“You got it,” Giovanni replies.
“Sure, boss,” a handful of the capos respond.
I wave them all out of my office, giving myself time to think. As soon as I’m alone, my thoughts drift back to Marlena. As much as I want to tell myself that the whole thing is a business arrangement, I’ve got to admit that my heart is mixed up in thewhole affair. If she says no, I’m not sure how far I’m willing to go to make her stay.
CHAPTER 19
MARLENA
I’m pacing the room, barely cognizant of my surroundings. All I can see are the floorboards crisscrossing beneath my feet as I circle around and around. My head buzzes with the implications of Francisco’s proposal.
I can’t seem to make any decisions. All I’ve got are questions. Is this really what I want? Would it be so bad? What about all the other plans I’ve got? What about seeing the world, about living my career dreams? What about my brother?
I flop down on the sofa, exhausted from all the mental aerobics. There has to be a way to get what I want and still stay safe from my father’s enemies. I can’t just give everything up to be locked away in this house for the rest of my life. If that’s my only choice, I’d be better off hitting the open road. At least I would get to see more of the world before I died.
It doesn’t seem like answers are coming to me, so I walk to the door and step outside. As expected, I find a guard in the hallway. Francisco is serious about keeping me safe, or keeping me trapped. I’m not sure which.
“Can you please go tell Francisco that I want to talk to him?” I ask politely.
“Sure, ma’am,” the guard says, leaving his post without question.
I glance left and right, finding the hallway clear. Now is my chance if I want to run for it. But that won’t solve anything. What I really need to do is air my feelings and figure out if Francisco and I can work together on a solution that will benefit everyone. So I’ll wait.
I go back inside, but I’m surprised to hear a knock just moments later. He was either waiting for my call, or he dropped everything to come talk to me. I feel a momentary flutter inside my chest. I’m pleased that he’s taking my situation so seriously. But I can’t let that deter me from outlining my agenda.
“Hi,” I say awkwardly.
He doesn’t respond verbally, but gives me a patient smile. I realize that he’s head and shoulders above the kind of social anxiety I’m feeling. Good for him. That just doesn’t help me decide.
I turn away from him, walking back to the couch where I sit. He follows, shutting the door behind him. Now we’re alone and in no danger of being interrupted by anyone else in the household. I remember our talk earlier, when we were sitting alone in my apartment. I was sure there was at least one bodyguard lurking outside, but I didn’t see them. The same is probably true now. I imagine that there’s a guard stationed just outside the door. I don’t know if that thought is reassuring or terrifying. But one thing’s for certain: I have all of Francisco’s attention at the moment.
“I thought about what you asked,” I begin, ironing out my thoughts as I go. “I think I’d like to accept your offer, but I have a few concerns.”
“Which are?” he asks, giving away nothing. I can’t tell if he’s happy that I’ve given him a tentative yes. He’s got one hell of a poker face.
“Okay,” I begin with my first concern. I can’t leave Brandon hanging out there unprotected. He doesn’t even know that I’ve been found out, and that makes him extremely vulnerable. “I need to know that my brother is taken care of.”
“Of course,” Francisco agrees.
“I’d like you to make sure he’s safe and that he can continue his studies,” I continue. “We have the money from my father’s trust to pay for his college, but sooner or later, my father’s enemies are going to find out about him. Especially if I marry you.”
“Understood,” Francisco says, reaching for my hand. He sits down next to me, like husband and wife, and gazes deeply into my eyes. I’m almost sure it’s a romantic gesture, except that he doesn’t follow it up with a kiss.
“So you’ll extend your protection?” I push for clarification.
“He’ll be a member of the family,” Francisco swears.
“Good,” I say, drawing a breath to keep moving on. “Next, I’d like your assurance that you won’t keep me here in the house. I want my own career. I’m very adamant about that. It’s a deal-breaker if you want me to give up my life entirely.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says. “I have some connections with several universities in the area. I can get you an interview or two, or if you prefer, I can assure you a job.”
He studies me, waiting for my reaction. I have to smile. He’s judged me correctly. But I want to move through official channels as much as possible. It would break my heart to have all my colleagues assuming that I’ve only slept my way into their department. Better that I take my chances like a regular professor.
“There’s another thing I’d like to talk to you about,” I say, ignoring his offer to arrange for immediate employment in favor of a bigger topic. “I don’t want to know anything about your business. I don’t want to be involved in any criminal activity. The less I know, the better.”
“Agreed,” he says simply. “I wouldn’t ask you to participate.”
“I mean it,” I insist. “I don’t want to hide anything, or sign anything, or lie to the police.”
