Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Why would I be worried?” Eden asks. “Do you think the drug dealers will come after me again and try to hurt Tyrone?”
I shake my head. “No. But we’re going to war against Miguel’s group, and I can’t have you out there.”
“Who’s Miguel?” Tyrone asks.
“The fucker responsible for the drugs flooding Brownsville and the rest of New York,” I answer.
Eden places her hand on Tyrone’s forearm. “Will you come with me? Please?”
He inhales a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Yeah. Anything for my baby girl.”
She leans her head against his shoulder. “Thank you.”
Happy that the conversation went well, I say, “Eden should get some sleep.”
“I’ll go pack our stuff. Want me to meet you here tomorrow?” Tyrone asks.
Digging my SUV’s keys out of my pocket, I hand them to him. “There’s an SUV parked out front. Take it. I’ll text you my address. Once you’re done packing, head over to my place. I’ll notify my housekeeper that you’re coming.”
“Okay,” he agrees. “I haven’t driven in a while.”
“It’s okay.” A smile curves the corners of my mouth. “The SUV is insured.”
“I’ll be careful,” he assures me before nodding toward the doorway. “Can we talk alone?”
“Sure.” I glance at Eden, who’s crawling beneath the covers again. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
“Okay.”
I follow Tyrone into the hallway, and when he turns to face me, there’s a worried expression tightening his features.
“With you being in the mafia, will Eden be in danger?”
I shake my head. “No. I’ll keep her safe.” Knowing he needs to hear the words, I place my hand on his shoulder and say, “Eden is mine, and no one will dare lay a finger on her now that the word is out there. She has the full force of the Cosa Nostra protecting her.”
He nods, then gives me a relieved smile. “Thanks for finding her and bringing her home.”
Aware of the tight bond between Eden and Tyrone, I murmur, “I would’ve done the same if you were the one they took. You’re important to Eden, which means you’re important to me.”
He lets out a chuckle. “Never thought I’d have a mafia boss say that to me.”
Returning his smile, I mutter, “Yeah.” I nod in the direction of the exit. “Get going, and don’t take too long at the apartment. Grab what you need and get out of there.”
Tyrone nods, but before he can walk away, I add, “Take my number so you can call me if something happens.”
We quickly exchange numbers, and I send him my address.
He hesitates for a moment, then says, “Thanks for watching over us. You’re good people, Dario.”
I give him a chin lift, then watch as my future father-in-law walks down the hallway.
Chapter 29
Eden
I hear Dario’s voice as he calls Esmerelda to let her know about Tyrone so she can get a room ready for him.
I didn’t even argue when Dario said we’d be staying with him.
Why?
I’m still trying to find the answer when he comes back into the room.
Snuggled beneath the covers, I watch as he sits down on the armchair and removes his boots. Standing up, he pulls the two guns from behind his back. I’d forgotten they were tucked into his waistband.
He places them on the bedside table, and leaning over me, he presses a kiss to my temple, while whispering, “Move up, Tesoro.”
I scoot back and lift the covers so he can climb beneath them. When he lies down, he wraps an arm around me and positions my body half over his.
Melting into the feel of his warmth, I let out a sigh.
This is why I didn’t argue about staying with him.
I feel safe and loved.
He keeps giving me gentle hugs and pressing kisses against my hair.
“Want to talk?” he whispers.
“Yeah.” I rub my good cheek against his chest. “It’s hard to believe you’re in the mafia. Is the ballet company a front for something?”
“No.” I feel his warm breaths stir my hair as he adds, “I’m still the man who loves art, opera, and ballet.” He pauses for a moment, then admits, “But I’m also a man who’s killed. And I will kill again.”
The memory of me slamming the heel of my shoe into that man’s eye flashes through my mind.
“I’ve killed too,” I whisper. “I have no idea what came over me. One second, I was fearing for my life, and the next, I was attacking them.”
“And you managed to escape,” he murmurs. “You’re more badass than me.”
“You know about my escape attempt?”
“Yes. I got the footage from a CCTV camera in the area. That’s how we were able to figure out where you were.”
A smile begins to curve my lips, but I stop when it tugs on the cut.
“At least my escape attempt paid off.”
Remembering what happened afterward, I hold Dario tighter and bury my face in the crook of his neck.