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She’s quiet, and I hate not knowing what the fuck is going on in her head. She needs time, and that’s something I can give her, but I’m not leaving her alone. Not anymore. This shit is serious. She could be in danger, so I’ll be making sure she’s never alone. I want her to have a man on her at every fucking second of every day. I’m not losing her.
I guide her to the car and put her into the passenger's seat. She’s so withdrawn and quiet. It’s so unlike her. I drive to her house and pull up outside.
She blinks. “How?” she breathes, but then her eyes widen. “Damn it, Dario. It’s been you watching me, hasn’t it?”
I nod. “I needed to know you were okay. Whenever you’ve been on the street, it’s been me or my men watching you. I can’t lose you, Portia, so I’ve been making sure you’re safe, even if it means doing it from a distance. I’m just pissed I didn’t have men on your friend.”
She gives me a soft, wary smile. “You had no idea what was going on. If you had, you would have put men on her. I just hope she’s okay. The horror stories I’ve heard on the street about what happens to the women they take...”
“Come on, baby, let’s get you inside.” I want to make sure she’s inside. The building is secure. No one can get in without us knowing, and if they do, there’s an alarm that’ll sound and alert us that someone has breached the property.
“What are you doing here, Dario?” she asks once we’re in her apartment.
“We have all night to talk, baby. Right now, you need a shower and to change out of those clothes.”
She sighs but doesn’t argue. That’s not a good sign. Portia could argue with her damn reflection.
“Have you eaten?” I ask her. She shakes her head, her face pale as she watches me carefully. “You need to eat, Portia. I’ll order us takeout and then we’ll talk after.”
I order the takeout once I hear the shower start up. I breathe a sigh of relief. She’s okay. She’s safe.
Forty minutes later, she walks into the living room wearing a silky, short pajama set, her brunette hair tied up on her head. She’s still looking as beautiful as ever.
“Not that I’m not happy you’re here,” she says as she takes a seat beside me on the sofa, “but I’m curious as to why you are here. In Missouri, I mean.”
“I was always going to come here,” I tell her. “It’s been on the cards for about a year, maybe longer. The Famiglia is expanding. It went to Indiana, and Rocco wanted to expand further. Missouri is what he wanted, and I’ve been promoted to Underboss.”
Her eyes widen. “You have?”
I nod. “Yes. I was promoted when we met. It’s just finally happened that I’ve been able to get everything organized for my move here.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. “I had no idea.”
I give her a grin. “I was always going to come for you, Portia. I wasn’t going to let you slip through my fingers. You’re all I’ve wanted; all I’ll ever want. I just had to get everything organized before moving here. I wanted to give you time too.”
She nods. “I appreciate that. I was so angry when Jade told me you were the mastermind behind tracking Teagan down and pushing Elio to take his revenge. I was so mad that whenever I thought about it, I wanted to hurt you.”
I chuckle. “I deserve that,” I tell her. “I fucked up. I apologized to Teagan, but it won’t change what happened.”
She shakes her head. “My girl is happier than ever, and she’s in love. I forgive you for it. I know that you couldn’t have known what would happen to Teagan.”
I pull her onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her. Fuck, it feels so good for her to be in my arms. This is where she belongs. Where she’ll always belong. I press a kiss to her head. It’s time to get everything out in the open. “Okay, baby, it’s time for you to tell me about what happened after your father died.”
She tenses in my arms. “Dario,” she says quietly. “I don’t—”
“I know, but I need to know, Portia. It’s going to help us find out what this bastard is up to. I need to know everything he’s done.”
She takes a deep breath. “Does this mean you’ll be an open book for me too?”
I clench my jaw. Fuck. I have to tell her about what I’ve done and tell her about Aldo. “Yes.”
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispers.
I shake my head. “No, baby. I think when you find out what I’ve done, you’ll be telling me to fuck off again.”
Her cheeks redden but she doesn’t say she won’t tell me to leave.. “Kelvin is a friend, and he’s my boss. There’s never been anything between us, nor will there ever be. You need to stop antagonizing him. He’s pushing your buttons, and I’m not going to be in the middle of your bullshit.”
I hold my hands up That wasn’t what I asked, but she obviously was dying to get it out.. “Okay, I’ll leave the asshole alone.”
