“Yes. Dom was his twin brother. There were two reasons why he didn’t hit you or your family.”
“Should I be grateful?” Leanna couldn’t help her teeth from chattering. “My father has probably killed many people.”
“The capo is responsible, not the hitman,” Axe said. “Also, he became the head of his organization because of Dom’s death. He couldn’t afford an all-out war.”
“You said there was another reason.”
“Yeah, it was my baby who was taken hostage, so we wouldn’t take you out. Since I suffered the loss, I told the family no one should take it out on you. You’re innocent, and you run a legitimate business. I volunteered to watch over you and make sure no one from my father’s organization would harm you, ever.” Axe’s voice was so determined and hard, it made Leanna feel melty and gooey inside.
“Why did you care what happened to me?”
“You really can’t guess?” He reached out for her. “Come, sit close to me.”
Leanna moved toward him before she could think. Her body craved his heat, and her emotions were so mixed up, she couldn’t process any reason not to.
She let him put his arm around her, and she leaned against him, soaking up his warmth. “Tell me why.”
“I’ve watched you for such a long time, I felt you were mine.” His voice was a deep burr of male possession, and it drew tingles down her spine. He said she was his. No one ever claimed her, knowing her father’s fierceness.
She didn’t mind belonging to Axe Salvadori. Dreamed of it. Fantasized about him. Obsessed over him from a distance—the distance he’d put between them.
“I didn’t know,” she murmured, burying her face against his solid chest.
“This might sound creepy, because I was always aware of you.” His voice took an amused lilt. “I’ve seen you with your friends laughing over shades of pink. I’ve watched you outdance the rest of the Bumblebees and listened to your screaming karaoke. I attended every fashion show, charity ball, swim party, and chili cookoff you ladies held.”
“You are creepy.” Leanna punched his abs playfully. “Eek. Watching me all the time? And here I thought you always turned your back on me.”
“I couldn’t let you catch on.” His abs moved along with his chuckle. “So here we are, on opposing sides.”
“Good grief,” Leanna said. “This is too much to take in. We have a dead gangster. You have a daughter. Mine is still missing, and now you’re telling me El Bardo was right. That you are after me to hurt me?”
“Not me. My father,” Axe said. “If I were wishing to hurt you, I would have already contacted Joshua Cano to exchange you for Soledad.”
“How do I know you haven’t? You’re driving in the dark with no headlights to who knows where? How do I know you’re not going to stash me away?”
He let out a sigh and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Because I swore to protect you, and I would rather die than hurt a hair on your head.”
“But why?” she insisted. “When my father is the reason your daughter’s gone?”
“Hurting you won’t get Soledad back,” Axe said. “Let’s figure out what Joshua did with Carmelita. He got shot in the balls and can’t have any other children.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“My father shot him, but the bastard didn’t die, just lost his balls. You thought he didn’t want Carmelita, but after he lost his balls, I bet he found out you hadn’t aborted her and that she was adopted by Ana and Eduardo. He then decides to protect her by faking her death and making your family believe it.”
“Cruel.” Leanna snapped her fingers. “But someone found out she wasn’t dead.”
“El Bardo, most likely. That guy has contacts everywhere, including the police. Maybe he got to the school or found out from the neighbors.”
“Damn. No wonder everyone’s after her. She’s Cano’s only child. Ana calls me and asks for money to protect her.”
“Right, Ana thinks if you show up, your father will be sure to come along.”
“Then I screwed up when I kept it a secret from them.” Her heart pinched with the realization. “Oh, shit. Shit. Shit. Axe, do you know what this means? I let them die.”
“You can’t blame yourself.”
“What else can I think?” Fresh tears seeped from her eyes. “If my father came with me instead of you, Ana and Eduardo would be alive. When were they killed? Do you know?”
