Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Yeah?” I asked.
“The boss wants to speak to you,” he said.
“Are you alright?” Dante asked.
His voice sounded so soft that I couldn’t help but break down in tears again. I tried to respond but when I couldn’t, I handed the phone over. I heard the man’s report in Italian, low and controlled, and then the car was once again silent.
I continued staring out of the window. I watched us head out of the city and continue about sixty miles south. About an hour later, I could feel the vehicle which had thus far been going at an incredible speed begin to slow down. I sat up and saw a dark green Mercedes waiting by the side of the road.
The SUV parked in front of it and all the men disembarked. Before I could panic the door to my side was jerked open and I was caught just in time by firm, sturdy hands.
Chapter 39
Zola
Iwas still shaking and in shock, but his scent was instantly familiar. I stared up at my lover’s concerned face as if I were seeing a ghost. Relief started seeping into my terrified body.
At first it was a slow trickle as it began to dawn on me that I was safe. And then it overwhelmed me when I realized he and only he represented safety to me. I wasn’t alone. My pride, inhibitions, and reservations disappeared. I flung my arms around his neck and sobbed with sheer gratitude.
I still didn’t know what had happened, but in all of that uncertainty, he was the one solid thing I could hold on to. I held on tightly and didn’t let him go and what was even better was he didn’t try to push me away. He let me cling to him until it occurred to me that we were still quite possibly in danger. I pulled myself together and tried to move away, but the pain in my neck returned and caused me to wince. He was instantly alarmed.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his hand gently cupping my face. It was so warm and strong that I felt disappointed and unhappy when he pulled away.
“I’m fine. I think it’s just a muscle thing.”
He frowned. “Can you walk? Do you want me to carry you?”
“No. I can walk.”
I tried to stretch my neck hoping the sprain or muscle pull could be resolved if I stretched, but it was not to be the case so I had no choice but to ignore the pain and keep moving.
“You’re limping,” he muttered and I was forced to notice this as well. I had been wearing a pair of low sensible kitten heels, one of which I had lost and had only now noticed. The cause of my limping however was a bruise to the side of my knee, yet another injury that hadn’t registered during the rush of fear and adrenaline.
There was so much to inquire about and get answers to, but all I wanted was to get into his car and be gone … back to the anonymous room in London. His driver pulled the passenger door open for me but then stepped aside and Dante helped me himself.
Once I was gently tucked in, he went around to the other side and slipped in beside me. The doors were locked and we were pulling back onto the highway.
I leaned against the window away from him and thought of my father. All of this was starting to feel normal to me. Not the attack, but the fear and close calls and expectations of harm.
“Ugo tried to assassinate me?”
“Yes,” Dante replied, in his unhurried assuring low tone of voice. I could listen to him forever.
I turned to look into his beautiful eyes. It felt strange. I was so in love with him and he had no idea. “How did you find me?”
“At no time were you out of the sight of my men.”
My eyes widened. “You’ve known where I was? All this time?”
“Yes,” he said simply.
I looked down at his hands. They were big and capable and I was filled with immense gratitude and then … wrecked by terrible regret for the way I had treated him. Yes, I was grieving for my father, but did I have to be such a bitch to him? I kept lashing out and he kept on being the good guy. Always protecting me, always never giving up on me.
I swallowed hard and decided that I would never again be rude or horrible to him, but I would never let him know that I had fallen for him because that would put him in an awkward situation. He was only keeping his promise to my father. I cringed to remember how hard I had to persuade him even to have sex with me.
“Thank you, Dante. And I’m truly sorry I’ve been so difficult and rude to you. I owe you everything.”