I sank back onto my bed. “Why would someone want me?”
Tony came over and knelt in front of me. He took my hands in his. “I’m going to figure this out. I promise. I have some of the best people in the industry working for me.”
I gazed into his warm brown eyes and warmth filled my chest. Tony wanted me. He wanted to take care of me and keep me safe. That was what mattered. I nodded. “I trust you.”
He cupped my cheek with one of his big hands. “Thank you.”
I kissed him. “You should get going. I’m guessing your brothers will give you shit if you’re late.”
“They don’t need much of an excuse to give me shit,” he said. He rose and finished getting dressed. He glanced out the window and rolled his eyes. “At this hour, I’m better off taking the subway.”
He got his jacket from my closet. I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt so I could walk him to the door.
He pulled me into a tight hug. “I had a great time last night, even with the unexpected fistfight.”
“It was definitely a dynamic evening,” I said. “Maybe we should do a do-over tonight in your neck of the woods.”
“I won’t say no to that.” He kissed me long and slow. “I’ll see you tonight. I’ll text you when I get to work.” His brow furrowed. “I want you to call me if anything weird happens, no matter how trivial it seems. Okay?”
I wanted to object because part of me was still in denial. But I couldn’t ignore someone trying to break into my apartment. “Okay. I will.”
He gave me one final kiss. “I’ll see you tonight.”
After he left, I locked the door and put the chair back under the doorknob. I would be getting one of those door jammers today. As I headed for the shower, my mind went to the other times random flowers had shown up around me.Fuck. This might be more serious than I thought.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
TONY
“What the fuck happened to you?”
Marco caught me mid-stride as I hurried to get to my office for the interview I was supposed to be conducting in five minutes. “Can we talk about it later? I have an interview.”
He raised a brow. “I know. I’m going to be there, remember?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed. “I promise I’ll tell you all about it after we’re done. I don’t want to be late.”
Marco put his arm around my shoulders and guided me toward my office. “Pedro is still talking to Liam. They’re sharing war stories. They’ll be late.”
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered. “I’m fine.”
“Uh-huh,” Marco said. “We’ll let Liam decide when he gets here.”
I stopped in my tracks. “You are not going to have Liam examine me in front of a potential new employee. Knock it off.”
Marco rolled his eyes. “Of course not. But you’re not leaving here until he does.”
We walked into my office, and he closed the door behind us. He brought me over to the window and said, “Let me see.”
I huffed out a frustrated breath. I knew he wouldn’t let it go, so I turned my head so he could get a better look at the bruise on my jaw. “It’s not a big deal,” I insisted.
“Right,” my brother drawled, grasping my chin. “That’s why the knuckles of your right hand are bruised and swollen.” He let go of my face. “What. Happened?”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Just let me sit down first.”
I took a seat behind my desk while Marco sat across from me as I told him about our run-in with the homophobic trio. To my surprise, he remained quiet through the whole thing. I’d been sure he would interrupt by telling me all the ways I’d screwed up.
He was silent for a few moments after I finished. Then a broad grin spread across his face. “Damn, bro. One dislocated shoulder, one fucked-up knee, and one smashed-in face. And you only ended up with a bruise on your jaw and a couple of swollen knuckles.”
