I step to her and wrap my arms around her. “He knows. Don’t worry.”
She holds on and rests her head on my chest.
“I don’t know what to do,” she admits, and the words look like they cost her. Like saying them is worse than crawling through a ceiling.
“You don’t have to do anything right now,” I tell her. “You made it out. That’s the only job.”
She looks up at me. “And everyone else?”
“They’re being handled,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “They were never the target.”
“Are you sure they won’t try anyway? What about my family? Are my parents safe?”
“You said they’re out of the country, right?”
“Yeah. My mom is doing some event in Italy, and then they’re going to Sweden to visit family.”
“Bellandi’s influence doesn’t go that far. He can’t even reach New England in this country.” I hold her closer and press my lips to her forehead. “But if it makes you feel better, we have family in Italy. I’ll make a couple of calls and have them checked on.”
“It would make me feel better,” she says quietly.
“Then it’s done.”
She puts her head back on my chest, and I know she’s fighting tears she doesn’t want me to see.
“Elsa.”
“This is my fault,” she says, her voicethick.
“No,” I say immediately.
“It is,” she insists, and there’s anger in it now, anger at herself because it’s easier than fear. “If I’d just—if I hadn’t—if I’d taken Bellandi seriously—”
“Stop,” I say, firmer, tightening my arms around her. “This is not on you. This is on them. This isn’t just pressure or blackmail or even threats. This is just malice. Their acquisition was rejected—it’s a done deal—and this is how they respond to it.”
Her breath shakes.
“I feel…” She swallows. “Stupid.”
That breaks something in me.
“You’re not stupid,” I murmur into her hair. “You’re brave.”
Her fingers curl into my shirt.
“I hate this,” she whispers.
“I know,” I say. “I do too.”
She exhales, and it’s shaky. “Are you sure we’re safe here?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
Her voice is smaller now. “Antonio, I don’t want to bring any danger back to your family like this. You said your brother lives here, and he has a wife and child.”
I tug her hair to tilt her face up to mine. “Elsa, stop. We have it handled. They’re safe. You’re safe. No one is getting to you or anyone else. I promise.”
I press my lips to hers. “I promise,” I repeat.
