“I’m not happy that they haven’t kept you close, especially when you’re outside that God forsaken, shit hole of a club! I will be having words with them later.”
“Rafe…”
“No, Cara. They had specific orders when I entrusted you to them. I will not have them disregarding those orders and endangering you in the process.”
“Rafe, please…” I uttered tiredly.
“Sorry sweetheart,” Rafe huffed out. “I’ll stop ranting now.”
“I’d appreciate it.” I just rested my head against the cold window and closed my eyes when the front doors opening startled me. I sat up and watched as Arran and Dante climbed in. “I should go. The guys are here now, and we’re setting off for the hotel.”
“Please try to get some rest tonight,Gioia. And for fuck’s sake be safe for me. I need you home in one piece as soon as possible.”
“I will be,” I assured him as Cal whispered to his brother, in reply when asked to whom I was talking.
“Ring me anytime, I don’t care what time it is. I’m here if you need me for any reason, or even if it’s for no reason at all. I’m always here for you.”
“Me too…for you, I mean. Love you.”
My nerves felt a little less exposed after hearing Rafe tell me he loved me too, before he hung up. Talking to him had helpedme to remember why I was there and what I needed to get done. Hopefully, after some much needed sleep, I would find the strength to do that too.
The drive from the club and back into the city was silent and pretty tense. Dante hadn’t glanced at me once and I got the feeling I wasn’t the only one he was pissed off with.
It was a huge relief when we pulled up out front of the hotel. All I wanted was to leap out and run to our suite, so I could lock myself away in my room, but Arran forced us to wait until the additional security pulled up behind us. One of Rafe’s men jumped out and walked round to the driver’s side.
“Okay, let’s go,” Arran said, but I just paused to watch as Arran hopped out, and a middle aged, balding guy jumped in.
“Are you coming?” Cal asked, pulling my attention to where he was leaning into the back of the car, and grinning at me with amusement. I nodded and took his offered hand, grateful when he pulled enough to help me out.
“What was that all about?” I asked as I glanced back to the car once Cal had slammed the rear door closed, and watched it pull away and out into traffic.
“Just a precaution. Rafe doesn’t like valet’s having access to our vehicles. It’s safer if one of our men parks it and locks it up,” Cal explained.
“We need to get inside. Get moving!” Dante barked, and when I turned slightly, I found him almost right behind me.
A part of me demanded I turn to get in his face and tell him not to speak to me that way, but then I remembered the anger I hadseen on his face not thirty minutes before and I stopped myself. Maybe I was a little scared of him in that moment, if I were honest. I was still sure he wouldn’t physically hurt me, but as emotional and raw as I felt right then, I did fear breaking down in the face of his temper, and I didn’t want to do that.
“That’s enough, mate. You don’t have the right to speak to Cara that way. Me either, while we’re on the subject,” Cal argued. His tone firm, but calm still.
It was cowardly, but I decided the best thing for me to do was put some space between Dante and I, so I released Cal’s hand and speed walked to where Arran was waiting for us several feet ahead. When I got to his side I wrapped both of my hands around his forearm and clung to it instinctively.
“Is Dante getting to ya, lass?” Arran asked, looking down at me with a sympathetic look.
“Not usually. Usually, I can handle him, but tonight…I just…he was s-so angry and I haven’t seen that before. On top of a really hard fucking day…” I hesitated.
“I ken he can be a lot, but only does it because he cares so much fer ya. He’s fear’t he’ll no’ be able to keep ye safe.”
“I get that…kind of. But I can’t deal with him acting as he did tonight, Arran. It’s too much. I don’t belong to anyone,” I gasped a little tearfully.
“Yer right. I’ll have a word wi’ him,” Arran agreed.
I was just relieved when we started walking inside the grand lobby of the modern, high end hotel Dio had booked and insisted we stay in, Apparently it had the best security of any other hotelin the city. I had thought it way too lavish when we arrived, but didn’t bother voicing my thoughts. Arguing was pointless where security was concerned. I’d already learned that much.
We walked into the lift, and the doors were just closing, when a huge, booted foot pushed between them, causing them to slide back again. Dante stepped inside, followed by Cal.
“We stick together, no matter how much the princess is pouting,” Dante growled, throwing me a dirty look.
“Oi!” Arran snapped angrily.
