Page 28 of Omega in Hiding

“Did he threaten you or something?” He moves closer still, his eyes assessing. “You went from warm and friendly, to an ice berg. You just suddenly froze me out. You’re saying that was because of Dario?”

I hesitate. He sounds almost hopeful, and I’m not sure what to say. “I’ll answer you truthfully if you’ll answer something truthfully for me too.”

His cheek twitches. “What is it you want to know?”

“I want to know why you were upset with me earlier? I don’t understand why you seemed mad at me forprotectingyou, Paolo.” My voice wobbles a little with nerves. “I… I didn’t want you to die. Why is that a bad thing?”

His face tenses and a flush creeps up his cheeks. “You know exactly why I’m upset. I froze, Connor. I fucking froze like a coward.”

I exhale in frustration. “You’re being silly. You were simply taken by surprise.”

“So were you but you didn’t turn into a damn statue. You acted quickly. You were… heroic. I was an embarrassment to all alphas.”

“No.” I shake my head. “You’re so wrong. Have you ever been in that situation before? Because I have been, and that’s the only reason my reactions were quicker.” I wince inwardly because I gave too much info. I’m not surprised when he fixates on that info either.

“When have you been in a gunfight before? Why would a manny ever be in a gunfight?” He narrows his eyes.

I try to skirt his question. “What’s wrong with me watching out for you? You’ve watched out for me several times while I was here. Why can’t I return the favor?”

“Connor,” he says in a hushed voice. “When and why would you have been in that kind of situation in the past?”

My face warms. “It’s not important.”

“It is to me.” His gaze is intense. “You want to be my friend? Well, friends tell each other things. You said you were a manny for six years. Were you something else before that? Something that required guns?”

There’s no way I can tell him the truth. I’d lose my job and his friendship in one blow. If he knew who my family was, he’d be repulsed. IfDariofinds out who I am, I could wind up dead. But I have to tell Paolo something. He needs some sort of answer.

I decide to recycle the story I told Dario about my imaginary sister dying at the hands of the mob. If I can get his sympathy, he’ll probably stop asking so many questions. “I lost a sister to mob violence. That forced me to wake up. Whether I like violence or not, it’s a part of the world.”

He frowns. “You lost a sister to mob violence? How?”

“It was a long time ago,” I lie. “It was when the Bambino Mafia went to war with another syndicate. My sister was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ll always regret that I couldn’t protect her. After losing her, I vowed I’d be ready to protect those I cared about from that point on.”

He narrows his eyes. “Those you care about? Are you seriously pretending you care about me? You wouldn’t even talk to me today.”

“I told you why that was. I didn’t want to be like that to you, Paolo. I swear.”

“You’re actually saying Dario warned you not to get too close to me?”

I sigh. “Yes.”

“Dario can be such a control freak.” His voice is harsh. “He should mind his own business.”

“That may be true, but he’s my employer. I just did what I was told to do. I hated every minute of it. I hated being rude to you. I really like you, Paolo.”

His eyes flicker. “God, you must feel sorry for me or something. You’re suddenly being sonice.” He scowls, moving away from me. “You know, I’m more than capable of shooting a gun. I fucked up today, yeah, but… that isn’t who I am.”

“I know that.”

“Do you?” He rakes a hand through his hair. “How would you know that? My performance today certainly wouldn’t give you that impression.”

“Paolo,” I say in exasperation. “Stop fixating on that one moment. Stop beating yourself up over that. You were simply caught off guard.”

“But you weren’t. Enzo wasn’t,” he mutters.

I move up to him.“Stop it,”I hiss. “I’m just relieved you’re okay. That’s what matters.”

He holds my gaze, his body rigid. His mouth is a stubborn line, and the embarrassment and pain still linger in his light blue eyes.

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