Page 7 of Room Twenty-Three: Tangled & Teased

They tortured her?

“No.” Tears stream from my eyes. I know he wants to tell me, but he can’t bring himself to.

“Erin.” He hesitates and takes my hand again. “I’ve been a terrible father. I’ve never been there for you. Decided on your career for my benefit, but...” He sighs. “I brought you to England so we could live a life away from the Mafia. They’re dangerous, and I can’t trust that you’re safe just because I work for them.”

A shiver skates down my spine when a car pulls up and stops outside the house.

“He’s here,” Dad says, looking out of the window.

My heart pounds wildly as I wonder who the man is. I rush to the window and watch a colossal figure with black hair getting out of his car before striding to the door.

The knock is hard as my father strolls back to his desk and presses the intercom on his desk. “Marco, let him in.”

“Who is it?” I whisper.

“You’re going away for a while, Erin,” my father declares, back to his matter-of-fact tone. The loving father role lasted all of fifteen minutes.

My head spins and I think I’m going into shock.

The door opens and through my hazy vision; I stare at the man who now stands in the doorway.

“You need to pack a suitcase, Erin, while I talk to Beau.” I shift my gaze to my father.

He nods to Marco. “Can you help her?”

I push my fingertips over my eyes to clear my blurry vision before I shift my gaze back to the man. He is wearing a pair of navy blue jeans, a blue suit jacket, a white shirt with no tie, two buttons undone and it shows a little of his corded, tan neck. My eyes wander from his body to his face, where I see thick eyelashes that are the same color as his almost black hair and surround beautiful sea-green eyes.

“Pleased to meet you,” he says, holding out his hand.

I smile as I stagger toward him, taking his hand. Electricity zaps through me. And all I can do is stare as his fingers heat my flesh.

He looks at me awkwardly, as my father barks, “Suitcase.”

I shake my head. I need to get away and stop myself from making a fool as I look at him.

I’m saved when Marco takes my hand and leads me away. “I could have looked after you.”

I smile. “My father likes you as his bodyguard.”

My footsteps are slow as I creep up the staircase and try to listen in on the conversation taking place in the living room.

“We have some business to attend to in America. That is all I can tell you. Unfortunately, there’s no way around it, but Erin will need her passport and come with us,” Beau says.

My body stills. There’s no way my father will allow a stranger to take me overseas. Not if he thinks there is a threat to my life. But...

America.

I could visit my cousin Pierce in New York, maybe surf in California, or ski in Aspen. America wouldn’t be so bad.

“America...” My father’s voice is low, as though he is considering it, but not entirely happy. I wait for him to turn down the offer. “Okay. It will be a good idea for her to get away from here. I’ll get her passport.”

Chapter 3

Jove

Gravelcrunchesasacar pulls up outside our manor house. A large white-washed building in acres of land that keeps not only us private but also our business and clients.

Atty practically jumps out of his chair and dashes to the window, like a hungry teenager when dinner is about to be served. I follow him and glance out of the window at the same time as the front door creaks open.

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