Page 34 of Love Without Control

“Definitely an asshole move. Are you afraid of Damiano?”

My mind played through all the memories I had of the man in the short time I’d known him. “I probably should be, but no. He’s actually been very kind to me.”

“Would you prefer to go on the run by yourself? Because we can make that happen.”

I was surprised at my instantaneous response to the question, at the fear provoked by the thought of being alone out in the world, not knowing a soul. Even being with Damiano would be better than that.

“No. I know he’s a criminal, but I somehow feel kind of safe with him. I don’t think he’d let anyone hurt me.”

“I’m inclined to agree,” Jamie said thoughtfully. “Sometimes a person from the wrong side of the law is the best person to protect you from others on that same side.”

“So what happens now?”

“Robert and I will talk it out and come up with a plan. We can go over it with you and Damiano tomorrow.” Her lips curved into a small smile. “You actually picked a good time to get kidnapped. Robert and I are on vacation from our jobs right now.”

My brow creased. “I’m so sorry to interrupt your vacation.”

She waved a hand at me. “No worries. We weren’t going anywhere, just having a bit of a staycation at home.” Standing, she held out a hand toward me. I took it and let her help me to my feet.

“Thank you for checking on me. I just have all these emotions I don’t know how to handle.”

“It’s okay, honey. I’m sure all this is unprecedented in your life.”

That made me chuckle. “Truth. I’ve never been kidnapped, sold to a mobster, and then almost blown to smithereens before.” I sighed. “I just feel like I don’t have any control over my own life anymore.”

Jamie surprised me with her next words, honest ones, notblowing smoke up my assones. “You really don’t for the most part. You can only control what you can control, Evie.”

“Which is pretty much nothing right now.”

Her head tilted to the side in thought. “You can pick your new name.”

“My new… oh, right. I can’t exactly go around calling myself Evie Bouvier.”

“Nope, you can’t. Robert and I have found that most people find it easier to adjust if they use the same first initial, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. If you want to call yourself Marjorie, Queen of the Fairies, go for it.”

I allowed my lips to lift a bit at the corners, even though the thought of changing my name made me feel a little queasy. “That does have a nice ring to it.”

“And you have some say about where you’ll live. Do you prefer a coastal, mountain, or desert setting? Or maybe on a farm in middle America?”

“I loved living in New York, but when my dad would ask us where we wanted to go on vacation, I always voted for the beach. It’s my favorite place to go.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “I think we can make that work.” Pulling out her phone, she tapped her thumb against the screen a couple times. “I’m about to run to Target to get you and Damiano a few essentials. What do you need?”

“It’s okay. I don’t need—”

“Favorite body wash?” Jamie asked, ignoring my protest. Resigned, I rattled off the name and answered the other questions she asked regarding my sizes and other products. Her green eyes sparkled when she looked up at me. “See? You do have control over a few things. I turn into a total grump when I don’t have my favorite smells around me.”

A smidgen of the frustration inside me dissipated. The thought of having my honey and vanilla body wash—hell, even my fruity shampoo—was somehow comforting.

Jamie was right when she said all I can control is what I can control. And all I could control right now were tiny things like my preferred bath products. But for tonight, that would have to be enough.

Chapter 12

Iwokeupthenext morning, determined to keep a positive attitude about all the unwanted changes in my life. Robert and Jamie had welcomed us into their home and were trying to help us, so I put a smile on my face when I entered the dining room wearing frayed jean shorts and a blousy lilac top, one of the outfits Jamie had purchased last night.

“That looks cute on you,” she said, looking up as she laid a platter of bacon on the table where Damiano and Robert were sitting.

“It’s my favorite color,” I admitted. “My dad always buys me lilacs on my birthday.”Don’t think about your birthday, Evie. Or your dad. Or your brothers. Or pretty much anything.So I pushed the thoughts away and took a seat.

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