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I’m starting to believe what Hawk said about him being dangerous. “You haven’t even heard me sing. How do you know anything about my voice or that my songs belong with your label?”
She leans back and crosses her legs as someone drops off a drink in front of her. She takes a sip while her focus stays on me. When she drains it, she shakes her glass for a moment making the ice cubes clink together. She smiles again and shifts her gaze to the corner of the ceiling.
I follow her line of sight and see the red light flashing revealing a camera. “I heard all I needed to hear, darling.”
The same waiter appears and removes her empty glass before leaving us alone again. “Your voice is exquisite. We can help you make all your dreams come true, Brittney. Trust me. We need someone like you to join our label. Someone with an original sound.We need you.”
“I don’t know what to say.” I don’t know what to think. Could these people help me reach my dreams? I want to believe them, but I’m no fool.
She claps her hands together. “Say you’ll sign with us.”
Matteo chimes in this time. “I told you my family wants you. We all do.I do.”The last part has an undertone of more than business. He adds, “When I heard you sing, I knew I had to have you join us. The entire family listened to you sing from what we record in here. Please think about it, Brittney. I know you want it all. Let me give it to you. Letusgive it to you.”
“You make a strong argument. Can I think about it?” I ask, testing what they’ll say.
Ellie’s nostrils flare, but she pastes a smile on her flawless face. “Darling, we’re handing you your dreams on a silver platter. What could there be to think about?”
Matteo adds, “She means your success is more success for us. She was hoping you’d sign a contract tonight. She wants to get to work right away. She thinks you’re a rare gem who needs to shine. I do too,” he says and smiles genuinely.
“I’m not sure I should sign a contract without reading over it in detail. I probably should have my lawyer present too,” I say with confidence and hope this will buy me a little time before I commit. Except…I don’t have a lawyer. But I can read over the terms myself. I might even get Bree to help.
Ellie sighs while glancing at her nails as if bored. “You have twenty-four hours to decide. There are plenty of people who can’t wait for an opportunity like this. We’re one of the most powerful families in Nashville. With us backing you, you’ll go all the way. I’d very much like to have a hand in it.”
She stands and signals to someone. Within a minute, an envelope is in her hands. She gives it to me, and I see my name is across the front. “I hope you’re staying in town tonight. My number is in there with the contract if you need to talk to me. I also included the name and number of one of our best lawyers in case you have legal questions. I’ll be waiting on your answer. Meet us here, same time, same place, tomorrow.Scegli saggiamente.”I’m not totally sure what she said, but I think it was about choosing or choices.
She walks off without another word. The envelope is like dead weight in my hands. I don’t know what to do. There’s no harm in staying in Nashville tonight and thinking this over. “What did she say?” I ask Matteo as I stare in the direction she left in.
“She said choose wisely,” he answers me.
I glance back at Matteo. “I think I’ll get a hotel for the night and read through this. I better get going.”
He flashes me a grin. “No need to get a room, love. I booked one for you in hopes you’d stay. I’ll take you there now.”
He starts to guide me toward an exit. “Um, I have my own car. I need it.”
He drops his hand from the small of my back. “One of my guys will drive your car behind us. I promise they’ll take good care of it, while I take care of you.”
I’m filled with mixed emotions as I let him lead me outside. My mind says I’d be a fool to let this pass me by without at least trying, but my heart…it says I should listen to the voice of the man I gave my everything to. No matter how much I hate him…or don’t.
I’m pacing my living room and thinking of all the ways this can go wrong. This will end up leading the Leones back to me and my family. I may need to warn Mamma and Wren. I might even call Marco, my grandfather, if it gets too close.
Another thing that can go wrong…he could hurt Brittney. If they get their hooks into her, she won’t be able to escape them like I did. “Damn it,” I say out loud as my pulse vibrates loudly in my ears. Matteo could seduce her like he threatened he would. The thought of him anywhere near her in that way sends a firestorm of jealousy through my veins.
I grab my phone, tempted to call Briella for information, but decide against it. I pull in a calming breath. No, Brittney may hate me, but she’s smarter than to let someone con her into anything. She’s whip smart.
I take a seat on my couch. I could drive to Nashville, but what sense does it make? I can’t risk running into them there any more than them being here. Going back in their territory would mean a life sentence, or even a death sentence. I squeeze my eyes shut as I remember the hatred in Matteo’s voice all those years ago.“I’ll kill you if you ever try to come back. I don’t care if your grandfather is Marco Rossi and he declared you untouchable. You were like a brother to me. Mark my words, Hawk. I’ll either kill you myself or find a way to take everything you love away from you, but you will pay for this.”
I run my hands through my hair and silently wish I knew what he was planning. The truth is, I’ve been waiting for this day, and now I’m afraid it’s here. I stand and grab my keys. I’ll drive to her house and wait on her to get home. My feelings for her are complicated, but there’s no way she deserves to be in the middle of my mess. I remember the words I told her—you’re mine to love or to hate.
My mind drifts to taking her for the first time and I feel the swell between my legs. This is so wrong. I can’t have any sort of feelings for Brittney, even if being inside her wet heat was the closest I’ve felt to home in years. Something about her has always felt that way. She calms the storms brewing in my head.
When I make it to her house, I don’t even try to stay hidden, I park my truck in her drive and shut it off. I sit in the darkness waiting for what seems like hours, so I finally check my watch and it reads one thirty in the morning. I’ve finally had enough, so I call Briella.
She answers on the second ring sounding half asleep. “Hello?”
“Briella, I’m sorry to bother you, but can you give me Brittney’s number?”
I hear covers rustling. “Why? Is something wrong?”
