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She stiffens. "You will not. The last thing I need is more attention drawn to where I live."
"Take it or leave it." I curl a strand of her gorgeous dark brown hair around my finger. "Also, you won’t be able to see the men guarding your place because they’ll be discreet."
She pulls away and the strand of hair falls to the side. She tries to slide off, but I grip her hips and hold her in place. "I didn’t tell you that you could move away, did I?"
"What stupidity is this? Can I sit back in my corner of the seat, please?"
"You’ll sit there when I let you and no earlier."
"What are you waiting for then?" She folds her arms across her chest and pouts at me.
So fucking cute. A-n-d, I’ve officially lost it. She’s endearing in the way that bees are when you see them buzzing around their hive. But let them close to you and you risk the chance of being stung. I’m making the right choice by returning her back to her home. It’s best to keep her at a distance, until the wedding, and after. Especially after. My life will be much calmer without this pesky little thing hovering about and getting in the way.
I lift her and put her to the side.
She instantly shuffles away, putting as much distance between us as the seat allows.
"Seatbelt," I jerk my chin toward it.
She tosses her hair over her shoulder, but obliges me right away.
I lean forward and tap Massimo on his shoulder. "I assume you brought my phone?"
Massimo nods.Stronzo’s done his best to keep his eyes on the road and away from the rearview mirror. I suppose I should thank him for it. But he’s my brother and a fellow member of theCosa Nostra.I’d expect nothing less from him, and would have done him the same favor if the roles had been reversed.
He pulls out the device and hands it over. I shoot her a sideways glance to find her narrow her gaze on me. I chuckle. She huffs, turns her head to look out the window. I slide my fingers across the screen, texting.
"We’re headed to her place," I tell Massimo.
"Is that wise?" He frowns at me in the rearview mirror. "Both of you were kidnapped. Surely, it’s going to be safer if she stays with you?"
Next to me, she shifts in her seat.
"It’s what I’ve decided. She’smyfiancé, after all."
"The fiancé of theCapoof theCosa Nostra. Word will spread that you’re engaged to her, and that will only attract more eyes on her," he points out.
I squeeze the bridge of my nose. "I am theCapo, as you said. So do as I ask you to." My voice is sharp, and for a second, I regret it. But fuck that. I am theCapo. I’ve waited a long time to be able to command respect within the clan. Of course, respect can’t be demanded, which is exactly what I did. I blow out a breath."Cazzo. Mi ‘spiace,"I apologize. "I didn’t mean that,fratello. It’s been a long day and I am tired. Also, it’s what Nonna would have wanted."
I tack on the last because it is what Nonna would have insisted on, were she still alive. She’d ensured Christian and Aurora were apart until they’d been married, which had only made Christian more desperate to be with Aurora, though he’d fought the pull of the relationship until the bitter end. In fact, it’s probably why Nonna made sure they were kept apart. I bet she knew exactly the kind of impact that would have on Christian. It’s one of the reasons he moved up the date of their wedding, but I’m not going to do that. I’m going to try to push back the wedding as far as I can, and ideally, try to elope so I can avoid the kind of circus my brothers had to go through.
Massimo’s lips firm. "She doesn’t have the keys to her place," he reminds me.
"I’ve already messaged Adrian. By the time we get there, he’ll have found a way to open the door."
"No one can hack the lock in such a short time," she pipes up.
I shoot her a sideways glance. "Wanna bet?"
20
Jeanne
Good thing I’m not a betting person because when we reach my apartment, Adrian is standing by the door with a locksmith, who proceeds to use a key to unlock my door in one try, then hands me a duplicate set of keys, before bowing—yes, he actually bows to me, then turns and leaves.
Adrian introduces himself and apologizes that his brother, aka Luca, hasn’t done so already. He hands me a phone, and when I look at it in surprise, he explains Luca asked for it to be arranged. Luca, himself, stands by silently, as if he can’t wait to get out of here. Adrian mentions that he’ll be along in an hour to pick me up for my rehearsal, before he, too, leaves.
Then, a man carrying various bags of groceries appears at the top of the corridor. He walks over to us, takes one look at Luca and pales. His hands shake so much, he almost drops the bags. Luca takes them from him, but before I can ask him to wait so I can find some cash to tip him, he turns and runs. O-k-a-y.
