Page 35 of Tease

“I’m not going to lie and say nothing will change because it will, but that only means we’ll have to adjust to normal life. My feelings for you won’t change, Rina. You are who I want, okay? Just you.”

“I-I’m just s-s-scared.”

“Of what, exactly? You’re going to have to be more specific, so I understand what’s going on in that head of yours.”

I rubbed my fingers together, trying to work out how to vocalise my fears. Everything was happening so fast. I’d gone from pining after Arlo to being his girlfriend in such a small amount of time. The kidnapping attempts. The violent display I’d witnessed from him to protect me. The fact I knew he’d killed those men after interrogating them. It was a reality check. I’d gone into this knowing what Arlo did but knowing and seeing were two different things. It didn’t change my feelings towards him. I still wanted to be with him. He made me happy. Knowing he accepted me the way I was meant the world to me. It did not, however, make the very real possibility of him not being here any longer because of his connection to the mafia any less of a concern for me.

“I’ve a-always known how d-dangerous l-life is for my family even ifPapátried to s-shield me from it. Being w-with you m-makes it m-more of a reality, if that makes s-sense? It s-scares me, but I want t-to be with you, s-so I have to accept that’s a-a part of your life… our lives.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment, even as his thumb stroked across my cheek.

“I can’t promise you I’ll never be in danger, but no matter what happens, I’m always going to do my very best to make it home to you.”

Thirteen

Arlo

The fact Rina was so worried about our future had my stomach in knots. I didn’t want her to be afraid. My life wasn’t an easy one. It never had been. It was the one I’d chosen for myself when I joined Zayn and pledged my life to him after he opened Desecration. I’d already been by his side before then, but it became official when he deliberately went against Gennaro’s wishes. Now his father was dead, and in a lot of ways, things were more precarious than ever. We’d get through this. We always did.

Rina looked up at me. Those beautiful storm cloud eyes behind her glasses filled with emotion. I’d wanted her to look at me that way for so long. To know it was me she wanted by her side.

I dropped my hand from her face and squatted down in front of her, placing my hands on her thighs instead.

“I want you to understand something about the reason I work for your cousin. It might seem like Zayn needs me to be his shield, but the reality is I need him too. He’s my best friend, even if he can be a stubborn bastard and drives me crazy when he does things to put himself in danger.” I sighed. “He encouraged me to tell you how I feel, so I owe him for a lot of things, but I don’t stay out of a sense of loyalty. Without your arrogant and entirely shameless cousin, I wouldn’t have a purpose, at least not one I enjoy. So, yes, my life is dangerous, but I have a lot of things to live for. You in particular.”

She didn’t immediately answer, her grey eyes intent on mine for a long moment. Then she reached out and stroked my hair.

“He is pretty s-s-shameless.”

I snorted.

“You really have no idea what I have to put up with.” I shook my head. “I know things have happened pretty fast between us, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re who I want and I will do whatever it takes to make this work, okay?”

She nodded, giving me a shy smile.

“Good. Now, if there’s nothing else you need to do here, I suggest we finish our tea and leave. This place kind of gives me the creeps.”

I looked over at the spot where Gennaro’s body had lain. There was no evidence there any longer, but the memory was branded into my retinas.

“Is t-this where Uncle Gennaro…?”

“I shouldn’t answer that, but yes.”

Rina’s body shuddered under my palms.

“Maybe w-we should d-drink these in the living room.”

I chuckled and stood, picking up our mugs. Rina got up and followed me out of the office after she shut everything down. The two of us enjoyed a quiet conversation as we finished our drinks before we got in the car to go back to hers. We would have to wait until her boss got back to us with the case files before Rina could do anything else, so there was no point waiting around at Gennaro’s house.

When we got back, we went straight upstairs to her room. Martina and Rina’s sisters were working today, so the house was quiet. Rina went over to her cats, who were sleeping in her reading nook as usual.

“Look at you two all cuddled up together,” she murmured as she stroked Merry and Pippin’s backs.

Watching her dote on those two made me smile. She was such a kind and gentle soul. She was determined too. I didn’t think Rina would let anything hold her back when she put her mind to it. I completely understood why she needed to solve the mystery of who was after her family and who had killed her father. He’d been important to her.

“I’d say you spoil those two if I didn’t know any better,” I commented as I walked over to them.

Rina looked up from where she’d squatted down to pet her cats.

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