Page 55 of Heartless Union

He continues to stare at me, breathing heavily.

“Are you all right?” I ask.

“We have to leave.” With those words, he stands up, breaking the connection between us.

“Wait. Leave?”

“My father is dead. Carlo is taking over. It’s only a matter of time before he comes for us again. We need to leave before that can happen.”

I shake my head. This is all happening too fast. “And go where?”

“Into hiding until I can take over. I can’t risk you or Gabriella getting kidnapped again. You, my siblings, and me will all go into hiding.”

“What about my dad? He could be in danger.”

“We can’t go for your dad right now, Lara.” He turns his back to me, so I can’t even read his face. “Carlo might have gotten to him. I can’t risk it.”

“But what if Carlo hasn’t, and he goes after my dad? He could use my dad to get to me.”

Rocco scoffs. “And what does Carlo want with you? He wants to get to me.”

I flinch, feeling my heart constrict.

Rocco slowly turns back to face me. “I’m sorry. That was harsh. Just do as I say this one time, Lara. Go pack a bag. We’ll leave tonight.” His eyes flit to my underwear on the ground. For a moment, I think he’s going to acknowledge what happened between us, but he doesn’t. He only turns and walks away.

I finally slip my underwear back on, all the heat leaving my body. Now, I only feel cold.

As I pack my bag, all I can think about is my dad. Something could happen to me, and he wouldn’t even know it. He could die tomorrow.

He needs to know what’s happened. I refuse to believe Carlo got to him. All my father wants is to see me safe. There’s no way he’d risk that.

I dial his number, but he doesn’t answer. I try again. Still no answer. Why isn’t he picking up? “Hi, Dad, it’s Lara. Call me back. I need to talk to you.”

I hang up and stare at my phone. What if something bad has already happened to him?

I have to go see him. I can’t go into hiding for who knows how long without at least saying goodbye to him. He means too much to me.

I leave my bag behind as I sneak down the stairs. Rocco is somewhere getting ready for us to leave. No one stops me as I walk out of the house.

I walk as fast as I can to the nearest subway station and get onto the first car that will get me close to my dad’s house. It only takes twenty minutes, but then I’m there.

I knock on my dad’s door. No answer. I try again. “Come on. Come on. Please.”

Finally, the door cracks open. “Lara?” It’s my dad. He opens the door wider, and I throw my arms around him. He hugs me back. “Are you ok? I wasn’t expecting a visit from you.”

“Has Rocco told you anything?” I ask, pulling back and shutting the door behind me.

“No.” He frowns. “What happened?”

I tell him everything. About the kidnapping. Carlo and Dante. How Rocco didn’t want me coming here.

Dad stumbles back to the couch and sits down with a heavy sigh. “He should have told me. I have a right to know what’s going on with my daughter.”

“I would have told you sooner, but Rocco got in my head. He said you might be working with Carlo, and he couldn’t take the risk.”

He pats the seat beside me. “Lara, I am not working for Carlo. My alliance is to you and Rocco.”

“That’s what I thought.” I sit down, taking his hands in mine. “But Rocco doesn’t know you like I do. I’m not sure what to do. Now, he wants us to go into hiding. What if you …” My breath hitches.

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