Page 23 of Her UnBearable Protector

Natale pressed her fingers to her temple. “Then just do it. The storeroom is in a completely different building.” She ground her teeth together. Natale wasn’t a person who said ‘no’ easily. This was no exception. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to go to storage.”

Caprice’s voice snapped from her lips. “I can’t go. Your father told me to stay away.”

She wanted to snap right back, but that wasn’t going to help. As much as she struggled to understand her cousin’s attitude at times, it wasn’t about petty issues between them, if she needed to get something for a vendor then she needed to help.

“I can call Papa. I’ll explain-”

“Please don't make this a bigger mess than it already is.” Caprice handed her a written list of the items. “If you’ll leave them with your doorman I can pick them up and take them to the Mailbox store.” Caprice gave her an air-kiss and headed for the door.

“Wait, Caprice!”

The blonde stopped just inside the office door, her hair whipping around her face only to fall into gentle waves around her shoulders. “What?”

“Why don’t you come with me?” Natale could feel the hopeful smile on her face. “The Mailbox store is just a few blocks down from the warehouse. We could go and get dinner together.”

She saw the involuntary wince and looked away.

“Look,” Caprice gave a little shrug, “it’s not that I don’t want to spend time with you, Natty.”

Natale struggled to smile in the face of her childhood nickname.

“I just don’t think I can be around your new friend. He’s the reason I’m having to ask you to do this in the first place.” A huff of laughter passed her perfectly painted lips. “The last thing I want to do is come face to face with the brute! I’d probably put my heel through his foot.”

“Caprice-”

“You’re either going to help me or not. Which one is it?”

Natale opened her mouth to answer, but Caprice had already pulled the office door open and moved into the hall. Instead of hearing her heels down the hall, she heard the soft click of the door in the hall and remembered the fire door in the alcove.

“Okay,” she said to no one in particular, “I guess I’ll go get those things for you. Thanks for asking.” She sat on the edge of her desk looking at the paper that Caprice had pushed into her hand. She’d had her issues with her cousin. Caprice had done horrible things to her, said horrible things, but she was dedicated to Durante. If you would cut either of them, they’d likely bleed fabric dye and pull thread from their veins.

If Caprice said she needed help and it was for the business, then she needed help.

Looking up at the office door, she knew that if she went outside Salvatore would insist that she remain in the workroom, or he’d go with her. The first option wasn’t an option. She needed to take care of this tonight.

Her thoughts strayed to the stairwell that Caprice had used. Stairs weren't her thing. After hours on her feet, the last thing she wanted to do was make her way down countless stairs.

The clock on the wall ticked away, sounding just like Caprice’s heels on the hard floor. Part of her said she should just tell him what she needed to do and make him come along.

The larger part of her remembered the humiliation from the night before. It wasn’t really his fault, she knew that. Sure, he’d said some pretty things to her about how they were meant to be together, and she’d wanted to believe. Maybe he meant it, but maybe she’d taken his flirtation for serious interest. That was on her.

Shaking her head, she looked at the list in her hands one last time.

If she cut across Central Park, following her usual path through the Rambles, cutting a few corners and turn arounds, she’d be able to get there and back before Salvatore came looking for her. He probably thought she was still in her office. Good. Let him.

Grabbing up her purse and her keys, Natale moved to the door and quietly opened it. Leaning her ear toward the entrance, she froze when she heard the ring of a phone. Flattening her purse against her belly, she held her breath and almost ruined it by laughing when she realized that the ring came from down the hall, and she’d already turned her phone off when Caprice had come into her office.

Salvatore answered with his usual Italian greeting, and she had to admit the rumbling sound of his voice rolled right through her and made all the wrong parts of her body tingle. Most of what she heard was muffled. He was a fair distance away and she hadn’t spent much time eavesdropping on people, so she could only catch pieces of what he was saying.

“…nothing new?” A break, long enough for an answer on the other end. “That doesn’t make sense.”

She clamped her lips down, silencing herself.

“So, nothing’s happening.” His voice was strung tight, but she wondered if it was all just disappointment, that he didn’t have to be a hero.

Natale’s shoulders sagged in relief. Nothing. No news. No letters. No danger. Almost giddy with the realization that she was staring at freedom, Natale closed her door, slowly turning the handle to keep the locking mechanism silent, and headed for the stairwell. She didn’t have to worry much about making noise because she was in her comfortable flats. When she reached the door, she saw how Caprice had managed to breeze in and out without an issue. Someone had stuffed a paper in the lock, making it impossible for the bolt to click into place. “Brilliant.” She’d leave it blocked and use it to slip back in when she was done.

Pushing the door open, she eased out into the stairwell, holding the door open with her back, half expecting Salvatore to show up and pull her back into the workroom. She heard him shout and froze in place, her hand losing hold of the paper in her hand as she grabbed for her purse. When several breaths went by with no one appearing, she eased out into the stairwell and closed the door behind her. Trying not to think of the sheer number of stairs between her and the ground floor, she began her descent.

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