I wanted to tell him if Mr. Bruni wanted to see me, he could haul his arrogant ass up here himself. But I had to find my phone and passport. So I followed him down to a dim room with a pool table in the center.
Tony was sitting in the shadows, slouched in a leather armchair, sipping from a square glass like some goddamn Don Corleone.With a flick of his hand, he dismissed the guard.
“Someone stole my phone and passport,” I confronted him.
He didn’t even flinch. “I know, sweetheart. Rafael took them. The man who brought you here.”
“What?” My hands curled into fists. “Why would Rafael take my stuff?”
“Because I told him to.”
Unbelievable. The nerve of this bastard.
“Don’t play games with me, Tony,” I hissed. “Tell me what the hell is going on. Why did you bring me here?”
“For Lucia’s birthday party, sweetheart. Or did you forget?”He was still trying to play me.
“Please stop calling me that like I’m your pet. And by the way your family doesn’t exactly scream birthday cake and party hats. Especially not for a woman.”
I took a deep breath and stepped a little closer to him. “Just tell me the truth. Why am I really here? Why didn’t you tell me what kind of family you’re part of?”
Tony set his glass down with a soft clink. His voice dropped as he slowly rose to his feet. “What do you mean?”
My teeth ground together. “You know exactly what I mean.”
“I do. But I want to hear it from you.” He took a step toward me. “Say it, Emily. What’s wrong with my family?”
His tone cracked like a whip. My body locked up as my courage wavered, melting into something smaller, something helpless. “Tony... please.”
“Say it.”
I inched forward, but the look in his eyes stopped me.
“I just want to go home,” I almost begged.“Please... give me back my passport.”
His gaze softened and he stepped closer. His hand brushed my cheek, gentle, too gentle for someone like him. I had to tilt my head all the way back to look up at him.
“This,” he murmured, “this is the look I was afraid of. I knew I’d see the second you found out what my family really is. That’s why I brought you here. So you’d see it all. So you’d decide for yourself.”
He paused, searching my face. “I didn’t want to lose you, Emily. I wanted you to choose me,knowingthe truth, all of it.”
“Why’d you take my phone and passport if you really wanted to give me a choice?” I asked, my voice rising. “Why won’t you let me leave? Because that’s exactly what I want right now.”
He pulled me in closer. “Don’t make any rash calls, okay? Give this a real chance. My life and my work are separate from my family. Don’t judge me for their sins.”
“If you’re so different from them, why did you bring me here?”
“So you see it for yourself. So one day, you won’t hate me for hiding it from you. Two weeks. That’s all I’m asking. After that, whatever you decide, I’ll respect it.”
He wrapped an arm around me, tugging me closer to him. I was still tense but I didn’t pull away.
“Why have you been so cold to me? Why do you let your family insult me?” My voice cracked.
It took him a second to answer. “It might provoke them if I stood up for you, and instead of easing up, they might start holding grudges against you. Trust me, you don’t want to find out what happens to people the Mafia doesn’t like.”
Finally, he said it out loud. I stared at him with eyes wide, my heartbeat thudding in my ears. He reached up and slowly ran his fingers through my hair, his touch grazing the back of my neck.
“You’re safe with me. Don’t worry.”
