“Dante!” I snapped, annoyed he wasn’t taking me seriously. I was worried about Arran and I refused to leave him alone there.
“Breathe, trouble. As soon as you and Cal get in the car and are safely headed home, I’ll get back in there,” Dante told me with a smirk. “So do you maybe want to get in the bloody car?”
“Fine,” I acquiesced, following Cal as he led me to the black SUV and opened the back door.
“Is there an issue?” the driver asked as Cal and I climbed in. I recognised him as one of the guys I had fought with back at the hotel in Chicago. I was pretty sure his name was Brax, but Rafe had so many men on his payroll, it was hard to remember faces and names. I knew I should try harder though. These men werewilling to risk their lives for me, The least I should do is know their names.
“Nothing we can’t handle. Get them home and see them safely inside,” Dante ordered.
“Got it,” the driver agreed easily.
“Do as you’re told,” Dante barked as he pointed right at me.
“Still not a dog,” I reminded him with a glare.
“No. It’d be easier to train a dog,” he grumbled, then he shut the door before I could bite back at him.
“I really hope you’re the kind of friend I can call when I need help to bury a body,” I ground out with annoyance as I looked to Cal,
“Anytime,” he smiled. “Or I do know some chemicals we could use if you’re open to other disposal methods,” he teased.
“Everyone buckled in?” the driver asked, so Cal and I moved to fasten our seatbelts. Cal reached over across the empty middle seat and set his hand on my lower thigh as the car got moving.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Just annoyed our meal got ruined. I was having fun. I almost forgot about all of this other bullshit going on for a while there,” I sighed.
“We’re going to have a lot more fun times, gorgeous. None of the bullshit going on is going to stop us. I’m going to make it my mission to see you smile the way you did tonight, as much as possible.”
“Do you really think they’ll be alright? I hate leaving them there. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything?” I worried.
“You had to say something, Cara. With everything surrounding this family right now, you can’t keep things to yourself. If anything is off, you speak up. And yes. I’m confident Dante and my brother will be fine. They might be teddy bears with us, but they’re lethal when they need to be. They can handle whatever comes at them.”
“Really? You think Dante is a teddy bear,” I asked playfully. Dante was protective and caring in his own growly way, but he was not a teddy bear.
“Well, maybe that was a bad choice of words. A very grumpy, bossy, slightly terrifying teddy bear might be more accurate,” he chuckled.
The car pulled up outside the house and two security guys immediately appeared at either side, opening the back doors for us. I placed my hand over Cals on my leg and clung to it urgently as the burly guy at my side just stared at me, somewhat intimidatingly. One quick glance up to Cal and he seemed to understand what I needed, turning his hand under mine and linking our fingers. Without any fan fare he simply slid across the seat until he was right beside me.
“I’m here. Let’s get inside, okay?” he whispered to me, and I nodded a little jerkily, clutching Cal’s hand so tight I probably hurt him as I stepped out of the car and tried not to touch the security guy who stood there. Thankfully, Cal was right behind me, and he wrapped himself around me tight.
Before we even started up the steps to the house, the front door opened and Dio stood there, his gaze assessing us both with concern.
“We’re unharmed,” Cal spoke up with a note of humour.
“What happened?” Dio asked,
“There were some teenagers filming our table, and specifically Cara. She noticed and let us know. Arran and Dante got us to the car, then stayed to deal with those kids.”
“You’re both alright?” Dio asked as he looked pointedly to me.
“We’re fine,” I told him. And I was, mostly. It was just getting a little overwhelming the dramas I seemed to face every time I left the damned house. All I wanted – all I had ever wanted- was a normal, peaceful existence. It seemed I wasn’t going to get it there as I had initially hoped and that realisation stung.
Dio stepped aside so we could both get inside the house, then stood and watched us we stripped off our coats and shoes.
“I’m tired,” I sighed when they both seemed to be looking to me with concern again. “I think I might go and have a soak in that mammoth tub. I haven’t tried it out yet.”
Dio’s head snapped to me and his face was filled with utter panic and worry – a look that didn’t fit with his always composed and calm image. Of course I knew why he had reacted that way. To be honest I’d been surprised to even find a tub in my en-suite when I arrived at that house. Rafe had ordered it to be ripped out the day I drowned myself. I’d heard him. But it had remained and it was one of those huge, luxurious, spa baths. I hadn’t been eager to use it after what I had done last time I got into a bath, but a soak sounded good to relieve some stress right then.
