Page 84 of Fortress of the Brave

“Yes, but when will we be coming back?”

“I don’t know right now. Until we can track these fuckers down, it’s better to be safe than sorry. They already blew up a car. Luckily, we weren’t fucking in it, but that sent a clear message. I want you with me. Anything you need, I can have brought to you.”

His words tug at my heartstrings.He wants me with him.

We’re only a few weeks away from Christmas. This is going to suck. I was hoping to have my first Christmas in the apartment with my friends, Rayne, and hopefully Dante too. That’s if we’re coming clean to Angelo and my sister by then.

A wash of love and affection warms through me at his words. I know he means every one of them.

“Okay,” I say. “I know you’re only doing what’s best for me.”

“Which is why you should also probably call your sister back, she’ll be worried sick. I texted her to say I was stopping by to pick you up.”

I nod. I didn't intend to keep Rayne waiting for a call back, but now I feel horribly guilty. I know she is still traumatized about what happened to me and how helpless that felt.

“Thank you,” I say, pressing a small kiss to his lips as I pull back. “She will be worried about me. I guess some things never change, as much as we may want them to.”

“Hey,” he starts when I turn to go and retrieve my things. “I keep my promises, Mia. You’re safe.”

“What about Rayne?”

“Of course she’s safe. She’s with Angelo.”

“Exactly that,” I start. “This latest car explosion was a threat against Angelo. He’s the head of the family.”

“Rayne knew the deal when she signed up. She knows the risks she takes by being with the mob boss,” he reminds me. “And I’m sorry that you’ve been dragged into it. If there was any other way…”

I press a finger over his lips to quieten him. “Don’t, Dante. Please don’t. I don’t want to think about not being without you.” I feel relief when I finally get the words out.

It’s like they’ve been burning a hole in my chest, and now they’re finally free.

I don’t want to ever be without him. It might sound awfully insta-lovey, but I don’t care what other people think. It’s my life, and I’m the one in control of my feelings and my heart.

“Neither do I.” He cups my ass and gives it a squeeze. “Now go get your things, and I’ll carry your bags down to the car.”

* * *

Rayne gives me a hug when she gets to my suite at the casino.

“You’re being so brave about all of this,” she says, sounding a little weary. “I’m sorry that you’ve been dragged into this mess. I thought moving you here was the best course of action and that we’d get to see one another and things would get better…”

“It’s okay,” I tell her. “None of this is your fault.”

“Yes, but being with Angelo is one thing. However, now that it’s going to be affecting your life…Mia, I don’t know if any of this was a good idea.”

I rub her shoulders with my palms and try to calm her. “Don’t be silly. I chose to do this. I knew the risks. You fell in love with the mob boss of Boston.” I shake my head. “But I know you, sis, and I trust your judgment. If you say Angelo is different, then I believe you. I know that you didn’t go into this lightly. You were innocent too, when you took that job and this all started. I don’t blame you. This is my choice to be here, knowing what I know.”

Her gaze lands on me, and I feel so sorry for the look she gives me. Like she truly wants to find a way around this but doesn’t know how. “I just never want you to feel unsafe, Mia. It’s a hard limit for me.”

“They’ll keep us safe, you said so yourself.”

She nods, pulling me into another hug. “I know they will. Dante seems pretty smitten.”

My eyes go wide. I still haven’t confessed everything yet, but she’s no dummy.

“He’s certainly very sweet. Everything he did in New York for my birthday…”

“Like I said, smitten. Now get some rest. We’ll go to the gallery tomorrow, but unfortunately, Angelo’s gone overboard. And now we’ve got Darko tagging along.”

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