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I pull her into a hug, loving that my best friend is here.
"Oh my God, Melina, you look radiant," she says, holding my shoulders as she looks me over.
"Ugh, please. Look who's talking!" I tease.
Helen leans in. "I wanted to look my best. I heard Marco was here," she whispers.
"He's working with Antonio but will be at the house, so you'll definitely see him," I tell her. "How long do you get to stay?"
"Actually, I don't have a deadline," she tells me excitedly. "I had to agree to bring along my security detail and keep them with me the entire trip." She pulls her glasses down so I can see her roll her eyes.
I lift an eyebrow, skeptical of what I'm hearing. "He asked for your agreement?"
Helen shrugs. "My agreement, my silence. Same thing."
I laugh as I know what she means and understand the feeling.
The security team in question flank around her, looking aggressively at Levi and Zane. Levi and Zane’s earlier humor is completely gone as they take control of the situation.
Zane steps in front of us. "The women will ride with us per Mr. DeLuca's orders. He's provided the SUV behind us for your team."
The one seemingly in charge stares him down. "We're not to leave Ms. Kratos's side."
"You'll have to," Zane says stoically. "If you have a problem with that, I can call Mr. DeLuca. After all, you are on his property, enjoying his hospitality now. Since Ms. Kratos is with his wife, I'm sure he'd be interested in hearing how you don't think he can guard his wife better than you can. Oh, and not to mention the fact that Ms. Kratos is also the fiancée of his Capo and, as such, is under his complete protection.”
The other man grunts, seeming to catch on that his arguing this point would be a losing battle. One that he doesn't want to deal with if it means crossing my husband.
"We'll be right behind you," he says.
"I'm sure you will," Zane says with a smirk watching the men move to the SUV before motioning for Helen to get into the car.
Helen smiles up at him. "I think I like you."
"If you ever find yourself single, we'll talk," he says as she slides in.
I step up to the door, looking at him as I shake my head. "If Marco hears about this, you might lose your pretty smile."
Zane cocks an eyebrow at me. "Can I just ask that you never tell Mr. Deluca you think I have a pretty smile."
I snicker as I slide into the car next to my best friend. Zane and Levi climb in the front and a minute later the car takes off.
"Well, I don't have to ask you how things are going on your end. You're practically glowing! I take it Antonio makes a much better husband than Doyle Kelly."
I don’t have to pretend to shudder as that man’s name makes my stomach roll. "He was horrible. Antonio saved my life. I can't believe my father sold me to a man who traffics women to be sex slaves.”
Helen pulls off her glasses, looking at me intently. "I asked my brother about him once I got your email. Did you know he's been married six times, and each wife, with the exception of two, has just disappeared? Apparently, the man just petitions the church for annulments."
"Those poor women," I tell her shaking my head. "What happened to the other two?"
She gives me a knowing look. "One died in a boatingaccident." She uses air quotes when she says accident dryly. "The other is locked in a sanitorium. The marriage was annulled due to her being declared legally insane."
"What did she do to get put in there?" I ask, realizing that if Antonio hadn't found me, I would have either died by Kelly’s hand or my own.
Helen shrugs. "Who knows? Probably just breathed wrong."
I shudder again, making note to show my husband all the gratitude I can muster tonight.
"So, I know you look happy, but how are you really?" Helen asks, changing the subject. I’m glad. I don't think I can stomach any more talk of him.
