Page 82 of Now and Forever

The hair on the back of my neck stood to attention. I wasn’t a man who beat around the bush. Jasmine was no longer the seven-year-old child. She was a woman. “Were you raped?”

She shook her head.

Relief flooded my circulation. “Did the attacker say anything to you?”

Again, she lowered her eyes.

“Jasmine, we need to find who did this to you.” My voice was more authoritative than sympathetic.

“He said something about Josie.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “It didn’t make sense.” She looked around. “Can I stay here in your office or one of the rooms downstairs?”

In a private club—hell no. “This is no place for you to be.”

She looked from me to Armando and back. “I feel safer here than back in my apartment.”

Fuck. I thought about having Armando take her to a hotel. They’d be safe in a two-bedroom suite. One look at Jasmine’s face and I knew that wasn’t an option. Some well-meaning hotel worker would see her injuries and alert the authorities.

There was a knock and my office door opened.

“Get the fuck out,” I bellowed, not knowing who was entering.

Rocco’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Jasmine. “What’s she doing here?” His brow furrowed. “And what the fuck happened to her?”

“Get the fuck out, Rocco. Now.” I noticed the bulge under his shirtsleeve. “What happened to you?”

“Nothing.” His gaze found mine. “The boss wanted her gone.”

Jasmine gasped.

I turned and in two strides met my brother-in-law chest to chest. “Remember my promise about slitting your throat? That respect you need to show goes for Jasmine, too. Now get out, and if you know what’s good for you, you won’t let Jasmine’s name pass your lips. If I learn that you did, my sister will be wearing black for the next year.”

Rocco inhaled, his nostrils flaring before turning tail and closing the door behind him.

“The boss,” Jasmine said. “Vincent?”

It would be impossible for anyone to live in my home for over ten years and not know the truth about who I was.

“Dario, I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

Fuck my father. He was the head of the famiglia, not of me. Instead of addressing her statement, I asked, “When do your classes start?”

“Orientation is done.” She shook her head as more tears escaped. “I don’t want to go back.” Her voice cracked. “I’m scared he’ll come back.”

My mind was searching for any clue. “Did the attacker have anything unique to his voice—an accent?”

“I don’t think so.”

I looked at Armando. “Have our men go through the security from Jasmine’s apartment.”

“I could contact the New York outfit.”

“No. I don’t trust anyone except our people.” I reached for Jasmine’s hand. Instead of releasing it to me, she fell against my chest. I closed my eyes as I wrapped my arms around her. “Armando will take you home. Contessa will look after you.”

She looked up, her blue eyes glistening with more tears. “Thank you.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

Catalina

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