“Yes,” she hissed.
“Leo isn’t really in danger because he can’t really findhim, Angelina. Neither can I.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” She jabbed the air with her index finger. “And don’t even think about lecturing me for swearing.”
I slapped her finger and grabbed her whole hand in my fist, pulling her to me. She yelped, staring at me with angry yet scared eyes until she dropped her stare. “You don’t tell me what or what not to do, understood?”
She gulped. “Why can’t either of you findhim?”
Disappointed I couldn’t make her drop it, I had to lie. “Because I knowhisfucking kind. Patience ishisgame.Hecan wait as long as it takes for you to become vulnerable again beforehemakes a move.Hewon’t show up unless I use you as bait.”
“Bait?” Her head whipped up, her beautiful hair flowing off her face and down her back. “How?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll never do it.”
“You have to do it. I’m not scared ofhim. Not anymore. You have to do it, Tino.” Now she clung to me. “Please.”
“You’d put your life at risk for my boy?”
“I’d do anything to keep him safe.”
I’d counted each day Leo was away from her as a blessing, but I was wrong. His absence hurt more than his hovering around her. It was a silent curse that could cost me everything.
This wasn’t about my secret that was in danger of getting exposed. There were thousands of ways to keep Leo in the dark. It was this look in her eyes that I’d never thought I’d see.
The distance didn’t take him off her mind. It only made her care for him more than she’d ever have if he’d been here.
“Please, Tino. He can’t get hurt because of me. I need him safe,” she pleaded.
I closed my eyes and nodded. “I’ll think about it. I’ll let you know when I have a plan.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She gave me a small hug and left.
My Angel was slipping away from me.
I already had a plan to bring her back, though. One I didn’t want to execute until later. Until Leo was fucking married so he wouldn’t put her under his spell again.
I had no choice but to expedite things and go ahead with it. Now.
Chapter34
Tino
A scapegoat.
A man my height with a beard, who spoke Italian but had no accent. Pepper his place with Angel’s pictures and stalking gear. Pay his greedy ass double to kidnap Angel when I set the trap. Go kill him and be her hero.
I found him already. Marciano Andretti. A bastard that earned his button a couple of years after me. Used to be in my crew but split twelve years ago. Still ran for me sometimes, but mostly he worked solo. I kept him on my payroll so he wouldn’t sell me out. Most of my men didn’t know him, and importantly, Leo never met him.
I gave Andretti the job. As far as he was concerned, it was a real kidnap. Some girl to take to teach someone a lesson. He didn’t have to know anything else.
Angel agreed to all my instructions without question. Nicole and she went back to their apartment. I loosened the security around them at home and at the academy, pretending they were no longer under my protection, but kept Michele on their duty. I’d agreed with Angel to stay late at practice every day all week untilheshowed up. I resided at the penthouse for a few days while I waited for Andretti to make his move as planned. I couldn’t rush it or it’d look too suspicious.
All these days I did nothing but watch and paint her. Not having her in my house where I talked to her every day and stayed in her room every night was driving me out of my fucking mind.
Friday was the day it all ended, and I’d have her back in my arms.
Andretti was all set to take her from school. I lurked in the dark backstage, where I used to listen to her beautiful music without her knowing, where I watched for years without being seen, where I waited and daydreamed.
