“Are you on the road yet?” Vito demands.
I lean forward and place my hand on his shoulder to stop him from answering. “Yes, Sir. We’re on our way. Can you tell me where we’re going and what we’re doing?”
“I’ll do my best to answer those questions when you get here. I’m walking into a meeting,” Vito answers quickly.
“Sounds good! I’ll see you soon,” I tell him, my chest getting tight as my anxiety climbs with the fact I have no idea where I’m going.
I lay my head back on the seat and close my eyes trying to come down from the shit that just went down. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know, I feel as if I’m floating. Breathing in deeply, Vito’s scent wraps around me, so I snuggle tighter into him, and he chuckles.
“I got you, my Blood Rose,” he whispers.
I look up at the bottom of his chin. “Why do you call me that?”
Not expecting him to answer my question, I start to close my eyes again, and then he does. “Like a blood rose, you’re one of a kind. Dark, beautiful, and dangerous if someone doesn’t know how to handle you.”
“That’s sweet and dark at the same time,” I mumble.
I wake up sometime later in the back of another car, but this time there are more people. I stretch my arms above my head. Looking around, I see Vito beside me, then a young woman sitting next to an older gentleman in the row in front of us and then two men in the very front.
“So, we’re going to Nashville?” I ask him.
Vito looks up from his phone, smiling at me before kissing my temple. “Yeah, we’re going to Nashville. When we get there you can go shopping for the things you need.”
“Thank you,” I say around a yawn. “Why did we have to leave so quickly? Is there something I need to know?”
“We’ve been planning this trip for a few weeks. You were the newest addition to the trip,” Vito smirks.
Fourteen
Vito
We make it to Nashville with no problems at all. As our convoy pulls into the O’Malley compound, I can finally breathe a little easier now that we’re not out in the open and completely exposed. Grandfather Silas’s nurse and Loretta both are looking at the large house in pure awe as we pull up around the front of the house. Standing at the front are Mason, his wife Lawson, his sister Malia, her husband Theo, and Mr. O’Malley.
“I look like a bum compared to everyone else around me,” Loretta whispers, patting her hair down.
“You look beautiful, and I can promise you those women will not judge you,” I tell her as the doors are opened.
Grandfather steps out the door first. “O’Malley, my friend, it’s so good to see you.”
Climbing out behind him, I can’t help but smile when they embrace each other.
Andre comes to stand beside Grandfather Silas, shaking hands with everyone and kissing the women on their cheeks. I follow his lead, doing the same. Loretta stands behind me with her head down, doing her best not to draw attention to herself.
Mia leans around me, looking at Loretta and smiling wide. “Hi, I’m Mia, and this blond twig right here is my best friend andsister-in-law, Lawson. The men didn’t tell us that the Kardonis’ were bringing women with them.”
Loretta looks up at her, giving her a small smile. “Hi, I’m Loretta, and I’m a friend of Vito’s.”
The little nurse gives them a small wave. “I’m just here to take of Mr. Silas, pay me no mind.”
Andre goes stiff beside me when she speaks, a dark look spreading across his features. Oh, it looks like Grandfather Silas was right. Andre has fallen hard and is just being an ass about it.
“Oh yay! Are you ladies going to be staying and attending the Halloween party tomorrow night?” Lawson asks, smiling sweetly at her.
Loretta looks up at me with an eyebrow raised. “I wasn’t aware there was a Halloween party. Hell, until this morning I didn’t even know I was coming on this trip. Is there a thrift store where I might be able to get some things and maybe an outfit?”
The little nurse looks down at her hands, murmuring, “I’ll be with Mr. Silas that evening, but thank you for the invite.”
Grandfather turns to look at her. “What do you mean? I’m going to that party, which means so will you. Did you not bring anything for a fancy party?”
