“I want to go home,” she whispers. “Tonight.”
“That’s not possible—”
“Then make it possible,” she snaps, spinning on me.
“Lee, calm down,” I say, touching her arm.
She jerks away like I burned her. “Don’t you dare patronise me!”
“I’m not—”
She closes the distance and slams her hands into my chest, shoving me back a step. “I’m going home. And when we get there, I’m done. We’re done. Don’t call me. Don’t look at me.”
I shake my head slowly. “Not happening.”
Her hands curl into fists. She shoves me again. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.” I grab her wrists and pull her in. “You can be angry. I get it. But you don’t get to just walk away.”
Headlights wash over us. She yanks free. “Watch me.” She turns and marches on.
“Leoni, get in the car. It’s miles to the villa.”
“I’m going to the airport!”
Anthony rolls the window down. “Want me to handle it?”
The thought of anyone else touching her twists something ugly in my chest. “No,” I snap. “She needs time to cool off.”
“I can hear you!” she yells.
“The airports over two hours by car,” I call after her. “Walking, it’ll take you all night, Little Dove.”
She throws her hands in the air. “I knew you were a walking red flag. I just ignored it. Or maybe you distracted me enough not to care.”
“Blame me,” I say evenly. “If it helps.”
“But all this?” she fires back, like I haven’t spoken. “It’s fucked up.”
“I agree.”
“What exactly is your family involved in?”
I scoff. “Don’t pretend you haven’t looked. I check your phone. Your search history makes interesting reading.”
She spins again, walking backwards now. “See? Red flag.”
I shrug. “Never said I wasn’t.”
Her eyes narrow. “So what, you launder money?” I smirk. “You traffic women?”
I laugh outright. “That one’s not true.”
She slows, her breath shaky now, and I’m right behind her. “Why can’t you just tell me?”
I don’t answer.
Instead, I grab her wrist, spin her in one smooth motion, and haul her over my shoulder like she weighs nothing. She yelps as I slap her thigh once, a warning that my resolve is fading fast, and I turn back toward the car.
