Page 81 of Power & Punishment

“I’ll tell you later,” I mutter, hoisting my bag over my shoulder and spinning on my heel.

“Mia, wait⁠—”

“I said later,” I snap hard enough for him to listen.

It comes out harsher than I’d like, but I need to get away from him before I break.

The second I slow down and let myself think about what just happened, I know I’ll fall apart. And I can’t do that.

Not when I’m so close to finally getting justice.

Because someone went through a lot of trouble to keep this case buried, and I have a feeling I’ve been looking in the wrong places.

Which means there’s only one place left to look.

Unfortunately for me, Leo DeLuca is the only one that can help.

23

LEO

“This is a little much, don’t you think?” I ask, kicking a pebble and watching it skitter across the asphalt of the parking garage.

Dante scowls, which seems to be his default setting. At least his sister is still nice to look at when she scowls at me. “After Mia’s place got ransacked, I figured it’s best if we’re more careful.”

I cock my head to the side, adjusting my eyes to the dim lighting. “You hear anything more about that?”

“Only what Michael told me,” he responds, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I tried digging up some intel, but the guys involved were nobodies. Only been working for Enzo for a few months.”

“Why wouldn’t he send his muscle?” I ask.

“Why would you put her in danger in the first place?” Dante asks, his words causing me to ball up my fists at my sides.

“Your sister found out where Vince was shot and wanted to investigate the scene.”

“And who told her?” he asks, his voice getting deeper with accusation.

I grit my teeth and try to ignore the sinking feeling I get every time Mia’s trashed apartment flashes through my head.

“I told her what she needed to know to find his killer,” I explain, cementing my feet in place. “I never meant for things to play out the way they did.”

Did I want to use Mia for more than I originally said? Yes.

Did I expect to get attached this easily? No.

Now the mere thought of her in danger makes me want to peel my skin off.

I never carried a gun around before. Never wanted to. But now it’s attached to my hip, itching to splatter the brains of whoever is suicidal enough to go after her.

“She should be with me,” Dante says. “You can’t protect her.”

Within seconds, my body lights up in a fit of rage, and I take several steps toward Dante, prepared to sink my fist in the side of his face. But then Michael appears out of nowhere and steps between us.

His hand reaches out and presses against my chest, stopping me. I look down, staring at his pale fingers tensed against my chest. Michael has only touched me during our sparring sessions, but I know he loathes physical contact. It’s the only thing that makes me focus on my breathing long enough to take a step back.

Michael nods at me before turning back to Dante.

“Mia can’t stay with you because then Enzo will figure out who she is. We need to maintain anonymity for this plan to work. Besides, Leo’s townhouse has top-of-the-line security. It’s the safest place for her to be right now. And my guys are watching her.”