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“I’m glad you told me the truth, but that’s not why I’m leaving. I’m leaving to protect my family. Something you’re supposed to do. Youliedto me. You should have told me from the start.” She spins away, but I see the tears spill down her face as she dumps the clothes on the bed and starts walking back to the closet. My heart clenches and breathing becomes difficult. She’s leaving me? Never.
I grab her arm. “You’re right. Being in that group makes you and the kids vulnerable. But leaving Brattleboro is going to make the situation a lot worse. Especially this late. It’s just asking fortrouble. Stay in the house. This place is the safest for you.I’llleave.”
“How is this place any safer than my place in Burlington, Ezra? There are people in the lobby at the apartment. A doorman. Cameras. If anything, I think that place is safer.”
“No, listen, do you have any idea how powerful the Beaufort name is here? Massimo and his men will have a hard time staying undetected here, unlike the city. Nothing can touch you here. I have an apartment downtown. I’ll stay there while I sort out this mess, and when I get out, I’ll come back to you.”
“Nothing can touch me here?” she asks, going still. “They can’t stay undetected here, unlike the city. What do these things mean? Was someone watching me back in Burlington?” She turns to face me with wide eyes.
Fuck. Fuck. fuck. Fuck.
“You’re not saying anything.” She swallows and adds, “But the look on your face is answer enough. So, an Italian mob boss was watching me, and I had no idea.” Her frame trembles and I walk forward to grab her hand.
“Don't touch me!” She shrugs off my hand and takes a step away. “Is that why you wanted me to move in? Why you want to marry me? Not because of me, but because of the danger? Because you know the Beauforts are powerful here, we’re still coming back to that statement by the way.”
“Charlotte, of course not, I–”
She shakes her head slowly, her eyes wide as she sinks into the bed. “Get out,” she whispers.
“Charlie,bébé.”
“Get out, Ezra! Or I’m leaving.” She gets to her feet, tossing a hot glare at me.
“Okay. I’ll leave. I’ll leave. I just…let me touch you, say goodbye.” I slowly walk toward her; she stiffens but doesn’tmove. I take it as consent, so I rub my hand down her arm gently and press a kiss to her temple.
I turn to leave the room, trying hard to ignore the pain in my throbbing heart. I pause at the door to glance back at her. “Just, pick up the phone when I call Charlie.Please.”
She glares at me, studying me quietly for a long moment before she nods. Thank God. I open the door, but her question stops me in my tracks.
“Where are you going to go?”
I glance at her again. “I still have the apartment at the Latchis Hotel. I’ll probably go there or to Alex’s.” I try to give her a reassuring smile, but even I know it comes out as more of a grimace. Then I leave.
CHAPTER 37
EZRA
When I can no longer see the house in my rearview mirror, I sigh and continue driving to the front gates. Outside, I have a moment to weigh my options. Am I really going to go to my apartment to wallow or take action?
I drive to Alex’s estate not giving a shit that it’s the middle of the night. I slow down in front of his massive gates and wait for one of his men to recognize my car. The gates slide open silently. I drive down the long road leading up his driveway, trying to organize my thoughts. I’m surprised to see him waiting for me when I pull up in front of his sprawling mansion.
He raises a brow when I get out of my car.
“Do you even know what the time is, Ezra? What the hell are you doing here?”
I sigh heavily. “Charlie found out. About Massimo.”
“What?” He takes a quick step toward me. “Are you okay? Did she kick you out?”
“No. I kicked myself out,” I say, and when he frowns at me I elaborate. “She wanted to leave. I asked her to stay, and left instead.”
“Good call. Come in, then.”
I follow him inside. He leads me to the elevator, and we take it up to the third floor to his office. He closes the door behind us but doesn’t lock it. “So, what are you going to do to get her back?”
“She told me not to come back until I’m out of the Moratti family. That’s why I’m here. Have you come up with any ideas?”
He slides behind his desk and sits down, rubbing his temple with a slight frown. “Not yet. It’s incredibly hard, no, impossible to leave the mafia alive. Even Ezra Beaufort, the man you were named after, not only had to leave Strasbourg, but the whole of France to completely escape.”
