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At the root of all his anxiety was fear. He just wanted his daughter to be safe. “Cane, I can’t promise that nothing will ever happen to her, because that’s just not a realistic promise to make. But I can promise you that I will always protect her, and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. If it ever came down to it, I would take a bullet for her. I would sacrifice my life for hers.”
He held my gaze as he absorbed my words.
“That’s the best I can do. That’s the best you can do.”
“But I’m afraid she’s in more danger by being with you. Surely, you must agree.”
She was kidnapped in an alleyway, and that had nothing to do with me. But The Butcher became obsessed with her when he spotted us together. In both cases, I fixed the problem, just as I did in the bank. “She’s also just as likely to be hurt in some other way. At least with me, she has all the protection money can buy.”
“Money can’t buy everything, Bosco. It can’t buy peace.”
After we said good night, we got into my car and drove back to Florence.
Carmen sighed in the seat beside me, her gaze focused out the window into the darkness surrounding us. “I’m sorry my father was so difficult.”
“It’s alright, Carmen. Not your fault.”
“I don’t know if he’s ever going to be okay with this…”
He would have to be, even if I had to force him. “We’ll figure it out, Beautiful.” I held her hand on the center console.
“What did you guys talk about when we were doing the dishes? I didn’t hear any yelling.”
“Same old shit. I told him I loved you. He said that wasn’t enough.”
“Then what is enough?” she asked.
“He’s just scared that you’re going to get hurt because of me, because of my tenure at the casino. I understand his concern because he’s just protective and wants to make sure nothing happens to you. But what he doesn’t understand is you’re in danger no matter who you’re with. At least with me, I can save you.”
“That’s a good point. Did you say that to him?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think he’s gonna change his mind.”
She sighed. “He will in time. I’ll make him change his mind, or my mother will. If my mom is on board with this, then he should be too.”
“I love your mom, by the way. She’s pretty amazing.”
Carmen smiled. “I love her too. She really balances out my father, erases his intensity.”
It reminded me of Carmen, how she balanced out my flaws with her endless good qualities. I squeezed her hand before I brought it to my lips for a kiss. “We’ll get through this—together. Because I’m not giving up on you, Carmen. I’m not gonna stop until you’re Carmen Roth.”
“Carmen Roth…” She stared at our joined hands as a small smile stretched across her mouth. “I like that.”
18
Carmen
I walked inside the gallery and approached Vanessa from behind.
Her bodyguard watched me like a hawk.
“Vanessa.”
My cousin turned around at the stern tone in my voice. “Yes? Something wrong?” She’d just finished placing a new painting on the hook, another Barsetti masterpiece that would fetch hundreds of euros. She’d become so popular in the city that her prices were steadily rising. “Griffin told me your dinner last night didn’t go too well.”
“That sounds about right…since Griffin knows everything about my personal life.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
She grabbed both of my wrists and pinned them down to my sides. “Okay, enough with the attitude. What’s your problem?”
“My problem is that Griffin told my father about Bosco weeks ago, and neither one of you told me. After everything I did for you guys in the beginning, this is how you repay me? I felt like an idiot when my father said he already knew.”
Judging by the bewilderment in Vanessa’s gaze, she genuinely had no idea. “Griffin never told me he told your father. He kept that a secret from me too. I’m just finding out about this now.”
Vanessa would never lie about anything, so I believed her. “Oh…then I apologize.”
“Damn right. I would never betray you. You know that. That’s probably why Griffin never told me—because I would betray him quicker than I would betray you.”
When she said that, my shoulders relaxed, and I felt a smile emerge. “You’re right…I’m sorry.”
“So, if your father already knew, then that must mean the interrogation was a little easier. You know, since he wasn’t caught by surprise.”
“You would think…but, no. We went to dinner there last night, and my father turned into an asshole.”
She shook her head. “Just like my father…”
“I’m not seventeen. I’m twenty-five. My father needs to dial it down…but I don’t think he can.”
“It took six months for my father to come around. Just the fact that your father invited Bosco over for dinner is a drastic improvement to what I experienced. So that’s something to be thankful for.”
