“Relax.” Holden stepped close to set a hand on Amanda’s shoulder. “We have top of the line security measures in place.”
“Yeah.” Carter smirked. “My equipment. Just like here at Dante’s.”
He watched Amanda turn to her sister. “I’m really sorry I brought you into my mess. I had no idea this would happen.”
“It’s okay.” Emily pulled her to her feet and into a hug.
Dante’s already tight chest tightened. He should be offering Amanda comfort, but he was still processing her deceit. No, it wasn’t exactly that. More like her omittance.
A secret.
“I don’t understand what he’s looking for,” she said. “And it’s not like he even visited my apartment over there. We went to lunch once, and a picnic the second time. All in public. That was it.”
“Just because you didn’t invite him to your place doesn’t mean he didn’t go there,” Dante told her.
She sank back down. “You think he broke into my apartment and planted something?”
“People do it all the time. It’s a safe way for them to get the product out of the country and off their radar. Then they have another point of contact on the other side ready for pick-up.”
She groaned. “So, in other words, I was used as a jackass.”
Emily snorted. “Think the term you’re looking for is a mule, Amanda.”
She shook her head. “No, I was a jackass. How damn vulnerable could I be?”
“There are a lot of international victims,” Gabe told her.
His stomach gripped tight. Gabe was right. She was a victim.
“My vulnerability has put everyone at risk.” She sucked in a breath and stiffened again. “Noah…Oh my God. What if Lyle and whomever he is working with had known I was here last night?”
Dante’s heart lurched and he gripped the counter behind him as his mind flashed many gruesome crime scenes through his head.
“I unintentionally put him at risk.” She lifted a tortured gaze to his. “I’m sorry, Dante. I had no idea that trouble had followed me. I’d never do anything to hurt him. You have to believe me.”
He did believe her. But that didn’t change the fact she was right. Shehadput his son at risk.
Christ, his chest was so tight he could barely breathe, and it increased when he watched a single tear slide down her face.
She looked away and exhaled. “I should’ve stayed in London.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t do that.” Emily strode to Amanda and set both hands on her shoulders. “Don’t give this jerk that power. He or she is responsible, not you.”
“Sure feels like me.” Amanda hiccupped.
“Well, you’re not responsible.” Emily glowered. “So, get that out of your head.”
Amanda shrugged. “Can’t. Because it’s the truth.”
Emily muttered a curse and then glanced at him. “Dante, tell her she’s wrong.”
Torn between what he wanted to do and what he should do, he hesitated a second then opened his mouth to say what? He had no idea, but his son chose then to call down from upstairs.
“Daddy, are you having a party?” Noah asked.
The kitchen grew quiet.
He walked toward the stairs and looked up. “No, little dude. Go back to bed.”
