My reaction was a displacement for all the twisted fuckeryheput me through.
A huge shadow fell over Nicky next to me followed by a chorus of Italian curses from Michele. I looked at him over my shoulder, and he was racing out. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Sit tight.” He hurried down the steps.
Nicky, suddenly, jumped to her feet. “What do you mean sit tight? Is that piece of shit here?”
My eyes widened, and my heart thrashed. Washe?
No way.Hewould never just show up like this. Even ifhedid, how would they know it washim?
“Back off, Michele. You can’t stop me from watching a movie.” A male voice boomed in the entrance, and Michele said something in Italian. Damn, I should start learning the language.
People started to turn their heads toward the heated argument, mumbling their protests. Nicky stepped forward, hissing, but I grabbed her wrist. “Don’t go anywhere. It’s nothim.”Hewouldn’t call the bodyguard by his first name.
Ifhewas really here,he’d be among the people already in. My heart leapt at the thought. What ifhewas in here, watching as always?
My eyes searched the faces that were now looking my way, my chest heaving.Where are you?Tears burned my eyes, and I hated the emotional turmoilhetriggered in me just by the mention ofhim. “Show yourself.”
“Fuck. It’s Leo,” Nicky said.
I jerked my gaze toward the figure Michele accompanied up to our row. The dancing lights from the commercials exposed Leo’s face to me.
Nicky took a protective step in front of me. “Stay away from my sister.”
I shook my head as I got off my seat. “It’s okay, Nicky.” I took back what I said about exaggerating what Leo did—he was still stalking me after I’d made it clear he needed to stay away—but he wasn’t the real danger here. Leo himself was in danger by being here.
“I just want to talk,” he said.
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Nicky fumed.
“Nicky, please, just sit.” I held her arm. She looked like she was about to lunge at him. “And Leo, please go. Everybody is looking our way. I just want to watch a movie in peace.”
“You heard la signorina. Now, let’s go. Your dad is gonna fucking kill me for this,” Michele mumbled, pulling Leo away.
Leo yanked his arm out of Michele’s grip. “Lina, you have to hear me out. Sooner or later, we have to talk.”
“Not here.” My sweaty hands twisted together as I searched the staring faces again. “Please.”
“Where then?”
“I don’t know. Just get out of here.” I willed him to understand. It didn’t matter if he was Tino Bellomo’s son. His life was in danger.
Because of me.
What had I done? What was I thinking going out to the movies like everything was normal? What was I thinking when I agreed to live with the Bellomos to provokehimwhen I knew this could put Leo’s life at risk?
How could I have been so selfish? Was this how I repaid Tino for all the good things he’d done for us? Put his son’s life in danger? Putting his own life in danger, too?
If anything happened to either of them, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I should’ve just left like I’d planned.
What had I done?
Chapter24
Tino
