"Elena." Rina's voice comes from the doorway. She walks in, her expression sympathetic but firm. "They're trying to keep you safe."
"By cutting me out? This is my father. My problem. I should be there."
"And put yourself in danger again?" Rina moves closer. "After last night?"
"I can handle myself. I proved that last night."
"No one's questioning that. But Vito made a call. Marco agreed with it." She pauses. "For what it's worth, I don't think Marco wanted to leave you here. But he didn't have a choice."
The information doesn't make me feel better. "I need to get out of here. I need air. I need—" I look around the penthouse, thewalls suddenly feeling too close. "I can't just sit here and wait. I can't breathe in here."
"Where do you want to go?" Rina asks.
"My apartment. I need to get my plants. If I'm going to be stuck here, I at least want my things."
"Miss Messina," the guard says from his seat. I think his name is Luca. "You're not authorized to leave the premises."
I turn on him. "I'm not a prisoner."
"You're under protection. That means?—"
"I don't care what it means. I'm going to my apartment."
"I can't allow that."
"Then stop me." I grab my jacket from the back of the chair.
He stands, moving to block the door. "Ma'am?—"
"Dante." Rina's voice cuts through the tension and Dante appears from somewhere down the hallway. "You're going to take her to her apartment. You're going to let her get her plants and whatever else she needs. And you're going to bring her back safely."
Dante and the other guard share a look for a moment. "Rina, Don Vito specifically said—" he begins with an uneasy expression.
"I don't care what my husband said." Rina's voice is steel wrapped in silk. "I'm telling you to take her. If you have a problem with that, I'll call Vito right now and explain that you refused to follow my direct order. How do you think that conversation will go?"
Dante twists his lips. He looks between Rina and me, clearly calculating his options.
"Fine," he finally says. "But we go in, get what you need, and come straight back. And Luca comes with us."
"Deal." I grab my purse.
Rina catches my arm as I pass. "Be careful," she whispers. "And come back. Okay?"
"I will." I hug her quickly. "Thank you."
As Dante signals to Luca and we head to the elevator, I try to ignore the uneasy feeling in my stomach. This is just about getting my plants. Getting some air. Feeling like I have some control over my own life again.
Nothing bad is going to happen.
Right?
The drive to my apartment is tense. Dante drives while Luca sits in the passenger seat, both of them scanning the streets like they expect an ambush at any moment. I sit in the back, my knee bouncing with nervous energy.
When we pull up to my building, I can see the police tape still across my door. The reminder of last night sends a chill through me.
"Stay close," Dante says as we exit the vehicle. "We go in, you get what you need, we leave. Ten minutes max."
"My plants need care?—"
