“What kind of situation?” I ask Bruno as I step off the airplane.
“Some goon broke into her room,” he says, and I fill with anger. “She managed to run to the bathroom, but she’s scared out of her mind and won’t come out. She keeps saying she won’t go back.”
“Did you kill him?”
Won’t go back where?What secrets are you keeping, firefly?
“No, he’s just unconscious.”
“Good. I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.”
“We’re all going with you,” Carson says after I hang up.
“I’ve got this.”
“If it has to do with your little bartender, we’re all going.”
“What bartender?” Mateo demands.
“He’s got a girl,” Carson replies, but I let them talk their shit as I run for my car. Luke has it started, and we’re on our way within seconds, with the others on our tail.
“Who the fuck would want to hurt her?” I ask no one specifically.
“Maybe she has a past, boss.” Luke shrugs. “I mean, we all do.”
I narrow my eyes, and as soon as he pulls up to the motel room, I jump out and rush inside.
“I won’t come out!” she screams, and I can hear the panic, the terror, in her voice. “Please just leave.”
After a moment, I hear her cry more softly, “I’d rather kill myself than let him marry me off.”
What the fuck?
Bruno shrugs. “She’s been like this since we hung up.”
I look down at the man on the floor. “He’s the one who broke in?”
“Yep.”
“Get him into the cell. We’ll deal with him later.”
Bruno nods, and with Spider’s help, they lift the man and get him out of the room.
Julian, Carson, and Mateo file in, looking around in disdain.
“You let your girl live like this?” Julian asks, and I roll my eyes.
“Lulu,” I say calmly. “Open the door.”
“No way.”
“Listen to me. You’re safe. This is Rome.”
She’s quiet for a second, then she unlocks and cracks the door. I don’t push inside. She’s fucking terrified.
“Are you one of my father’s men, too?” She has tears rolling down her sweet cheeks. “Oh God. My man radar is so fucked up.”
“No.” I shake my head and step closer, but she moves to close the door, and now I press my hand against it, keeping it open. “Listen to me, firefly, I don’t know who your father is. I’m not here because of him.”
