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“I can keep her safe.” Romeo squared up to Uncle Caden. “If we keep up pretenses, let Gio think that she’s exactly where she’s supposed to be and doing what he sold her for, then we can take him down, for good.”
“No.” Uncle Caden spun around after his one-word refusal and grabbed my wrist as he went, taking me along with him toward the front door.
“He still has people in there,” Romeo called after us. “He took in another shipment of people just days ago. That’s why he had the auction. He needed to make room for more bodies.”
I froze dead on the spot, remembering all of the cages in that warehouse. There were so many metal boxes keeping them trapped, so many people, all being taken from the streets and ripped away from the people they loved. They didn’t have uncles like mine to try and save them. They didn’t have the connections that my uncle had. They wouldn’t be getting free anytime soon.
I was their only hope—these men standing in this room were their only hope at freedom.
And if it meant I had to put my freedom at risk for a little while again, then I would do it. I would do anything to save people from the pain I’d been through.
Slowly, I pulled my wrist from Uncle Caden’s grip, waiting for him to look at me. “He’s right, Uncle Caden.” My voice was small, my tone off, but I could see he was taking me seriously. “You don’t understand what I saw there.” I shook my head, tears finally falling down my face, streaming in an unstoppable path. “He has so many people trapped, all locked in cages just like I was.”
I took a step away from him, then another.
“Bailey,” he choked out. “I’ve only just gotten you back, I can’t lose you again.”
“You won’t lose me, Uncle Caden.” I swallowed, trying to talk around the tears, but it was getting harder and harder the more I was away from that place. It was as if my body and brain had protected me more than I realized, and now it was able to finally let go.
My stomach churned as I stepped back again and right into someone’s body. I didn’t turn to look who it was though because that woodsy smell was enough to let me know. His hand rested on my hip, a small move, one thatshouldhave made me want to get as far away from him as possible, but instead, all I wanted was to be even closer to him.
“I know I won’t because I’m coming with you.”
I felt Romeo’s body shake from behind me, but it was a different voice who answered, “No you’re not.” Uncle Caden opened his mouth, his expression full of fury. “You’ll be putting her at risk.” Uncle Caden’s mouth snapped shut. “No contact. It’s the only way we can all protect her.”
“Like hell, Lorenzo,” he growled, taking a step toward us all. His hands were clenched in fists at his sides, his rage vibrating off of him. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen Uncle Caden like this. “I’ve just gotten her back and you expect me to…what…do nothing? Act like she’s still missing?”
“That’s exactly what you need to do,” Romeo said from directly behind me, his deep voice reverberating in my ears. “Sheisstill missing as far as Gio knows. We have to play his game.”
Silence surrounded us as Uncle Caden glanced away, his brows furrowing, but then he all of a sudden whipped his head around, all emotion gone from his face. “You’ll make sure she’s safe?” he asked, but it was more of a demand.
“I’ll protect her with my life,” Romeo said, his tone deep, his promise out there for all to hear.
“I know you will,” Uncle Caden replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “Because if anything happens to her, I’ll hold you personally responsible.” He moved toward us. “And I don’t care if your last name is Pagani and you can cause agony like no one else can, I’ll make you hurt ten thousand times more than you ever thought possible. Do you understand?”
Silence. And then: “I understand.”
* * *
ROMEO
It was nearing three a.m. by the time I pulled into my driveway. The street was quiet, the neighborhood asleep just like it always was at this time. The farther away from Lorenzo’s mansion we’d gotten and the closer to my home, the more relaxed I became.
Every time I drove into my neighborhood, I was leaving part of my Mafia life behind, but this time was different. This time I was bringing it home with me, and it felt…right. Like she was always supposed to end up here with me.
My gaze drifted over to Bailey, watching as her relaxed face leaned against the edge of the chair, facing me. I lifted my hand, my instinct to trail a finger down her face taking over, but I stopped myself at the last second.
She didn’t want to be here, I knew that. What she really wanted was to go home with her uncle. But I wasn’t lying when I said they’d most likely be watching us. Gio had clearly taken a liking to Bailey, and with him already having followed me, there was every likelihood that he’d send someone again. And if Bailey was gone, it would set into motion a plan that we weren’t prepared for…yet.
Glancing at the time on my Rolex, I huffed a breath. Lorenzo would be here in seven hours. He’d never come to my home, in fact, only Raf and my dad had. Mom had tried to get here lots of times, but she never quite made it, and I couldn’t fault her for that. She was scared of her own shadow half of the time. And I figured that when she was truly ready, she’d be able to see the home I’d created for myself…one day.
“Bailey?” My voice was low, not wanting to scare her. She’d fallen asleep somewhere along the way, and even though part of me didn’t want to wake her and instead just carry her inside, I knew I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t touch her again, not without her permission. “Bailey. We’re here.”
She shot up, hitting her head on the visor that I’d pulled down to block the oncoming car lights when I realized she was asleep. “Ow. Shit.” She rubbed at the spot and I couldn’t help but grin a little at her. She was cute.
Fuck. Did I really just think that? I shook my head, trying to dispel my thoughts. “Let’s go.” The words came out sharper than I’d intended as we both pushed out of my car, but Jesus Christ, I couldn’t help it. She had me twisted around and upside down. I’d never had random thoughts like that. Never wanted to be so close to another person like I did with her.
It wasn’t right. Not after—
