Page 39 of Her Cruel Bodyguard

I kiss her, needing to extract some of her optimism about us, that is making her so fucking positive that this can happen. That we can happen. I need some of her strength. I am too frightened by the idea of her getting tired of me at some point. I can’t deal with the fact that she will someday look at me like I stole her youth from her.

I need what is making her so fucking assertive.

She peels herself away from me, and I expect a smack, but she grunts instead, balling her fists.

“You stay away from me, Fabio De Luca,” she points at me. “I am done with you,” she straps her seatbelt back on. “I intend to keep the last shreds of my dignity.”

“I know I might be…” A call booms through the car speakers, interrupting what would have been my first-ever confession of my fears about us. I forgot I had my phone connected to the car's Bluetooth.

I search for it, and I find it stuck in the corner of the seat. I see Mindy’s name on the screen. Worst fucking timing ever.

“It’s Mindy,” I flip the phone to Eva and show her the screen. “But it can wait.” She’s probably just telling me about another fucking PTA meeting Jake has been begging me to show up for. Never seen a child who wants to flaunt his father as much as the boy.

What’s there to fucking flaunt?

The call ends and immediately starts again.

“I think you should get that,” Eva’s voice is solemn now. I nod and get the phone. Mindy never calls twice.

“Mindy,” I go first.

“Why didn’t you tell me you would be picking up Jake?”

“What? I never pick him up.”

“What do you mean? When I went to pick him up at his school, I was told his father had picked him up.”

“His father?” I go cold, “You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”

“No, for goodness’ sake, if he is not with you, then…” she can barely complete the sentence. “Oh dear lord, where is he?”

No one knows about Jake except me and her. No one knows I am his father except me and Mindy. Mindy doesn’t have the kind of circle that would put Jake at risk.

If it is what I think it is, then it is my fault.

How is it possible when I haven’t told anyone?

My head snaps to Eva.

Anyone but Eva.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

EVA

Jake has been kidnapped.

The clues piece together in my head, and my brain whirls.

Fabio is outside the car, pacing back and forth as he continues the conversation with Mindy. I have never seen him so out of his element. I want to help but I can’t do anything because I don’t know the full gist.

He is just a boy—a six-year-old boy—that no one is supposed to know about.

Jake is the son of the underboss of the Teso clan, which makes him a magnet for things like this. Many would want to get their hands on him to reach his father. But who would dare cross Fabio like that?

My father had restrictions. He would let you poke a few times before acting. But everyone knows Fabio doesn’t take that time to linger before acting. It is why they balance each other out so well. While one wants to think the situation through and make sure no one he loves will get hurt, the other wants action and thinks while acting.

I twist in my seat, chewing the inside of my mouth frantically as I try to think of the best possible solution. We can’t call the cops.

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