I used a separate towel to dry the drops of water from her shoulders and the edges of her hair. She wasn’t going to like what I requested next, but it was my only option.
“I’m going to make arrangements for you to leave with Ax tonight.” I continued to dry her hair. “I need you to pack a small bag, and I’ll send you whatever else you need.”
“No!” She backed away from me. “I chose to be with you."
“I allowed it because I thought I could contain Medina, but he’s too fucking brazen, and that bothers me.” Why couldn’t she agree to this for me? Didn’t she know my sanity depended on it?
“I’m not going.” She stormed out of the bathroom. “Come up with another plan."
“There is no other plan.” I hurried after her. “I’ll throw you in the car in your pajamas and I‘ll send you your things.”
“Listen to yourself.” She let out a frustrated breath. “You can’t send me away if I don’t want to go. I’m an adult, capable of making my own decisions. I knew exactly who you were when I got together with you. I knew you weren’t a car salesmen. Your gun and your last name gave it away.”
“Don’t kid yourself.” I recalled the night I found her fidgeting at the bar. “You had no idea who I was and what I was capable of, because if you did, you never would have come to me the night Bello came after Chance.”
“That’s why I came to you. I knew you could help us.” She dug in deeper, driving her point home. “You told me you were more dangerous than the man I was running from. I believed you.”
I may have been more dangerous than Bello, but I wasn’t certain I could say that I was more lethal than Medina. A person who does the things he does can’t have a soul, and when you’re soulless nothing is off the table.
“You drew me in from the start, and you can’t send me away now for being who I knew you were all along,” she said. “I won’t let you.”
“I won’t compromise on your safety.”
“Milo.”
“Not now! Not ever!” I rammed my hand into the wall. “You are not going to end up in pieces all over the driveway.”
I closed my eyes, desperately trying to quiet the sound of the thundering explosion that took my mother’s life all those years ago. It was louder than ever before.
“Or worse, become human merchandise in Medina’s sick trafficking operation.”
SIXTEEN
Sable
The fearin Milo’s expression was enough to bring me to my knees. Knowing I was the source of that fear made his suffering even more difficult to accept. How could I argue with him when the ghost of his mother was in the room with us?
“Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t interfere?” Milo asked. “You’re not doing a very good job.”
“I meant when it came to you and Medina.”
“This is about Medina. I’m overly confident and too arrogant to think I can’t protect you.” He tightened his towel around his waist. “I can’t make the same mistakes my father did. I’m not as strong as he is and I wouldn’t survive losing you.”
“You’re not going to lose me.” I hugged him. “I trust that you’ll keep me safe.”
“You can’t trust in something when you have no idea what could be headed our way. If that scum gets you in his grasp, I might not be able to find you in time.”
“I trust you,” I said. “That’s all I need.”
“Well, I need more reassurance.” He let go of me. “Getting you away from here is the only way I’ll get it.”
The tight expression that plagued his face and his tense stance made me believe I had one hell of a fight standing in front of me. I would not let him send me away. I had a say in this relationship too, even if he didn’t believe that.
“Italy,” he said. “I’ll send you to visit Chance. Ax can go with you.”
“You’re not listening. Don’t I get a say in my own life?” I pointed at him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Hey,” he said, raising his voice. “I’ve had enough tonight.”
