“You say t-that like it shocks you.”
She laughed. “I mean, she never meets a stranger, but the fact that she's purring so loudly for you is different.”
“She’s a g-good judge of character.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that,” Sarah replied with a smile.
“T-Then I’ll say it for you.”
The ringing of my phone interrupted us. At the sight of Dima’s name flashing across the screen, I frowned. “Da?”
“Since all the Kavanaugh brothers came to town with Kellan to rescue Mila, I want to sit down with them and the Nerettis.”
The Nerettis were a powerful Italian family from New York. Their control had grown into Boston with the marriage ofCaterina Neretti to Callum Kavanaugh–Kellan’s oldest brother. Now they held a stronghold in Philly through the marriage of their second son, Leandro, to the daughter of the Caruso's capo.
Through Mila’s relationship with Kellan, we would gain allies in both New York and Boston as well as strengthen our ties in Philly.
Glancing at Sarah, I asked. “T-Tonight?”
“Yeah, we’re going to have an early dinner at the Caruso’s.”
“You d-do remember I have company.”
“You’re the fucking co-pahkan, Maksim.”
“I am aware.”
“And even if you weren’t, I’d need you there for me as a buffer considering my previous bad blood with the Kavanaughs.”
“T-That you b-brought on yourself,” I mused.
With a growl, Dima said, “Get a bodyguard to fucking babysit her, and get your ass here.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
When I hung up, Sarah stared expectantly at me. “Is everything okay?”
“Unfortunately, I have a b-business matter I have t-to take care of.”
Eyeing me curiously, Sarah said, “If you’re worried about me trying to run away, I won’t.”
“I know you won’t.”
“Because I need the money?”
“No. It’s more you fear me.”
To my surprise, she snorted contemptuously. “Trust me, I don’t.”
Fuck me. Her fire would be the death of me. It drew me to close the gap between us. “Most women in your shoes would b-be scared out of t-their fucking minds after being kidnapped and held captive b-by a b-band of nefarious strangers.”
With a jerk of her chin, Sarah protested, “I’m not most women.”
Smiling, I replied, “Oh, I know. T-That’s why I wanted you t-to treat me.”
“I won’t lie that I wasn’t scared at first. Like I was really fucking scared.”
“What changed your mind?”
