain I had a life and obligations, the very ordinary things a woman like me had to do to pay the bills.

But Dante stood at my shoulder with his arms crossed, staring at me like he’d throw me over his shoulder and carry me off caveman style if I argued.

I looked at Matteo, with Luca coming up behind him, and understood, all at once, that my life was never going to be the same. “All right.”

4

NINA

The suite was the most beautiful cage I’d ever been in.

Three rooms, all decorated with cream-colored walls, beautiful accents along the crown molding, and enough luxury I should feel pampered threatened to suffocate me.

I perched on the edge of the window seat filled with plush cushions the color of a new bruise and tried not to stare at the giant bed with what looked like honest to god silk sheets turned down to expose enough pillows for five people.

I turned my head and stared at the lemon grove, determined not to let this cage become real.

Dante hadn’t even let me return to my room to pack my bag but had done it himself.

The thought of him handling my clothes, my underwear, sent heat flooding into my cheeks.

I scrubbed my face with both hands and bit down a groan. This was ridiculous.

Pushing to my feet, I moved to the bag Dante had deposited there half an hour ago and unpacked each item.

They took up a pitiful amount of space in the eight drawer dresser, and I didn’t even bother opening the door to the walk-in closet. It would only depress me even more.

A knock came an instant before Matteo walked through the door and into the middle of the room.

He stopped there with his hands in his pockets and surveyed the space.

A divot formed between his eyes when he noticed the bag. He wore a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, and a calm expression that I was pretty sure he put on for my benefit. “Are you settling in?”

The question surprised me enough that I stopped in the middle of trying to snatch the bag off the bed. I missed it the first time, my fingers grazing the worn canvas. I missed it the second time too, and annoyance slipped out in a muttered oath.

“Would you like some help?” Matteo reached for the bag.

I smacked his hand before my brain could catch up to the action, then sucked air through my gaping lips. “Sorry. I’m…flustered.” I lunged for the bag with enough energy his eyebrows arched.

“The bag must be very important to you. Or you are hiding something inside.” The last came out with an almost smile as he crossed the room and sat in one of the four chairs tucked around a glass table with chrome legs.

Who put a table in a bedroom?

“Please, sit.” Matteo motioned at the seat across from him.

Even with his congenial tone, I understood this was not a request. I wasn’t sure he knew how to make a request.