Page 54 of Ruthless Boss

Dante dips his head, his eyes locked with mine. “Are you sure?”

A bolt of hope zaps through me. If I can help Dante and his family in any way… “Yes, I heard when Ciro talked to him over the phone. Jaq’s parking lot.”

“Okay. That’s good. I can make it.”

I reach for the glass of water on the nightstand and have a drink.

“Does Ross know that you know? That’s probably where he conducts business. If he thinks you know, he’ll change the location.”

I put the glass back on the nightstand and look up at the ceiling, working my brain to remember exactly what happened. It’s hard to evoke memories I’d rather forget, but as I try, I can’t think of any moment when Ciro would have told Ross I knew. I doubt he thought I paid attention. Ciro always underestimated my intelligence. I guess his ignorance finally came in handy.

“I don’t think he does. Ciro died and never told him I knew—I don’t think Ciro worried about what I’d hear when he was on the phone.”

“Thanks. That’s better than nothing. I’ll make sure I go.”

“I can go with you,” I blurt. A wave of heat spreads across my face. Of course, Dante doesn’t need me, of all people, to join him, but I don’t want him to be hurt at the end of all of this. AJ needs him.I need him.

He slides closer to the bed and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “No. Your days of fighting crime are over.”

A memory darts through my brain. When I was stabbing Ciro, before things got worse, I leaned over him and whispered in his ear, “It ends now.” I meant the toxic, brutal marriage we shared. But I guess it also meant me killing people. My need for revenge is gone now I’m finally rid of my husband and his father. Dante is much better at these games than I am.

I inhale deeply, then exhale, and a sting of pain moves over my shoulders. “What’s your plan? You can’t go alone.”

Amusement crosses his face, and the atmosphere is lighter for a beat or two. “Why not? It’s my problem.”

“You tend to fix problems alone, but sometimes, it’s good to have company. Company is the only way to pull through sometimes.” Hell, I tried to get rid of my past alone and couldn’t do it. Talking to Dante and facing my emotions helped. Does he need to do the same?

Dante doesn’t enjoy asking for help. That much is clear.

“Fine. I’ll ask Rocco to go with me,” he relents.

“Thanks,” I say, relieved.

He plants a kiss on my forehead and smiles. “Rest.”

How is it possible to rest when my future hangs on a tightrope with no safety net? Will I be able to go back to my studies afterward, even if I move to a different state under a new identity? Hell, how many identities will I need to feel safe again? When do I get to be just… Gia?

30

Dante

“How’s Gia?” Massimo asks the minute I walk into his office in the warehouse.

“She’s better,” I say.

For the past three days, I’ve been caring for her. The bruises are still there, but her skin looks less swollen, and she’s been resting. We’ve trodden a careful line not to say anything too personal yet.

I want to.

I want to tell her those weeks without her were the worst I’ve ever lived through. But that also means telling her the truth—that I’ve fallen for her, undeniably. It means giving her a part of me I never thought I had available to give. And possibly hearing she’s not interested.

She’s younger and has her whole life ahead of her. She was going to college. If she’s with me, every moment of her day will be monitored and carefully planned. What if something happens to her like what happened to Andie? What if?—

I pull a chair in front of Massimo and sit. The moment my ass hits the leather cushion, the weight of my responsibilities falls heavier on my shoulders. Tomorrow is Wednesday.

“Are you prepared for tomorrow?” Massimo asks.

I clear my throat. “Yes.”

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