Page 47 of Tease

Emmett: Did you watch the video?

Rina: What difference does it make if I did?

Emmett: You’ll understand why I can’t give this up.

I let out a sigh. Arlo put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it as if reassuring me I had this. I was glad he hadn’t said a word about the video. I couldn’t deal with it right now.

Rina: Why now? He’s been dead for over a year… unless it’s because my uncle is dead as well.

Emmett: Bingo.

He was coming after us because Uncle Gennaro was no longer in the picture. It made me aware Emmett was never going to give up. I was going to have to make him. I owed it to my family. I owed it to my father because this cycle of death needed to end.

My search started flashing at me. Despite his precautions, I’d been able to track down his location. At least, close enough. I pointed at it for Arlo’s sake.

Emmett: I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist trying to find me.

So he knew I’d done it too. I wasn’t entirely surprised. After all, he must have similar skills to me if he was able to hack into my system originally.

Emmett: How about we carry on this conversation in person, hmm? Then we can settle this once and for all.

His final message was his exact location along with the instruction to come alone, then he went offline.

I sat there staring at the screen for a long moment until I heard Arlo shift behind me.

“I-I-I have to meet him. I have to end this, Arlo. I c-c-can’t let him hurtMamáor my sisters.”

Arlo moved around my chair and leaned against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Okay, I understand, but you can’t go alone, Rina. Let me assemble my men and then we can go after him, okay? I don’t want you getting hurt or for something to happen to you.”

The concern on his face made me want to agree with him. I didn’t want Arlo worrying about me. However, I wasn’t sure if Emmett would talk to me if I turned up with men at my back. I was pretty sure he would run and then we’d be no closer to neutralising the threat.

“Okay.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded, hating myself for lying to him. It was stupid of me to do any of this alone, but I felt responsible for saving my family. I had to do this for mypapá. He had died because of his actions. He’d given his life willingly to Emmett, and it hadn’t been enough.

Everyone had underestimated me my entire life. I wasn’t afraid of Emmett. I was afraid of losing more of my family because of this horrible situation my uncle had caused. If he hadn’t threatened Emmett’s aunt into dropping the case against him, then none of this would have happened. I was going to make it right.

“I’ll gather everyone together and make it happen.” Arlo reached out and stroked my cheek. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not right now.”

He nodded.

“Should I make you some tea? Will that help?”

“Please.”

He smiled at me.

“I’ll do that while I sort things out.” Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to my mouth and nuzzled my face. “You’re so strong,mia preziosa.I’m proud of you for getting through that.”

I gave him a half-smile before he disappeared from the room. The moment he was gone, I dug my phone out and ordered a taxi since I couldn’t drive. It said it would be five minutes as one was in the area. I took a photo of the address Emmett had given me to make sure I knew where I was going. I was out of my chair and rushing over to my wardrobes the next moment. Tugging out my black hoodie, I put it on and zipped it up before stuffing my feet into a pair of trainers. I kept some of my shoes up here rather than in the lobby.

Creeping out of my room, I silently made my way along the hall until I reached the stairs. Then I snuck down to the front door. I checked my phone. The taxi was almost here. I opened the door and dashed out, letting it close relatively silently behind me.

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