I stop in front of Giovanni and he quirks an eye brow at me. He looks slightly concerned and another, most likely ill advised, plan comes to mind.
“You are a complete asshole. Don’t call me again.”
Giovanni immediately stiffens as I hang up my phone and I watch as the men around him do the same. I’m angry, but not angry enough. I think about someone kicking a puppy and I feel my anger rise. With that anger, the undeniable prickling feel of tears comes.
“Sofia. What is it?” Giovanni looks around as if the threat is near.
“I need to talk to Bash.”
His eyes soften.
“He is busy. I can get a message to him though.”
Now that the tears are in my eyes, I let them fall. I walk forward and cling to the lapels of Giovanni’s jacket.
“Please. I just need to talk to him. I don’t need to see him. Just hear his voice. Please Giovanni.”
He pulls his phone out and dials a number.
“Sofia is here. She needs to speak with you.”
He doesn’t say another word. He just hands me his phone. The tears dry up as I put it to my ear.
“Bash?”
“Sofia. Is everything okay?”
It sounds like he is moving and my suspicions are confirmed when I hear a door shut.
“I’m fine. We need to talk. I want the guard dogs let off the leash.”
“What? Who hurt you? Tell me what is wrong.”
“What is wrong is you have me being followed around and yet you didn’t even ask if I was okay with it. I appreciate you protecting my friends, but you don’t need to protect me. I am fine. Call your guard dogs off.”
“Sofia” he growls at me. “I was in the middle of a very important meeting. You had Giovanni call me for this? Give him the phone. I will deal with you later.”
“No. You will deal with me now. You leave me without a way of contacting you and make decisions about my life without my knowledge that’s not going to fly with me.”
“Sofia! That is enough. I don’t have time for this. Tell Giovanni his punishment will come later.”
“No! You won’t punish him. He thought I was in danger, which was because I made him think that. As for not having time for me, you damn well better make time for me. I won’t put up with this disappearing act you put on. If you want to make decisions about my life, you will not then disappear and leave me no way to yell at you for them.”
I hear him take a couple of deep breaths. I had turned my back to the guys and I turn around to find only Giovanni standing there. He looks angry.
“Are you working today?”
The calmness in Bash’s voice scares me. I can take his yelling. I can watch him kill someone. Hell, I can even take him pointing a gun at my head. All without feeling a hint of fear. This calmness I hear in his voice now sends a chill down my spine.
“I do.”
“Fine. I will pick you up at 8. Tell your Uncle you will not be home tonight.”
“W-what? Why?”
“Because we are going to have this discussion that you seem to think is so important. Tell Gio to stay with you today. I will see you later.”
He hangs up before I can get another word in. I look up to Giovanni and hand him his phone.
