Page 111 of My Broken Bodyguard 2: Ritchie & Tori

“You should really stay in bed tomorrow as well, but I know you have to go to Jersey City. Just remember to rest while you’re there. I don’t want to have to explain your re-injured bruised ribs to Ritchie. I kept it from him during our trip in Vegas, but I won’t keep lying. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I sighed, placing my hand on his arm briefly. “No more keeping secrets from my husband.”

He nodded. “Just remember the way he protected you when you weren’t his wife. He’ll be ten times worse now that you’re a Toscana.”

Ritchie said he’d like it if I’d go to Jersey City this week. I didn’t take that as I had to.

“Arlis, I got the message loud and clear. Thanks for everything.”

“You’re welcome. Now let me see about your bodyguard.”

I kicked off my sneakers as he exited the room.

Fear swept through my body as I pulled the blanket over me. My thumb skated over the platinum wedding band. Ritchie wouldn’t be too upset, right? I wondered.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and my heart banged against my bruised rib cage. I stared at Ritchie’s name on the screen briefly before tapping the green button.

“Hey, baby,” I said sweetly.

“She blew up your fucking truck,” he growled in a low voice.

It wasn’t a question; it was a statement hanging in the air.

“Ezra assured me the bomb wasn’t there before we entered the hotel,” I confirmed.

“And that’s supposed to make it better?” he gritted out.

I figured he must’ve been somewhere where he couldn’t yell and shout like he wanted to, since he kept talking in a whisper.

That was probably why he hadn’t FaceTimed me. He couldn’t reveal his location.

“Ritchie, there’s nothing I can say that will make you less angry.”

“Good thing I sent the jet back to Chicago a few hours ago. Rider, the pilot, will be there to take you home today.”

My back stiffened. “But I wasn’t supposed to leave until tomorrow.”

“Tori Toscana, I want your pretty ass on that fucking jet in two hours.”

Fuck! Well, so much for my initiation with the brothers tonight.

Silence filled the line.

“Tori,” he growled.

Just like Ritchie had shit to do, so did I.

“Test me if you’d like. I’ll fly there myself tonight and bring you home,” he bit out.

“Ritchie, I’ll be on the jet.”

“Good. I might be home late. I’m in the middle of something important. Ezra knows what to do.”

“Okay,” I replied.

“I fucking love you, Tori.”

My heart squeezed in my chest. “I love you too.”

---