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“To make sure we did as we said we would.”
“What, leave?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to tell me why I had to find out that I am staying with a crime family in New York City by sitting in on a conversation you had with the head of the Sicilian Mafia?”
“Does ‘I knew you wouldn’t like it’ count?”
“No.” I pulled my hand from his and crossed my arms. “When did you plan to tell me?”
“On the flight home.”
“You suck sometimes.”
“Only when you ask nicely.”
“Seriously with the ten-year-old humor right now?”
“Listen, I’m sorry. I should have foreseen Massimo’s concerns before meeting with him and bringing you up to speed, but the last few days have been really nice and I just didn’t want to rock the boat.”
“Consider the boat rocked.”
“I get that. I do, but I promise you will love Valentina and the kids. In fact, I think she’s even pregnant again and would love some help if you were willing.”
“I will not intrude on their lives. I’m also not going to let you go to California alone to do whatever it is you plan to do. I’m going with you.”
Leo’s laugh only fed my anger. “You absolutely are not coming with me.”
“Then I’ll stay with Raven.”
“No, her and Beckett have their own issues they are dealing with right now.”
I let my gaze travel out the window as the silence stretched between us until I felt Leo’s hand on my leg. “Talia, do you take me for a man who wouldn’t have your best interests at heart?”
“I know you do. I just can’t stand the thought of being away from you. I know it sounds stupid and sappy, but whatever. I will be staying with complete strangers for the first time since this mess started, and I won’t even have you with me.”
“I have worked for and known Dante, Ares and Nico nearly my entire adult life. They are just as much family to me as Noah is. I wish you could stay with him, but he’s in the middle of a mess right now and I don’t really trust anyone else to take care of you while I’m gone. You won’t be alone, you will have them. Valentina is amazing and Alessia is… well, honestly, she’s kind of crazy, but it grows on you.”
The tears in my eyes were pissing me off, so I just sat there and listened. There wasn’t much I could add to the situation. Hell, I didn’t even have a real ID or money to check into a hotel. I was stuck.
“Can’t I just stay at your place until you come back?”
“It’s not safe, Little Bird. I’m sure they know where I live by now. For this to work, I have to know in my heart that nothing will happen to you while I’m gone.”
“What if something happens to you?”
“I will be fine.”
“You don’t know that. Miles is crazy. I’m sure he has people out looking for you. He doesn’t like when people take his things.”
“I’m very good at my job, Talia.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like I need a bodyguard.”
“That’s not my job, baby, you know that.”
I let his last statement sink in. He’s right, I knew that wasn’t his actual job. He told me about his brother and how he’s basically a hired hitman. I ignored the fact that my gut told me Leo was, too. He had to have been. It was the only thing that made sense. Sure, he did other things for the people who hired him, but there was an overwhelming feeling in my gut that just wouldn’t quit. I had essentially fallen in love with a freaking assassin for hire whose resume included working for The Dark Kings, The De Bartoli Family and who even knew who else. I had heard him on the phone with his brother the other night talking about some organization called The Syndicate and it sounded like someone else he had done work for. If Leo Rand was my forever, then it was clear I needed to get my head out of the sand and deal with who he really was.
