"That's not a choice."
"It's the only one you're getting tonight." But something flickered in his eyes. Something that looked almost like fear. "Please, Emilio. Let me keep you safe. Just for tonight. If you still want to come back tomorrow, we'll discuss it. But right now I need you somewhere I don't have to worry about them getting to you."
The please did it. Sandro didn't beg. Didn't ask nicely. Didn't show vulnerability unless something mattered enough to crack his control.
And apparently I mattered enough.
"Fine," I said. "One night. Then we discuss this like adults instead of you making unilateral decisions about my safety."
Relief flickered across his face, there and gone. "One night. Now pack. We're leaving in five minutes."
I packed quickly. Clothes for tomorrow, toiletries, my laptop, the files I'd been reviewing. Sandro watched from my bedroom doorway, managing to look both protective and possessive simultaneously.
When I emerged with my bag, he took it from me. Led me down to the street where a black Mercedes was idling illegally at the curb. Thomas in the driver's seat, engine running.
"Mr. Rossi," Thomas greeted as Sandro opened the back door for me. Professional. Polite. Like picking up terrified attorneys at 2 AM was completely normal.
Maybe for him it was.
I slid into the backseat and Sandro followed. The door closed with an expensive thunk. Thomas pulled into traffic smoothly, heading toward Inferno.
"How did you know?" I asked quietly. "About the threat. I didn't tell anyone."
Sandro was silent for a moment. Then: "I have cameras watching your building. My security noticed someone enter your floor who doesn't live there. Saw them slide something under your door and leave."
"You're surveilling my apartment?"
"I'm protecting my investment." He turned to look at me. "You became a target the moment you agreed to represent me. I made sure I'd know if anyone tried to hurt you."
"That's—" I wanted to say invasive. Controlling. A massive violation of my privacy. But the words died in my throat because under the anger was something else. Something warm and dangerous that I didn't want to examine too closely.
He'd been watching over me. Making sure I was safe even before threats materialized.
"How long?" I asked instead. "How long have you been watching my apartment?"
"Since the first day you took my case." No hesitation. No shame. "I protect what's mine, Emilio. You agreed to defend me. That made you mine to protect."
"I'm notyours. I'm your attorney."
"You're both." His hand found mine in the darkness of the backseat. Warm and solid and absolutely certain. "And you're in danger because of me. So yes, I'm going to do everything in my considerable power to keep you safe. Even if it pisses you off."
I should pull my hand away. Should maintain professional boundaries that were already badly compromised. Should do a lot of things that would be smart and ethical and completely contrary to what I actually wanted.
Instead I held on. Let him anchor me while my world tilted on its axis.
The drive to Inferno took twenty minutes. By the time we arrived, I'd stopped shaking. The initial adrenaline rush was fading, leaving exhaustion in its wake.
Sandro led me through the club's main entrance. The place was still open, still packed with beautiful people dancing and drinking and conducting business in shadowed corners. Security nodded to Sandro as we passed. Everyone knew who he was. What he was.
And everyone saw him with me. Saw him leading me through the club with my overnight bag in his hand. Drew their own conclusions about what that meant.
We took a private elevator to the top floor. The doors opened directly into an apartment I hadn't known existed. Hardwood floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Furniture that was actually comfortable instead of just expensive.
"This is yet another place where you live?" I asked, looking around.
"Sometimes. When I'm working late and don't want to drive home." He set my bag down by the couch. "There's a bedroom through there. Bathroom's attached. Help yourself to whatever you need."
I walked to the windows. The city spread out below us, lights like stars fallen to earth. From up here, everything lookedpeaceful. Ordered. Nothing like the chaos that had brought me here.
