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Backing up a few steps, I remove my jacket and hang it over the desk chair. We might be here for a while. “Obviously, your father has wanted you home all this time. But now it’s clear there’s more danger than ever.”
“That much is obvious. But what is it?”
One thing I can say about her: she doesn’t crack under pressure. She’s her father’s daughter, after all. “Bernardi.”
This is why I wanted her to sit. Her head snaps back, eyes flying open wide. “Him? Why hasn’t somebody killed him yet?”
“Because he’s a slippery fuck.”
“But he… he killed…” Her chin trembles, eyes shining as they fill with tears.
“Sera. I know.” I jam my hands into my pockets so they don’t reach for her, instead. I hate seeing her like this. Hate knowing she’s in pain.
She holds it together, taking a deep breath “So he’s up to his tricks?”
“Your father only wanted to bring you home before things got any worse. That’s why we’re doing this. Otherwise, as far as I’m concerned, you could stay away forever.”
Her brows draw together quickly, like she’s in pain, but it resolves just as fast. “I was fine where I was. Nobody was after me.”
“Maybe not yet. Maybe not ever. Who knows? But is that worth letting your family worry themselves sick?”
“Yeah, I’m sure they were worried sick. I’m sure my brothers gave a shit. I don’t see them out here grabbing me and taking me home.”
“Your brothers are a lot more visible than I am. Recognizable.” I tip my head to the side, staring at her. “And do you think they would have made it out of that auction house without blowing a few heads off tonight? You’re their sister. Nobody touches you.”
“Because I’m a thing. I’m not a person to them.”
“I didn’t make the rules.” She’s probably right about her brothers. I’m employed by the family, but that doesn’t mean I have to like all of them. They’ve never had much regard for her or her sister, Talia. If anything, they’re jealous of the way the boss always spoiled the girls.
“So I guess it means somebody followed you.” She leans back slightly, propping herself up on her palms. Her legs are crossed, one foot swinging slowly back and forth. I don’t dare look. I might not be able to pry my eyes away.
“We’ll see. I have the guys back home running the name on the license I took.”
Her mouth tugs upward at the corners. “How good are you at your job if you didn’t know somebody was following you?”
“Why don’t you go get dressed in something decent and try to get some sleep? I don’t know when we’ll be on the road again.” I have to look away from her. I can’t trust myself to keep it together otherwise. Not because she’s wrong.
Because she’s right. I didn’t know we were being followed.
“And he wonders why I didn’t want to be any part of this anymore.” I glance over my shoulder in time to find her taking off her shoes, rubbing her feet once they’re free. I need to stop watching. It’s doing nothing for the hunger that’s gone from a simmer to a low boil. Being with her like this, in a room with a bed and not much else. There’s only so many directions a man’s mind can follow.
“Go to the bathroom and do what you’re told for once.” She mutters something ugly under her breath but at least it does as I say, stomping her way across the room and slamming the door. I’ve been here before—holing up after a close call years ago. At least I know the bathroom windows are too small for her to fit through. She’s a smart girl, but I wouldn’t put it past her to do something stupid in the name of proving she can escape me. She’s that fucking stubborn.
My phone rings as I scan the parking lot for any signs of something out of the ordinary. It’s XX calling directly from his cell. “What have you got?”
“I’m not calling from the house line because I wanted this to be private.” That can’t be good. “There’s a lot of chatter right now. You kind of caused a scene, didn’t you?”
Shit. I was hoping for Olivia’s sake to keep the auction a secret. “If by causing a scene you mean saving the boss’s daughter from herself, I guess I did.”
“Yeah, well, you also used your personal bank card, meaning the powers that be wanted to know who they were dealing with. Anyway, word got back to the wrong people. I guess they assumed you were there for her.”
It hasn’t been a secret, the fact that Olivia ran off. “I can’t believe he cares this much about her.” And I’m not talking about the boss.
“He’s like a fucking octopus, only he’s got a million tentacles. Eyes everywhere, too. And he’s pissed at the boss for taking Bruno’s side, so he’s watching closer than ever.”
“What’s my play here?” I’m asking myself, not him, and we’ve worked together long enough for him to know. He stays silent while I work this out in my head. “I guess we lay low here for a little while. Until morning.”
“You want backup?” True, the boss did make a deal with Logan Bruno that he’d provide extra men if need be. At this rate, our guys might be recognized, or they might have eyes on the house and trail anyone who leaves out of the blue. That’s most of the reason I wanted to do this alone, so as to not rouse suspicion if there were eyes on us.
