Page 30 of The Don's Proposal

Rocco ignores him, waiting for my answer.

He hasn’t called it our home in a long time. I’m starting to think I’m not seeing the bigger picture here.

Why is Rocco here? He’s come without a weapon in hand, so I doubt he came to fight. He showed up where we were, so he knew one of us would be here. Did he know it was me?

Did Santino warn him to draw him out? My stomach clenches at the thought, and I make a note to question him later about it.

Either way, Rocco showed up for a reason I’m struggling to understand. The concept of him caring is so foreign to me, I struggle to believe it’s true.

“Were you going to rescue me?” I ask him instead. “You didn’t plan on abandoning me.”

He blinks, returning my silence with his own.

Communication was never a strong suit in our family.

Finally, he grunts. “I made a mistake sending you there.”

Why? Because he knew I’d get caught? Because he regrets sending his sibling on her own? Because his enemy stole my heart?

I want to ask, but I don’t. There’s this tightness gripping at my heart and my lungs as I just wish I could understand what Rocco’s deal is.

If I let him, Santino would be happy to torture the information out of him.

“Rocco–”

Shoving the heel of his hand into his eye, he sighs as he turns his attention to the men behind us. “Are you going to kill me or not? If not, then get the hell out of my territory. You don’t look like you’re going to give her back, and I don’t have anyone for support, so just do what you’re going to do. Put me out of my misery or leave me to suffer. Just get it over with.”

I look at Santino and frown when he considers the question. There’s conflict behind his gaze, one that shouldn’t be there.

“If you do, I will never forgive you, Santino Bertelli.” Whispering the promise, I don’t miss the way both men look at me in surprise.

Rocco’s surprise lasts as long as I can blink before he’s turning around. Giving us his back, he shakes his head. “I’m leaving first, then. Just needed to see if she was still breathing, that’s all.”

I watch my brother disappear inside of a SUV, the tightness in my chest growing even tighter.

If I had told him I wanted to go back home, would he have put up more of a fight?

“I feel like I’m going to be sick,” I murmur as my stomach clenches. “Can we please just go back?”

Santino’s glare on my brother’s unmarked vehicle could cut through glass. He doesn’t move, not at first. The conflict is there, I know. I’ve put him between a rock and a hard place.

I won’t ask him to get along with Rocco, even I know that’s pushing too much.

“What do you want us to do?” One of the guys behind us asks, seeking guidance. “We can catch up and follow him.”

His grip on my arm dissolves, and he wraps an arm around me. “Follow him. Make sure he doesn’t drive off of a bridge and get himself killed. Track his location.” I hear his teeth grind. “You do not have my permission to do the job either.”

Hearing the shuffle of feet, I smile at Santino. “Thank you.”

His frown doesn’t lessen. No, he still looks pissed. He’s just trying his hardest not to aim it at me.

“Let’s go. If you’re still hungry, I’ll send someone to grab food later.”

Grimacing at the thought of eating something now, I nod my head and let him lead us back to the cars.

Sirens ring in the background. We don’t stick around long enough to see any cruisers.

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