“Kingston said he would be in touch, and the next time he calls it would serve you well to answer.” Vito's tone is mocking, but the undercurrent of deadly intent is there.
The door behind me opens, and I turn to see Tinsley standing there, still looking a little pale. “Remind him that threats are never received well,” I growl before hanging up the phone and sliding it into my pocket. Then, I hold my hand out for her to take. She slides her hand into mine, and I gently pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close to me.
“Are you okay?” she mumbles into my chest.
“It’s nothing to worry about. Are you ready to go? Is there anything else you need to do before we leave?” The need to getout of here and back to the farm so I know Tinsley and the baby are safe is like an itch I cannot scratch—intense and persistent.
Tinsley must feel the tension and concern rolling off me because she rubs my back gently before stepping back. “I’m good to go. Do you mind if we stop somewhere and grab a bite to eat?”
I smile at her. “Let’s get you fed and home to bed.”
Her smile is so big and filled with happiness and eagerness. We turn and I catch Bryce's eyes at the end of the hall, noting that they are stone cold—meaning Vito has also talked to him. This means we’re covered, but it also means that there is a real threat close by.
Six
Tinsley
I catch Bryce’s eye as we walk down the hall, and he just winks at me before stepping in behind me as we push through the door. As we step outside, more men step in around us, providing complete protection. I pull on Andre’s hand to get his attention. He immediately stops walking and turns to me.
“What’s wrong?” His voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it.
“Is all this because of the baby? We’ve got stuff to talk about, but I truly think this is serious overkill,” I whisper, looking around at the circle of men.
Andre’s eyes instantly turn to steel. “You’re not wrong. We have a lot to talk about. What you might see as overkill, I see as making sure you’re as safe as I can possibly make you. For today, let me have this.”
Another brick in the wall around my heart falls away with every word. I give him a small nod in agreement as a blush covers my cheeks. Andre leans in, kissing me on the forehead before he turns and guides me to the SUV. Before we get to the door, one of the guys pulls it open, and Andre steps aside to let me climb in first. He slides in right behind me while simultaneously Bryce slides into the driver's seat and we’re off.
“Where would you like to eat?” Andre asks, taking my hand in his and lacing our fingers together.
“Umm, let’s see … can we go to the diner? I love the fact that I can get breakfast any time,” I tell him.
I watch as the color drains from his face, his palm in mine begins to sweat against mine, and he swallows hard before speaking. “If you want breakfast, I’m sure the cooks at the house can make anything you want.”
All the excitement I had at the thought of us going out together leaves me. I give him a small smile and agree to have his people cook something when we get home. When he seems to sigh in relief and relax, the bricks that had fallen away are right back in place because, at the end of the day, I am still just some little nurse he knocked up and the Reeves’s princess. I don’t pull my hand from his but let my fingers fall limp and close my eyes pretending to be asleep.
“Tesoro, we’re home,” Andre whispers, shaking me slightly.
I stretch slowly and open my eyes. I look over at him as I pull my hand from his. “Thank you for taking and staying with me at the doctor’s office. It really meant more than you will ever know.”
As soon as I’m done speaking, I throw my door open and step out of the SUV, not giving him time to say anything at all. Bowing my head so that no one can see the blush from embarrassment as I make my way up the stairs, I rush through the house to my room. I’m too tired emotionally, mentally, and physically to speak to or deal with anyone right now. I push through my bedroom door, closing and locking it behind me before I strip my clothes off as I make my way to my bed. By the time I make it there, I fall face first into my pillow, passing out between one breath and the next.
Hard knocking on my door pulls me from the most perfect sleep. I groan and just roll over, still not ready to face the world or anyone in it. Just as I’m about to fall back asleep, the knocking starts up again. Sitting up in bed, I glare at the door, waiting to see if the person on the other side will indeed go away.
“Tinsley, sweetie, are you okay?” Silas calls through the door.
Smiling to myself, I slide out of bed and move toward the closet to grab some clothes while I call out to him, “Just a second. Let me get dressed.”
I rush into the closet, pulling on a large T-shirt and a pair of shorts before hurrying to open the door. Silas is standing there looking so worried that I can’t help but pull him into a hug. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly in the warmest embrace I’ve felt since my father passed away.
“I’m so, so sorry, sweet girl,” he says in a low, strained murmur.
“No, it was all an accident. We’re okay, and everything is going to be just fine,” I reassure him.
He pushes be back and holds me by the shoulders, looking me up and down. “Are you sure you’re okay, dolce ragazza?”
I force a bright smile. “Absolutely! To be honest, I’m starved. Do you want to go see what we can scrounge up to eat?”
As I speak to him, I search his face and eyes to see how his day is going after everything that happened. Andre hired me to look after his grandfather as he is showing signs of some dementia or Alzheimer’s—not that anyone will actually admit it. I look after him and make sure that he is cared for and okay daily. They’d been through several nurses until they landed on me. Partially because Silas isn’t easy on people when he is having an episode. I also know it helps that I grew up in afamilyand know discretion is of the utmost importance.
