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I let him dress me in one of his shirts afterward, thinking that it would be so easy to get used to this. Wondering what I was even fighting against anymore because it felt so good to let him do everything for me. So fucking good.

He carried me from the bathroom to the bed, and I spotted my duffel bag beneath the window. He gently tucked me under the covers, kissed my forehead, and slid the remote into my fingers.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, then left the room.

I just lay there staring up at the ceiling until he returned, and when he slid beneath the covers and curled his big body around mine, he was still trembling. Just a little.

“What was it?” he asked, brushing his hand down my forearm until he threaded his fingers through mine. “Hm? What made you want to leave like that? Because all that bullshit about the Mafia being after you isn’t a good enough reason. Not for me.”

I squeezed his fingers tight in mine, and, like any show of affection from me was his undoing, he shuddered and pulled me into him even closer. He was only wearing a pair of boxers, and the heat of his skin against mine was soothing.

“Court,” I started, not really sure how to tell him all the things I’d done. The probability that Angelo would find me was slim, but the fact that there was even a sliver of a chance meant that I was a liability. I had the capacity to ruin everything they’d worked toward. And Vincent…him knowing who I was from the start? That had come straight out of left field. If Court trusted him, then I supposed that was good enough for me. But why had he just held onto that information? Why hadn’t he told a single one of them?

“Whitney,” Court murmured into my hair when I didn’t continue.

“I… Fuck, I don’t even know where to start.” I dragged our joined hands up to my lips, took in a shaky breath, and just let it all out. “I just got scared. I was terrified that a mistake I made so long ago would end up hurting you. And right before that…”

“Just tell me,” he demanded.

“Vincent told me he knew who I was and what I did and that Angelo Rossi was still looking for me.”

Court stilled behind me, then popped up and shoved me onto my back, eyes searching mine under furrowed brows. “What?” he asked in disbelief.

“He said he was Angelo Rossi’s nephew, and that was how he knew. He said he’d known who I was the second he saw my face.”

Court cursed, and in one lithe move, was out of the bed and heading for the door.

“Wait—”

He yanked the door open so hard it crashed into the wall, and I winced. Shit. He went stomping down the stairs, and then all I could hear was muffled, aggressive shouting from downstairs. Just Court was shouting, I had never heard Vincent raise his voice once, and now was no exception. After a minute of angry yelling, there was silence.

I sat up, pulled my knees to my chest, and tipped my forehead onto my thighs. All I ever did was give him trouble.

The bed dipped and I lifted my head as Court climbed onto it.

“He said he’s sorry. I told him to apologize to you in the morning. He’s not a bad person, he’s just bad with delivery and timing. He told me he’d just spoken to one of his brothers and it was on his mind.” He climbed on top of me, caging me in and blocking the light. And, like always, he smothered me in his love. He began kissing my face, down my neck, until he bit my shoulder so hard that the burst of pleasure and pain had me crying out. I shoved at him as he laughed, and then all the breath whooshed from my lungs when he collapsed on top of me. He quickly moved to my side but didn’t let go of me.

It was overwhelming. His affection was limitless, imprinting itself on the deepest parts of me, and I wondered how I ever entertained the thought of leaving all of this behind. I wasn’t really sure I could survive without him anymore. I was sure that I didn’t want to.

“What if he…you have to let me go, Court. He’s going to find me, and when he does, he’ll kill you.”

“We’ll handle it. Don’t worry about that. I’m not letting anyone get near you. You’re safe here, you hear me? No one will touch you. I’ll kill them if they try.”

It was pointless arguing with him, and I didn’t want to anymore. I closed my eyes and exhaled, letting myself relax.

“I got you a present.”

My eyes flew open. “…What?”

“I’m not so sure you deserve it anymore.”

I punched his bicep. “Give it to me.”

He laughed. “Say please.”

“Please,” I whispered.

He groaned, squeezing me tight. “Fuck. You realize you could make me do literally anything, right?”