Okay, calm down.My heart is beating too fast, my hands are shaking, and I’m having a hard time catching my breath.Having a panic attack won’t help.
Which means I can’t think about Dante.He must know I’m gone by now.What is he going through?What is he doing?Who is he threatening?No.I can’t think about that now, either.I need to focus on Enzo and reach him in some way.I can only guess he thinks this is the start of our life together, like we’re running away from everybody trying to keep us apart.I can’t shatter that all of a sudden and risk him cracking even worse than he already has.
“Where are we going?”I ask, sitting up straighter.I’m still a little woozy, but nothing I can’t handle after a few slow, deliberate breaths that help clear my head.
“That’s for me to know.You’ll find out,” he promises.“I’ve waited so long for this.Like I said, I came so damn close last night when I saw you getting out of the car outside the hotel.For a second, I saw myself rushing that prick Dante and grabbing you away from him, but there was added security,” he grumbles.
Yeah, because of you, genius.
Nope.Not going to give in to that impulse, as tempting as it is.“What will you do if they come looking for me?I don’t want you to get hurt.”I have to make sure he believes I’m only worried about him.Granted, Iamworried, but not for the reasons he would want to believe.
“They won’t come looking, trust me.”
“You sound very sure of yourself.”I even manage to make it sound like I’m joking while my blood runs cold, and we keep moving farther west.We are now in North Jersey, according to the signs overhead as we approach an exit ramp.
“They’ll be so busy putting out the fires I’m setting, they won’t know what the hell to do with themselves.”He sounds so proud of himself too.“Your family wasn’t the only one who had a beef with the Santoros.If anything, the Vitali and Santoro clans uniting consolidated a little too much power for everybody else to feel comfortable with it.I learned a thing or two when I was away.”
“So you’re starting trouble with the other families and expecting it to blow back on Dante,” I murmur.
“He’s about to get a very rude awakening about what happens to people who take what’smine,” he says, before closing his hand over my knee and rubbing in a very familiar, very unwelcome way.It doesn’t help that I’m only wearing leggings, so there’s a fragile layer of fabric between his hand and my skin.Every part of me wants to pull away, but instead, I grind my teeth and swallow hard against the disgusted groan that wants to bubble out of my throat.
“He could go to war over this and declare it against you.”That’s right.Make sure he thinks you’re scared for him.“I’m worried.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”He chuckles, squeezing my knee before taking his hand away.Thank God.I don’t know how much more of that I could have taken.“I know what I’m doing.I made friends with the other families.I have their protection.”
Is that true?I’m afraid to ask.I don’t want to piss him off by doubting him, especially when he almost punches the horn at another driver who speeds past us.
“Enzo,” I whisper, gripping the door handle tight when the car speeds up like he’s trying to catch up to the other car.“Don’t.It’s not worth it.”
“No, it’s the principle,” he grunts, weaving in and out of the center lane to pass another driver, still focused on the red convertible up ahead.“Did you see how he damn near sideswiped me on the way past?”
No, I didn’t see that because it didn’t really happen.All I can do is remember what Dante told me this morning about the girl who died after the car flipped.
Oh my God, what if that happens to me?What if he blames himself somehow?And he would come too.I know it.Ifeelit.The thought cracks my heart wide open and sends everything that’s been brewing inside spilling out.
I am going to get through this, if only to keep him from punishing himself for another ten years for not being able to keep Enzo from taking me.
“It’s not worth it,” I murmur.This time I’m the one reaching out, stroking his thigh, fighting my discomfort.“We’re going too fast.It’s scaring me.”
He keeps me waiting for a few painful heartbeats before easing back on the gas.“That’s the last thing I want to do.You’ve been through enough.”Dropping his hand onto mine, he laces our fingers together.“You always did know how to center me.I’ve missed that.I’ve missed you.”
Please, God, let me do this right.Let me get back to Dante.
“I missed you too.”That sounds sincere because it’s not a lie.“I waited so long for you.”
“You don’t have to wait anymore.I’m here, Sunshine,” he almost croons, lifting our joined hands so he can press a kiss against my palm.“And I’m all yours.”
Lucky me.
The sudden, jarring ringtone pumping through his stereo makes me jump.
His eyes light up when a number appears on the dashboard display.“Perfect timing,” he announces with a laugh before touching a finger to the screen to accept the call.“Hello?”
The voice is a little distorted, thanks to the stereo, but I would know it anywhere, and the sound brings tears to my eyes.“Guess who’s back on US soil?”my brother asks with a playful laugh that brings back a thousand memories.Alessandro.I need you.
“You are?What brought you back?I thought you were staying out there,” Enzo replies.Meanwhile, we’re still heading west, moving farther and farther away from home.I hope Isabella isn’t too upset.I hope Emilia and Guilia are comforting her if she is.
When I open my mouth to announce my presence, Enzo touches a finger to his lips and shakes his head.“Listen.We can catch up on all of this.Where are you?You didn’t fly into JFK, did you?”
