“Never. Over my fucking dead body are you returning to them.”
“Thank you. I don’t care why you took me last night, but either way, I’m temporarily safe from Rafael.”
“Soon it will be permanently,” he says to himself.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask when it strikes me that he’s going to kill his brother. I’m not against it, but why would he want to do that?
A knock at the door stops him from answering. He presses a finger to my lips and then walks to get it.
I creep to the bathroom door, attempting to hear the exchange. “Sir, your lawyer is downstairs waiting for you. I set him in the living room.”
“Any word?”
“Nothing. It’s still quite early. They may not even know she’s gone yet.” I’m nervous to see what happens when they realize I’m gone.
“True. Very well. I’m looking forward to his reaction when he learns the truth. Revenge will never be sweeter.” I hold back the gasp and wait for Santino to walk back in.
“I want you to stay up here and don’t move. You can watch television. Those bags of clothes are for you. I don’t know what’s in them, but I’m told it should be everything you need.” The formal, stiff tone turns my body icy cold.
He leaves me there standing in the middle of his bedroom with tears welling up in my eyes. I’m just a pawn. Okay. Fight these feelings. I don’t care if he can make you come on a dime or if his stare makes your heart hope for a happily ever after. The first chance you get, you take it.
I grab the bags and spread them out on the bed. Everything is from Target, which doesn’t surprise me. Rafael was the same way. Expensive things for him, nothing for me. It’s not that I don’t like Target clothes, but I expected more for some reason. God, I have to get it out of my head that he wants something more. I’m descending into madness.
After picking out a cute white tee and a pair of pink cotton shorts, I grab the nude bra, which is way too small for my chest. Shit. The panties will do simply fine, but since I’m trapped in this room, what does it matter if I have a bra?
As I pick up the rest of the clothes and toss them in the bag, I catch the faint aroma of his scent. Like a fool, I lie back down in the bed and bring his pillow to my nose. It’s so captivating that I lose track of time and all my worries.
Chapter Seven
Santino
“Dimitri, it’s so good to see you again.” I welcome my longtime friend with a one-armed hug. He warned me before they played me that he hadn’t trusted my family, but no, I didn’t want to listen to him. I’ve had to live with that for the past two years, and he’s made sure to remind me of it on numerous occasions.
“Same to you, Santino. You’re looking good.” I should say the same to him. I was too preoccupied at the courthouse to notice, but he’s looking stronger and his grip isn’t that of a weak lawyer but a man who has been hitting the gym frequently.
“Knowing I’d be getting my life back looks good on me, but shit, I could say the same about you. Have you been working out a lot more?”
He nods, but there’s a sense of frustration on his face. “Yes. My acquaintances in Russia have been giving me a hard time about my refusal to work for them, so I’m preparing to go toe to toe with them if push comes to shove.”
“I didn’t know you had dealings in Russia.” That’s a revelation to me.
“It started out as a favor for my cousin Alexei a few weeks ago. One thing led to another, and here I am in bed with guys I don’t want to have any dealings with and another boss of the Bratva out for my head.”
“Do I need to be concerned?” It’s not something I need on my plate right now. I’m ready to go to war with my family. Technically I’ve been at war this entire time, but this time I’m the one striking first.
“Nyet. They are sensible enough to leave my clients alone. This is strictly a family issue.”
“Good, but I hope that we’re more than just business associates,” I remind him. There are very few people I can call my friends, and Dimitri is one.
“Of course. Of course we are. It’s just not something they need to be made aware of. They’ll steal your firstborn if you let it slip that you’re having a baby.”
“Fine. I’ll be watching my back either way. Forget about everything else. We have so much to go over. Do you want some coffee?”
“I’d love some. It’s been already a long morning.” I summon Jasper and ask for some coffee. Once he leaves, Dimitri continues, “I’ve been down to the courthouse to get the papers processed. I believe there’s something you need to know. While I was there, Denton came out of a stairwell, speaking to Antonetti.”
“My father’s lawyer?” Suddenly, my collar gets too damn tight. I loosen it and then stand up because coffee isn’t going to be enough. “Do you want a drink? Because I’m having one.”
“No on the drink, and yes, unfortunately, his lawyer. I’m sorry, Santino. It’s not something you wanted to hear, I’m sure. I don’t know what they were talking about, but I did manage to take a quick picture on my phone.”
He hands me the phone as Jasper comes back in with a cup of coffee each on a tray with cream and sugar. Dimitri takes it and adds some of both while I look over the photo, hoping to find something to give me answers. “Denton has a death wish or maybe I’ll just toss his ass in prison. You do have all that information, right?”
“Yes, I
