Page 15 of Code Name: Dante

“Lark?” I heard him say in a tone of voice that was obviously meant to manipulate me into agreeing to leave my home and take Gram with me. Just like it had been last night, when he pretended to be interested in making Matcha. When I fell for his lines, especially after he played the most powerful card of all—how would I feel if something happened to my grandmother? He’d even used the name I called her, as if that would make him seem more human.

“Lark?” he said again. “Please listen.”

I folded my arms and raised my chin, not that he could see me do either. Thankfully, when I’d raced in here, I had the presence of mind to lock the door. I wondered how long it would take before he tried to open it. I was surprised he hadn’t already.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel controlled or disrespected. I just—” His voice cracked. “I can’t let anything happen to you. Either of you.”

I rolled my eyes. Did he truly think I’d believe he cared about two women he hardly knew? More manipulation. That was all it was.

“I know what it’s like to lose family.” The words spilled out, his control crumbling. “My mother vanished when I was young. Vincent said she was safe, but…” His voice cracked again, and when he spoke his next words, it sounded shaky. Like he was overcome by emotion. “I never believed him. I never stopped looking. You may not believe me, but…”

I walked over to the door, put my back against it, and slid to the floor. “But what?”

“I felt something the first time I saw you. It’s why I kept coming back.” He chuckled, although not in a laughing way. “You didn’t even know I existed. I was just another man in line, waiting to order?—”

“I saw you.”

“Could you feel it?”

If I denied I had, I’d be lying, so I shook my head, not that he could see me.

“It’s why I kept coming back. If my life had been different, if I hadn’t woken up every day wondering if my brother had finally gotten wind of what I was doing, if that would be the day he’d…”

He didn’t have to say the words for me to know what he meant. If that would be the day he’d die.

“It’s why I didn’t ask you out. Ask if I could get to know you. I wanted to more than you’ll ever know. But it was fear for your safety that held me back.” The sound of his voice changed. Rather than coming from above me, it was right behind me.

“Your grandmother is an extension of you, Lark. If anything happened to her because of my family, it would be the same as if it happened to you, a person I need to protect. It isn’t a want. I need to. Do you understand the difference?”

“I do,” I whispered.

“I long for the day when this is over, when my brother is in prison, when the Castellano crime family no longer has any power, when I can live my life without constantly looking over my shoulder. Maybe I’m a fool to think that’s possible. I just pray it is. Do you know why?”

He waited as if he expected me to answer, but I couldn’t. My voice was too clogged with emotion.

“Because then, I’ll be able to spend an afternoon at a cafe with you, talking the hours away, learning about your hopes and dreams, what makes you smile, even what makes you cry. I’ll be able to hold your hand as we walk down any street we want to, whether it’s here in Gloversville, in Manhattan, or in Florence, Italy.”

My eyes opened wide. How did he know? I’d never told anyone that, out of everywhere in the world, that was where I wanted to travel the most. Florence.

“Tomorrow, I have to be in the city for the start of my brother’s trial, and that means I can’t be here, watching out for you. If I could be in two places at once, if I had the choice of where I’d rather be, I’d choose here. But I can’t. However, I know Admiral and Grit and the rest of the K19 team will keep you safe. Not just you; your grandmother too.”

He hesitated again, but I still didn’t speak.

“Please let them keep you safe, Lark. I’m begging you. Whatever it takes, even if an armored truck needs to bring you back and forth from Canada Lake to Gloversville so you can open your shop, I’ll make sure it happens. I don’t like it, but the only reason I don’t is because it means I have to rely on someone else to protect you. It isn’t about controlling you. I know it sounds like it is, but it isn’t. I swear it isn’t.”

I pushed off the floor, stood, and opened the door. When Alessandro almost fell backwards into the room, I covered my mouth with my hand to hide my smile.

“I’m still angry,” I said.

He stood and faced me. “You have every right to be.”

“But I’ll go. For Gram’s sake.” His gaze met mine. “If you or anyone else tries to stop me from opening the shop, that will be it, Alessandro. I mean it. I won’t do another thing you ask of me.”

“I understand, and I won’t allow that to happen…”

I didn’t like the way his voice trailed off. “But?”

He shook his head. “No buts.”

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