Page 25 of Hot Momosa

Leo

Sittingin the hall while the woman I loved sobbed in the shower was absolute torture. Over the past year, I’d experienced more than my fair share of frustration, helplessness, and wounded pride, but this…this topped it all.

I pressing my hand to the door, closed my eyes, and whispered a prayer to the Virgin Mary for Dahlia. She might not have wanted my help, but she had it. And I didn’t give a rat’s ass who had a problem with it.

“Guard her.” I pointed from the dogs to the bathroom.

Fifi, Cupcake, and Eugene sat up and swiveled their heads between me and the door, but they stayed put.

I poked my head into the guestroom to check on my son. Gunnar slept on his stomach with his thumb in his mouth. My rage threatened to bubble over when I thought about what could have happened to them. It took a sick man to threaten a woman and child. That Dahlia’s stalker had gotten so close to her and our boy was unacceptable.

I won’t let it happen again. I’ll put the bastard in the ground if that’s what it takes.

Easing from the room, I pulled my cell from my pocket.

Marco answered on the third ring, but I could barely hear him over a crying baby. “Leo, man, this better be an emergency. You woke Renata.”

“I need your help.”

“One sec.” He spoke to someone else in the room, probably Nico, and the wailing grew softer. “What’s up?”

I drew a deep breath and told him everything I knew about the situation. “Dahlia and Gunnar are safe. They’re staying with me tonight.”

He sighed the sort of sigh that told me I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say. “I’m sorry, but you know I can’t get involved in this.”

“Can’t or won’t?” I couldn’t keep the anger out of my voice. “This is my family you’re talking about. What would you do if some psychopath threatened to hurt Nico and Renata?”

“I feel you, man. I do.” He lowered his voice. “But I can’t put security on the governor’s daughter, and if Calhoun’s guy hasn’t found anything on the stalker, what makes you think I can?”

“I’m not asking you to find him. He’ll out himself soon enough.” I bowed my head and prayed for the right words to make him change his mind. “The guy came in through Gunnar’s window. Dahl saw footprints next to his crib.”

“Damn…”

“I’m desperate. Anything could have happened to them tonight. One favor is all I’m asking. For my son.”

“Are you finally going to tell the family he’s yours?”

A year and a half before, I’d screwed up. In a fit of anger, I’d let it slip to Marco about Gunnar. Since then, he’d hammered me about mine and Dahlia’s decision to keep the boy’s paternity a secret. “I need to speak to Dahlia first. Preferably when she’s not terrified.”

“How can I help?”

My chest tightened. “I need one bodyguard. A shadow to keep an eye on them when I can’t. This psycho broke into her house. He’s close. It won’t be long before he tries something else.”

“The media frenzy around Dahlia complicates things. I’d rather not out one of my guys. It jeopardizes their ability to do their jobs.”

“I get that. What about Stuart? Can you put someone else on Ma for the time being?”

“Good idea.” His tone softened. “We aren’t due back in Palermo for another week. I’ll have him shadow Dahlia and Gunnar when you’re not home until then.”

“A week could work. I have a feeling the stalker will come at her again sooner rather than later. From what she’s told me, the guy’s getting desperate.”

“Desperate means sloppy. Be careful.”

“Will do. Thanks for this. It means a lot to me.”

“Don’t mention it.” He huffed out a laugh. “Figuratively and literally.”

“I won’t. Any chance you can send Stuart to Dahlia’s place in Marigny to pick up her purse and Gunnar’s diaper bag? She freaked out when I tried to leave earlier.”

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