Page 22 of Fortress of the Brave

Hoping he might go away, I find a cup and the tea bags. I just want to make a hot drink and quickly retreat back to my room.

I hear another set of footsteps, then I see him…

Dante.

He looks like he just rolled out of bed, running a hand through his messy hair.

He gives Rocco a chin lift as the big guy moves away.

Dante looks just as surprised to see me as I do him.

“Mia,” he says gently.

I don’t know why him saying my name sends a shiver through me.

I glance down at his body, not because I’m checking him out, but because he’s wearing gray sweatpants that sit low on his hips and a white Henley that hugs his body. It’s a stark contrast from yesterday's sharp suit and tie, with his dark hair gelled back. I didn’t notice yesterday how beautiful this man is. But now I see it.

“Hey,” he says. “You okay?” He walks toward me and opens a cupboard to pull out another mug.

Rocco stands there, with his arms folded, informing Dante he will continue checking the perimeter. Then he shifts his hefty frame off the door jam. I’m not sure exactly what he’s checking for, since we appear to be in the middle of nowhere.

“I’m okay,” I reply with a nod. “Thank you.”

He reaches toward me and takes the empty cup out of my hand. “Why don’t I get that for you?” He motions to the chairs at the island bench for me to sit.

Feeling awkward, I do as he says, moving quietly to the chair.

He stops before pouring water into my cup. “Cream or?”

I shake my head. “I have a headache.”

He frowns. “Peppermint,” he says. “You don’t need caffeine if you have a headache. Peppermint will work wonders.”

He rummages around in the pantry for a moment and comes back triumphant. “Ma could survive nuclear fallout, I swear to God.”

I watch him pour my tea, and then he empties a spoonful of coffee and two sugars into his mug and walks to the fridge to get the milk. “Did you sleep?” he asks.

My eyes are pinned on his back as he turns. I look away. “Not so good.”

I’m a stranger in the Medici compound. I feel a little awkward even being here, and I wasn’t expecting to see anybody. Now I have to make small talk.

“I’m sorry for what happened to you the past few weeks,” he says, adding milk to his coffee. Then he leaves the milk on the counter and walks over to me. Handing me my mug, his eyes are intense as he stares at me, keeping his distance. “But you don’t have to worry anymore. We won’t let anything happen to you. Rayne is with Angelo now. She’s family. And we protect our family.”

I swallow hard butcan’t find my words. I feel weird, not because of him, however. I just need some space between what happened and where I am now. I don’t know if I can ever talk about this.

“It’s still surreal,” I manage. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Did Rayne tell you anything about us?”

“You mean the mafia?”

His eyebrows quirk ever so slightly, making me think people don’t just blurt that word out, but I don’t care.

That’s what they are.

The mob.

Gangsters.

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