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“What’s wrong with you?” I asked.
“Just,” he said, trying to clear his throat. “I feel like there’s something in my throat.”
He stepped back and moved a hand to his throat as he continued trying to rub it. Any doubt I had about the sesame seeds slipped away as he cleared his throat and coughed repeatedly.
“Sit down,” I told him, moving as far from the doorway as possible and offering a seat out of sight.
Surprisingly, he obeyed. I didn’t know if he had an EpiPen, and I couldn’t risk this entire operation on someone’s quick reactions.
“I am attracted to you, too,” I told him. His eyes flashed up to mine, showing both fear and surprise. “I don’t want to be, and I’d rather be released, but there is an attraction between us that I can’t ignore.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. He tried to cough, and air struggled to seep past his closing throat. I only stared at him, feigning confusion and innocence as he went to stand and collapsed.
I’d wait.
I’d watch for a few more moments before going and getting Lucia. And then I’d keep Bria far, far away from this room while everything happened.
“Uncle Dante?”
I whipped my head around to the doorway where she stood. The niece I’d been trying to shield from this entire situation.
Fuck.
I had no idea what to say as I met her terrified eyes, and she rushed toward Dante, screaming his name and asking if he was okay. I had seconds to react before I became suspicious. I could pull her away and force her to wait for her uncle to die, but…
God, I couldn’t let her see this. I’d seen my dad after he’d died, and then I’d found my mom. I didn’t know what she’d seen of her dad’s death, but I knew she and Dante were close.
I couldn’t traumatize a child. No matter how I felt about Dante’s family, I couldn’t let another little girl feel the way I did.
“Bria, go and get Lucia to call an ambulance. I’ll wait with him.”
She did exactly as I ordered, and I sat beside Dante, placing a hand on his arm. I couldn’t let him die now that she’d seen him. There would have to be another time and another chance. I couldn’t let her suffer the same thing as I had as a child. She couldn’t see her father die.
Despite my logical reasoning, though, I knew Bria’s presence wasn’t the only reason I felt crippled with guilt. Something aboutDante had been calling to me since I arrived. I’d been drawn to him and interested in a way I shouldn’t have been. I knew what I needed to do, but after getting to know him, it didn’t feel as easy anymore. There had become a disconnect between him and what his family had done to mine.
My heart slowed in relief as I realized I wouldn’t have to follow through with this. Not yet.
18
Dante
I sat in a hospital bed, cursing whatever had happened to cause such a severe allergic reaction. Lucia checked all the packaging for the food and found no contaminants, and then she spent the next day going through all the food in the pantry to ensure none of it was similarly contaminated.
My fucking allergy almost killed me a second time.
What an ironic twist. The don of the Sicilian mafia nearly taken out by a few sesame seeds.
“I don’t want you to be hurt,” Bria said.
She sat at my side as the hospital drew up the paperwork for my release. I’d stayed overnight, and they’d insisted on keeping me another few days for testing and observation, but I had places to be.Especiallyafter receiving the email this morning that Justin found a current employer for Cameron Diaz.
“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart,” I said, running my fingers through the little girl’s hair.
God, she looked identical to the brother I’d lost. As I stared down at her small nose and kind eyes, I could almost see the childhood best friend he’d been before his death. The decision had never been difficult to take her and raise her as my own.
But with her in my home, I needed to be more cautious about my own life and safety.
“I don’t know if I want to go and live with Uncle Gabe,” she said, putting a small hand on my lap. “I want to make sure to keep you safe.”
