Page 57 of The Capo

“I don’t want you hurt.”

“Then don’t hurt me.”

Exhaling, he walked closer, finishing rolling his second sleeve. I wanted nothing more than to take one of my fingers, maybe my pinky and trail it along the artwork on his arm, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that. It was far too intimate, just like the way he was looking at me.

“Who was she?” I finally asked.

“What do you mean?”

“The girl who made you build the walls around yourself, the one who broke your heart? It’s obvious you cared for someone but became determined never to allow it to happen again.”

He laughed. “I’m not the kind of man who could care about anyone. Isn’t that what you keep reminding yourself?”

I shook my head, trying to keep my anger in check. “Fine, Francois. How sad that one day you’ll figure out what you were missing. By then it will be too late.” The ache inside was horrific, dulling my senses. But I wasn’t going to embarrass myself anylonger. I had more self-confidence than that. He was the one missing out. He was the one who’d kick himself for pushing me away. I rubbed my eyes, still able to feel his intense stare.

“Tell me everything you can about the man you met in the bar.” His demand was emotionless. Maybe he was nothing but a monster after all.

Of course he would avoid the elephant in the room.

“I don’t know what else to say. He was tall with dark hair, similar in build to you. He bypassed all the other women in the bar, finding me near the dance floor.”

“Targeting you. I know he was wearing a mask but were there any discernable features other than he threatened you?”

I closed my eyes then laughed bitterly. “At least once he spoke in a different language. Maybe Spanish but you know what was strange? It was like he wasn’t talking to me at that point.”

Francois looked away. “Spanish. Anything else?”

“Does that mean anything? Be honest with me.”

“If what I learned and what I suspect is true, the people who have a beef with my family knew you’d become a weakness somehow. A dangerous cartel.”

“A cartel? Wow. Them realizing we had anything to do with each other seems like a stretch since we haven’t seen each other in so many years,” I told him. “But you’re working with my father.”

“Exactly, which is why every precaution needs to be taken.” He nodded.

The man was tenser than I’d seen him before, his muscles bulging against his tightly woven shirt. That only accentuatedthe intensity of his action. I watched as he headed toward the bar, every action so intensely done, his heightened level of concentration furrowing his tightly knit brows. The tension seemed to continue increasing until the thick cords in his neck rose and fell with his rapid pulse.

Goddamn, the man was sexy, so much so it was all I could do to hold back a scattered moan. No. I refused. He’d made himself very clear. I’d shut down like he had, refusing to acknowledge the attraction.

He took his time putting two ice cubes in his glass, pouring bourbon more than halfway up the thick tumbler. It was as if he was choosing his words carefully. Even the way he swirled the liquid caused my heart to flutter.

My body swayed and biting my tongue was all I could do at this point.

“Why is protecting me so important to you other than perhaps a loss of business?” I finally asked, trying to break the tension and iciness between us.

“Why? You’re seriously asking me why?” He turned to face me, taking three long strides in my direction. I swayed once again, trying to keep my ground, his scent more intoxicating than before.

Or perhaps it was the fragrance of my complete arousal. When he flitted his eyes to my breasts, it became painfully aware my nipples were hard as diamonds, pressing against the tight material.

“Yes. This is just about owing my father and nothing else?” Great. Now I sounded haughty all over again, which wasn’tmy intention. However, I did want to push for answers, maybe breaking him free of the shell he’d placed himself in.

“Protecting you is important to me, Delaney. It’s also about respecting a long-standing friendship, a camaraderie that I’ve shared with no one else, including my brother. I was asked to protect you and that’s what I plan on doing. It would kill him if anything happened to you.”

“And you?”

He opened his mouth to answer then filled it with liquor. “As I said, I am taking this very seriously.”

“You make it sound like a job.” I was the one creating tension, but his frankness hurt more than I cared to admit, even to myself. Maybe I was forcing his hand, trying to figure out what we shared. If anything. I was more confused than I wanted to admit. Because of his actions. Because of my feelings. Because of the heightened level of danger.

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