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I avert my gaze and glance at Alex. “Am I allowed to leave the estate?” I can’t deny that a small part of me hopes he tells me no because the thought of leaving the estate, the only place in New York where Garrett isn’t welcome, sends a tendril of fear spiraling down my spine.

Alex studies me for a long second, as though he understands exactly why I asked. He hesitates for a moment before answering, “Of course. You’re not locked up here.” His gaze quickly drifts to Vin, his eyes narrowing in on him before shifting his attention back on me. “Tommaso will go with you, and Asher will be with Scarlett.” He nods reassuringly. “You’ll be well protected.”

“And while you’re with Scarlett, I can have some quality time with my granddaughter,” Cecilia adds before taking a sip of her wine.

My shoulders drop as disappointment slithers through me.

Scarlett claps her hands together. “It’s a date!”

Despite the knot of nerves tightening in my stomach, a small smile finds its way onto my face.

“I am curious…” Vin’s deep voice draws my attention to my left. He rests an elbow on the table, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “What is your plan after my brother creates a new identity for you?”

I swallow hard. “Well…”

Madeleine reaches across the table and smacks the back of his head.

“Ow.” He rubs the spot, glaring at her. “What the hell was that for?”

“You can’t just ask her that!”

His nostrils flare. “It was a genuine question.”

I tuck my hair behind my ear, swallowing my nerves. “I haven’t really had a chance to think it all the way through yet. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I’d make it this far, but I think once Alex gets everything together for me, I’d like to start over somewhere far away where I can have a fresh start.” I shrug. “Maybe London or Italy. Ireland, perhaps.”

“If you choose London,” Eli murmurs around a bite of food, “I’ve got family there. They’d make sure you’re looked after.”

“Our cousins in Italy would do the same,” Leo states.

“She’s not staying with our cousins.” Alex doesn’t look up from his plate, but the steel in his voice cuts clean through the room.

Leo arches a brow. “Why the hell not?”

Alex’s jaw flexes. He reaches for his water, takes a slow drink, then sets the glass down. “Because,” he says simply.

“She’d be perfectly safe with—”

“Enough!”

The single word causes silence to unfold.

Alex pushes his chair back, the legs scraping sharply across the hardwood. One hand braces against the edge of the table while the other curls into a fist at his side. His chest rises with a measured breath, as though he’s forcing himself to keep whatever is clawing its way to the surface locked inside. His gaze flicks toward me for only a second. “I’m going to check on Clara.”

Without another word, he turns and strides from the dining room, disappearing around the corner.

Cecilia sighs softly, disappointment flickering across her features. “He’s carrying far too much right now.” She shoots Vin a pointed look. “The last thing he needs is you lot giving him a hard time.”

Vin raises both hands innocently. “Why am I getting blamed?” He looks around the table before his gaze settles on the doorway Alex disappeared through. “We all know why he’s wound so tight.”

Madeleine immediately smacks him across the arm.

“Ow!” Vin recoils. “Would you stop doing that?”

“Then stop being a stronzo!” she snaps.

Eli lifts his drink in the air. “To family.” He grins, throwing back the dark liquid. Mauro and Leo can’t help but laugh.

I stare at the empty doorway, unable to shake the strange feeling blooming in my chest.