Page 16 of Dangerous Games

“Well…” Dad sets his empty plate down on my coffee table before slapping his palms on the top of his thighs and standing up. “I need to get going. It was great seeing you and catching up, Bronwyn. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Right,” I say softly, trying not to let the emotions that he triggered show. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I walk him to the door, giving a small wave as I watch him make it to the alley. A small orange light catches out of the corner of my eye. Looking up, I see that it’s coming from the security camera. It must mean they’re recording the movement. At least I know they work.

The tears start flowing down my cheeks before I can shut and lock the door behind me.

It never gets easier seeing him. In fact, the older I get and the longer time passes, the harder it gets.

“It was nice catching up?” I laugh through a sob. “You didn’t ask shit about me. You didn’t even ask what I’m doing for work or how I’ve been.”

I wipe my nose on my sleeve. He makes me feel so bad about myself for helping him, but I can’t seem to stop.

One day, someone will care about me. Until then, I need to just keep on.

Chapter

Six

GIO

“It’s about time you showed up,” Ma exclaims as she places a kiss on my cheek in greeting as I walk into her kitchen.

Sunday dinner is a time that’s nonnegotiable. She doesn’t ask for much, so it’s not a hardship.

“Sorry, Ma. I got caught up and lost track of time. Can I help you with anything?” I ask, knowing she’s going to tell me no.

“I have it covered. Go in and sit down with your brothers. Appetizers are already out.”

I nod as I head into the living room, seeing the spread laid out on various tables throughout the room.

“Where has your ass been?” Enzo asks as I make myself a drink.

“Nowhere.” I shrug. “Just lost track of time.”

I thought I was going to jump through the screen when I was checking the camera footage from last night. The man who paced back and forth in front of the stairs for five minutes, almost as if he was working up the courage to knock on Bronwyn’s door, looked sketchy as fuck. If I had seen that shit when it was happening, I know for a fact I would have been in my car racing to her, Matteo’s orders or not.

Why was that man there? And so late at night.

He made her cry.

No one makes Bronwyn cry.

Tears have never brought up any feelings for me. I’ve always felt like crying was energy wasted. You’re giving something power over you, and that alone will always let them have the upper hand. But her tears did something to me. She looked almost…defeated. A girl with her beauty should never be close to knowing that feeling.

I’m going to find out who that man is and what he did to her, and I’ll make it right. It’s the least I can do. I know Matteo doesn’t want our witness disgruntled in any way.

“You, the man who is an anal nut bag, losing track of time?” Enzo asks in disbelief. “I don’t buy it.”

“Good thing you don’t have to buy it,” I answer, taking a swig of my drink. I should have known he wouldn’t buy that lie.

I’m very meticulous with everything I do. You have to be in this life. One fuck up could end yours.

“You,” Matteo says, his tone hard as he prowls in the room, heading straight for me.

Shit.

“Me?” I ask, bringing my hand to my chest. “What did I do?”