Page 37 of Humility

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An hour later, I pulled into the driveway, hopping mad. I had to go to two other hardware stores to get all the parts needed to fix the water tank. Then, just to be on the safe side, I bought a brand-new one and had it strapped down in the back, too.

We hadn’t fixed anything in this place since we purchased it, so why we had to start now for some chick was annoying as fuck. Grumbling, I pulled the bags from the truck bed and marched for the door. I left them there and headed back to the truck for another load.

Carrying the second load of bags, I marched up the steps. I raised my hand to knock but heard laughter and peered through the living room window instead. My heart stopped, and my breath froze as I soaked in Jasmine. She was like a breath of fresh air, and I sucked in a deep lung full, feeling alive for the first time in years.

This couldn’t be real. I thought her name was Isabella. My heart remembered how to beat and pounded like a hammer inside my chest as my blood whooshed through my body. I pulled back from the window and closed my eyes as I listened to them talking.

I couldn’t make out the conversation, but as she laughed, I shivered. That was definitely Jasmine. I peeked through the window again, careful not to get caught.

My gaze raked over her features but settled on her unusual honey-colored eyes that looked like they were touched by gold. No one else had eyes like her. It had to be her. I would know them anywhere. Her black hair was tied up and showed off the delicate features of her face. I wanted to bust open the door but was sure all that would accomplish was getting myself punched in the face.

She still seemed so delicate. Every movement, right down to how she held her hands and tilted her head up, screamed that it was the woman I loved. How did Enzo not see she was a princess? She was no commoner. This was the daughter of one of the most powerful Dons in Italy. If she were here, even by some strange twist of fate, her family wouldn’t be far behind.

My heart pounded hard, thinking we would have to run again. But I didn’t want to. I never thought I would see Jasmine again, and there she was, no more than twenty feet away.

“I could’ve sworn I heard another vehicle pull in.” I heard Enzo say, and I ran for his SUV.

Yanking open the door, I paused as I stared at the steering wheel and seat. “Shit.”

Memories of this morning in the parking lot came rushing back. It didn’t smell clean, and I cringed as I got behind the wheel. He always left the keys on the visor, and I started the vehicle just as the door opened. I floored it, spraying rocks on my truck as I backed out of the driveway like a fucking bat out of hell. I couldn’t let her see me. She didn’t know Enzo, but I could only pray he didn’t say my name.

Shit, this could be a trap. What if she was the distraction, and they were collecting Angelo right now for execution? Did she hate us that much?

I hit the road and dared to glance at the front door to see a confused look on Enzo’s face. I peeled away and drove far too fast around the back country roads to our home on the other side of the property.

Pulling out my phone, I sent Enzo a quick text message.

D: Whatever you do, do not mention my name to our new tenant. I’ll explain later.

E: You’re fucking weird, but fine.

Dropping my phone in the cup holder, I grabbed the wheel. “Fuck, you asshole. I’m going to kill you. I will slit your throat while you sleep.” I swore a blue streak as my hand stuck to the steering wheel when I tried to lift it. I was going to piss in his shoes. That was what I was going to do to him.

There were no unusual cars in the driveway, but I still pulled my gun, left the SUV running, and ran for the front door. The door slammed against the wall as I burst inside and ran in and then turned down the hallway to Angelo’s office, almost colliding with him as stepped out.

“What the fuck?” Angelo stepped back as I pushed past him and looked around the room. “What the hell are you doing?”

Panting, I slumped over on my knees as relief that Angelo was okay washed over me.

“Dario speak up, you’re freaking me the fuck out.”

Slowly standing up straight, I looked him in the eyes and couldn’t believe I had to tell him this. We were doing great here. For all my bitching, this was the first place to feel like a home again. But he needed to know so we could plan. I couldn’t think about winning her back. That seemed too much like a fantasy that would never happen, but we had to find a way to get her to leave, or we would be found for sure.

“Boss, we have a problem. Like a big fucking problem, and God help us, I don’t know what to think.”

Chapter Nineteen

JASMINE

I held out the tool that Enzo needed next. I couldn’t get the SUV peeling down the driveway out of my mind. It was like the man was running away, but Enzo shrugged it off and said he got a text about an emergency at another property. It seemed plausible, but I couldn’t help worrying that it was one of my father’s spies.

“Isabella?”

“Hmm?” I was startled and looked down at Enzo. “I think that’s it. Did you want to go try the water and see what happens?”

“Fantastic, I’ll be right back.” Jogging up the stairs from the basement, I went to the two-piece bathroom and turned on the tap. It sputtered, and then water began to flow. A smile spread across my face.