I stare at him. I don’t know how to tell him. I’ve never admitted to anyone what I was living with, or what I’m now running from.
Neo gives my hand a squeeze. He smiles at me. “I can wait, as long as you need.”
I groan.Not this again. “I-I came here from California. I ran,” I whisper.
“From what?”
“A boyfriend. He… uh… I let him abuse me, physically, for three years. I know he’s going to find me. And when he does, he will kill me. When that happens, I don’t want anyone else caught in the crossfire. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me. So that’s why not. That’s why I can’t live with you. It’s not safe for you.”
Neo’s face hardens. I stand and move backwards. Not watching where I’m going, I miss a step and fall. Before I can hit the ground, Neo’s arms are wrapped around my waist, pulling me up against his chest. His hand cups my cheek and he stares into my eyes. “I promise you no one is ever going to lay a hand on you again. You don’t need to be afraid of me,solnishko. I will never hurt you.”
“You’re angry,” I tell him.
“I’m angry at the piece of shit you were living with, not you,” he says.
I shake my head. “Like I said, I can’t let you get caught up in my mess. And I can’t let myself rely on a man again. I need to do this. For as long as I can hide, I need to do it on my own.”
Neo’s hands run up and down my arms. “I get it. I understand your need to do it for yourself. But there is nothingwrong with accepting my job offer, Caitlyn. You’ll be earning your wage.”
“I should go,” I tell him. “I’m sorry for causing so much trouble. Your brother… He… I didn’t mean for him to get into trouble helping me.”
“Lex doesn’t do anythingLexdoesn’t want to do.” Neo chuckles. “And he isn’t in any trouble.”
“He stabbed someone.”How can he not be in trouble?
Neo tilts his head at me. “Sit down. I need to tell you something.”
I look to the door. I really should leave.
“Caitlyn, hear me out. After you listen to what I have to say, I’ll take you to your new apartment. And tomorrow, you can start your new job.”
I sit back on the chair. Neo sits next to me.
“Look around. What do you think my family does?” he asks.
I take in the large grounds, the security men standing at the property line. The house is huge. Whatever his family does, they do it well. “I don’t know,” I admit.
“You don’t think it’s strange that the place is surrounded by armed guards?” Neo lifts a single, curious brow.
“Not really. Maybe your parents are important people or something,” I suggest. “I come from California. A lot of people have their own private security.”
“Well, my mom and dad both like to think of themselves as important.” Neo laughs. “My father is the Pakhan of the Petrov Bratva. My mother, the daughter of the Don of Dons—that’s what they call my grandfather—well, he oversees the five Italian families here in New York and a lot of Italy.”
I blink.Did he seriously just admit what I think he admitted…?“I don’t think it’s very wise of you to tell me that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t know who I am. What if I’m undercover? Or I could go to the police and tell them everything you just told me? You can’t just go around and tell people you’re part of a crime family.”
Neo smiles. “Cute.” He chuckles. “But I know who you are. I also know who your ex is.”
I freeze. “You know Henry?” My spine straightens. “Please don’t send me back.” I can feel the panic rising.
“I am never sending you back, Caitlyn. I don’t know him. I knowabouthim. I ran a background check on you, which is also how I know you’re not undercover or a rat,” he says.
“You ran a background check on me? Why?”
“Because I plan on keeping you for as long as you’ll let me. And I needed to know who you were running from.”
