Page 67 of Once A Crime Lord

“Did he hurt you?” he asked sharply.

“No.”

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

“How?” Her spine snapped as she sat up straight. “You’re not going to go to the cops, are you?”

“Would that do any good?”

“Probably not.”

“Then I’ll handle it.”

Her gut clenched. “I want you to keep in touch with me. I have to make sure...”

“Make sure I’m breathing?”

She wasn’t going to answer that. “Call me every day, morning and night.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I don’t care!”

“Lyla, calm down.”

“How can you be so cavalier about this? You saw him yesterday.”

“I did.” A pause and then, “I’m worried about you.”

“You should be more worried about yourself.”

“I never imagined you were hiding something like this.” He sighed. “That’s life. Sometimes you’re stupid enough to fall for a girl who used to date a crime boss. That’s the luck of the draw.”

“This isn’t a joke.”

“I know,” he said, sounding more sober. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Call me when you go to work and when you come home.”

“Isn’t he monitoring your phone?”

He had in the past. It was why she hesitated to call Jonathan, but she couldn’t handle the suspense of not knowing whether he was alive or not. “He has more important things to do.”

“If you say so.”

“Call me when you get off work,” she ordered.

“Yes, ma’am. Stay safe.”

“You too.”

She hung up and dropped her face between her knees. Jonathan was still alive. She hadn’t been able to sleep after Gavin left. How could she after the things he said in the basement?

When the front door opened, her head rose. She blinked when Marcus strode into the living room. She rose, alarmed.

“Is something wrong?” she asked as he came toward her.

He didn’t stop until he wrapped his arms around her. She was startled for a moment before she hugged him back.

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