Page 37 of Gin & Trouble

“I’m feeling much better. I’ll be home shortly.”

Sophia sighed. “Don’t be stupid. There’s nowhere safer for you. Stay there, work, keep tabs on Tommaso. I’ll stick to our original plan and leave town.”

“I don’t think so.” My heart hammered against my ribs, but I managed to keep my voice steady.

“I’ll pack a bag for you and leave it by the front door. Have that nerdy coworker of yours pick it up.”

“Okay, but look in my bottom dresser drawer—”

“I’m not packing your vibrator.” Sophia deadpanned.

Holding back tears, I laughed for her sake. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d never see her again. “I hid your Christmas present there.”

“No. I’m leaving it. We’ll be together for Christmas. I promise.” She disconnected.

“Are you seriously planning to go home? You’re not walking out of here alone. Either call the cops, or I will.” He stood taller and folded his arms as if daring me to argue, but the concern in his eyes ruined the effect.

I hated it, but Sophia was right. As long as I stayed inside the building, I was safe. Plus, I needed to find a way to warn Dante his family was in danger. “The police can’t help.”

“If someone’s threatening you—”

“No. You don’t understand.”

Think, Frankie, Think.

“The guy bothering meisa cop. I tried to get a restraining order, but it didn’t work. He has a perfect record. The judge believed him over me.”

Dante arched an eyebrow. “That sounds like a plot to a Nicolas Sparks movie.”

Great. Just great.

I put every ounce of fear and frustration I had into glaring at Dante. “Are you making fun of my situation?”

“Not at all.” He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced up through his lashes. “Sorry. I wasn’t born with a brain-to-mouth filter.”

Sophia’s words bounced around my skull. I hated the idea of staying with him, but what choice did I have?

None. Not unless I want to end up dead, or worse, in an arranged marriage.

The adrenaline leeched from my bloodstream, leaving me exhausted and weepy, or maybe the reality of my situation had finally broken me.

Dante pulled me into an embrace. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. Is your sister safe?”

I sagged against him. He was warm and strong and smelled so damned good. “She’s going out of town for a few days.”

He eased back far enough to meet my gaze. “If you don’t want to go to the police, I’ll have someone from the security team shadow you for a few days.”

“Do they do that?” As far as I knew, the Marchionnis had given up theirmusclewhen they’d left the mafia. What remained were the men who guarded the building, and a small team that worked at the mansion. If they were looking out for me, there would be fewer men to protect Dante’s family. I couldn’t allow it.

“Not the guys you know here, but my parents have private security…” He seemed to realize he’d misspoken and frowned. “Damn it. They’ll have their hands full with my mother and Marco in town.”

“What about the rest of your family? Why don’t you all have protection?” I knew the answer, but part of me hoped Marco’s visit meant they’d tightened security for all of the Marchionnis.

Dante tensed. “We’re businessmen. Why would we need bodyguards?”

“You wouldn’t, I guess.” I hated that we were both forced to twist the truth to protect our families. “But I noticed some pretty scary looking guys on the security feed from the mansion.”

“Marco and my mom are a different story because they do most of their business overseas. Not everywhere is as safe as the US.”

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