Page 70 of The Veiling

“Felipe’s dead, Noah,” I hissed.

“But you’re still the fiancée of a billionaire who is also a fucking mob boss. The reality is the danger will never be gone. People will always be looking for a way to get close to you whether they have good intentions or not.” He glanced at Laura and Tanya before bringing his gaze back to mine. “And I’m not going to take the chance and gamble which kind of intentions they have with you. My job is to make sure you’re safe, not let you interact with the public.” He took a step closer, leaning next to my ear. “Truthfully, you never know who could be recording you and trying to get you to say the slightest thing so they can twist it for use with the media. You can never be too careful.”

“Um,” I exhaled, “okay, wow. I mean, I knew I had to be careful, but I wasn’t aware I wasn’t allowed to speak to people.”

“You can speak to people, but you don’t need to be baited into a conversation, especially about your return or relationship.”

“Fine.”

I understood. He was just doing his job. Sometimes, too well. I was not mad at him. I just had this newfound freedom, and I assumed the world without Felipe and Jesse was a little more peaceful. For so long, they had been the enemy, pulling on the strings of their many puppets. Lindsay Baxter crossed my mind, and I shook my head, remembering how anyone could weasel their way into our home.

I nodded. “Okay, I do get it now.”

“Thank you.” He smirked. “Now, which dress shop would you like to go to?”

Laura stepped up next to me, hooking her arm in mine once again. “How about that one?” She lifted her chin toward one of my favorite boutiques, Mario Mancini.

“The goal is to be normal today and you’re pointing me to the thousand-dollar dress shop you know is my weakness.” I loved Mario Mancini’s clothes. He was one of my favorite designers of all time, and friends with Valentino. He often custom-made suits for my fiancé and formal gowns for me. They were impossible to resist. I glanced down, rubbing my small stomach in a circle, knowing soon I would no longer be able to wear them. “Oh fine, let’s go. I want to savor the moment.”

Noah led us across the street and opened the door. We all stepped in ahead of him. The woman who always assisted me rounded the corner with a bright smile on her face.

“Good morning, ladies,” she lifted her gaze to the tall men with us, “and very handsome men.”

Everyone greeted her cordially before she allowed us to browse unbothered. Tanya and Laura wandered around the store separately, inspecting each rack of dresses for me to try on. Giacomo and Tate remained by the door while Noah strolled beside me, hands clasped together behind his back.

“Do you really think someone’s going to pounce on me in here?” I thumbed through several maroon, floor-length gowns.

“Right now, I’m just spending time with my cousin.”

Pausing, I glanced back over my shoulder, snorting. “Mmmkay.”

“I’m on the clock right now.” He pointed to his gold Patek Philippe watch. “You’re stuck with me for six more luxurious hours.”

“I can babysit myself in this store.” I sighed, scanning the large room. “There’s literally no one in here besides us. It wouldn’t surprise me if Valentino set this all up, and this was a ploy to get me here. He probably called ahead and had them shut it down.”

He remained silent.

“Are you serious?!” I huffed.

He cocked a brow.

“I tell him I want to do something normal, and he shuts down the entire store.”

“Letting you go out in public again was his idea of normal.”

“You don’t get to defend my fiancé when you’re my cousin.” Just then, I heard a giggle at something in the corner. I snapped my gaze to the girls. “Did he tell them this, too?”

Noah shrugged.

“Was I the only one who didn’t know this was his plan today?”

“Isabelle,” Noah sighed, “just choose a fucking dress and be thankful someone loves you.”

“Belle!” Tanya called out.

I spun toward her. She held up a long, midnight blue gown with a thigh split. I shook my head. The corner of her lip curled up in playful disgust.

“Something maroon, or wine, please.” I whirled back around to Noah. “Let’s talk about you proposing to Laura.”

---