“Why aren’t you in bed?” I asked, kissing his cheek repeatedly.
He simply shook his head, and I rested my chin on his shoulder. “I think it’s your turn to talk to me now,” I softly said, and I felt his chest rise and fall.
The muscle in his jaw ticked. “Its not over yet.”
“What do you mean?” I nervously asked, trying to steady my voice.
“There’s someone else involved,” he fists his hand on the table. “Sylvester was supposed to deliver you to Alexander, and he was supposed to deliver you to someone else. The one calling the shots,” he explained, and my arms around his neck loosened.
“How do you know that?” I hesitantly asked.
“Because Alexander’s right-hand man showed up to the house, looking for him. My father got a hold of him and made him talk.”
“Oh.” A beat passed. “Do you have any idea who it could be?” I asked, and he kept his eyes glued to the fireplace.
“It has to be someone from your past.”
“Except for the two dead men, there isn’t anyone else,” I shook my head, and he looked at me. He encouraged me to think, allowing momentary silence to fall over us. “I mean there’s the blond jock that I almost beat half to—oh! Could it be him?” I asked, and Antonio shook his head.
“Three. Three dead men,tesoro. I took care of him a long time ago,” he said, looking back at the fire, and I pulled my head back.
“Excuse me? You ‘took care’ of Loren?” I asked in confusion.
“Yes. The day after, you spent the night at my place for the first time.”
“You killed Loren?” I whisper-yelled in disbelief and shock. He nodded, sipping his drink, and I blinked for a while. “Wow, okay,” I breathlessly said, and he lowered his glass to the table. “Just go ahead and kill all the guys I tell you about then,” I sarcastically said.
“Oh, I will,” he nodded—his eyes not meeting mine.He killed Loren, too?He was quiet, and I could see there was something else.
“Hey, what else is bothering you?” I asked while walking around the sofa. I sat down next to him, pulling my legs up. I wrapped myself up in my blanket, snuggling into his side. “Tell me,” I encouraged, and he ran a hand down his face.
“Sylvester’s men trashed your house, and Alexander’s men drove by my house, shooting on the place.” My heart nearly dropped.What… That can’t be true—Mr and Mrs. De Luca… Amelia and Ivan… Rosalia and Cesar… All of them…
“Did anything happen to them—are they okay?” He nodded.They’re okay.“Shouldn’t you go over there and make sure they’re safe now?” I asked, and he sighed.
“I’ll let my father take care of his family,” he said, picking up his drink. He took another sip, and I gently turned his head towards me.
“That’s your family too. You need to make sure they’re okay.”
“You’re my top priority now, Nirah.You’remy family.”
“Yeah but—”
“But nothing,” he sternly cut me off. “If something happens or goes wrong, my father’s first instinct will be to protect his wife. Not me, or Amelia, or anyone else. His wife. Now, let me do the same,” he said, finishing his drink, and my hand dropped from his face.
“What about Amelia?” I hesitantly asked.
“She has a husband to protect her.”
“I get it, I really do, but I don’t want to be the reason why anyone else in your family gets hurt or dies.”
“You can’t change my mind, so don’t even try,” he lowered his glass to the table. “I’m not leaving your side until I’ve put a bullet through their heads myself.”
“I know, you’re just trying to protect me, but I still think you should go and check up on them. I’ll stay here and I’ll be safe, okay?”
He sarcastically scoffed, getting up. He walked over to the fireplace, standing in front of it as he ran his hand through his hair. I got up, leaving the blanket on the sofa. I walked over, gently touching his shoulder.
“Nirah, just go,” he shook his head, and I pulled my hand back.
