“You really care about her.”
“It’s crazy, right?” My eyes slid to his. “I haven’t seen her in months. But I can’t explain it, that night… something inside me clicked into place.”
“You sound like Nicco with all that written-in-the-stars bullshit.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I let out a weary breath.
“What are you going to do?” he asked quietly.
“There isn’t much I can do right now. She doesn’t want to talk to me, and I don’t want to be another guy who demands things from her. Not after…”
“He’ll pay, Matt. One way or another, DiMarco will get his. But we have to be smart, we have to take our lead from Uncle Toni.”
“I know.”
I did.
But it didn’t mean I had to like it.
“And until then, I guess you’re just gonna have to be patient.”
I glanced over at him. “Nora’s changed you, cous.”
“Fuck off. I’ve always been full of useful advice.”
My brow arched, and he grumbled something under his breath.
“Oh yeah, you’ve always been a real Dr. Phil type.” I smirked.
“I’ll keep my final piece of advice to myself then,” he said.
“Nah, go on. It might help.” I let out a chuckle but ended up choking on the wave of agony ripping through me.
“You good?”
I nodded, finally catching my breath.
“Well, you know what they say, cous. The best things come to those who wait.”
I rolled my eyes at him, shaking my head incredulously. “Who are you and what have you done with Lorenzo Marchetti?” I teased.
“It’s regular pussy, Matt. It changes a guy.”
“I wouldn’t know,” I murmured, hating the ache in my chest.
Silently hoping Enzo was right.
That all I needed to do was be patient and wait it out.
After all, I’d waited this long for her to walk back into my life.
Chapter 7
Caitlin
It took me two days to recover. After passing out in Nicco and Arianne’s apartment, I slept… and slept… and slept some more.
They had their family doctor come and check on me, but he said it was to be expected after such a traumatic event.
But this morning, when I woke up in the soft beige sheets, I forced myself out of bed and found Arianne in the kitchen area of their open plan living room.
“Hey, you’re up.”
“Hi.” I smiled weakly, joining her at the breakfast counter.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I slept for two days.”
“The doctor said rest is good.”
“You didn’t need to do that,” I said.
“We were worried. You passed out and—”
“Thank you.” I cut her off. I really didn’t want to do this… whatever this was.
“Coffee?”
I nodded, perching on a stool. My body ached, my muscles tired and weary. Or maybe that was my soul.
“Can I ask you something?” Arianne said as she made our drinks.
“Sure…”
“Before, when we arrived here, with Lowell…”
“The bellhop?”
It was her turn to nod. “You gave him a false name.”
“I thought it would be safer.” I shrugged.
“No one will hurt you here, Caitlin. I need you to know that.”
But I didn’t know that.
How could I?
Zander wasn’t some two-bit club owner. He was connected. And he was obsessive in a way that terrified me. Not to mention the fact that the Marchetti had direct ties to him. All it would take was for someone to say the wrong thing at the wrong time and word could get back to him…
“Caitlin?”
I blinked over at Arianne. “Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you want sugar and creamer?”
“Oh, yes please.”
She pushed the steaming mug of coffee toward me. “I took the liberty of buying you some new things yesterday. I hope that’s okay.”
“I… you didn’t need to do that.”
“I know I didn’t need to. I wanted to.”
“I’ll pay you back.” I didn’t know how, but I would.
“You can take a look at what I got in a bit and if you need anything else before we leave for the cabin, I can get them for you.”
“Thank you.” The words got stuck on the lump in my throat, tears pricking the corners of my eyes.
“Cait,” she said softly, reaching over the counter and resting her hand atop mine. “You’re going to be okay.”
Another nod. It was all I could manage.
“Are you ready to talk about what happened?”
Pressing my lips together, I shook my head. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready. Besides, there were too many skeletons in my closet, and if I started down that road… No, I couldn’t go there.
Ever.
Sympathy filled her expression, but she didn’t push, and heavy silence enveloped us. I loosened a breath when there was a loud knock at the door, but my relief was quickly doused in fear.
“It’s okay,” Arianne said. “Security only lets up approved guests.”
Approved guests? Wow. I didn’t know what to say to that, so I sat quietly, watching as she went to open the door.
“Luis.” She threw her arms around the immaculately dressed man. “It’s good to see you.”
“Nicco said you might need me.”
“Come in.”
She led him over to the kitchen. “Caitlin, this is Luis, our head of security.”
I stared at him, unable to speak.
“It’s okay,” Arianne reassured me. “I trust Luis with my life. He’s one of the good guys.”
“Hello.” It came out weak.
“Miss O’Connell.” He gave me a small nod. “How are you feeling?”
I frowned. He knew my name? Interesting.
“I’m okay. Nicco and Arianne have been very kind.”
“Coffee?” Arianne asked him.
“That would be great. Where’s Nicco?”
“Visiting with his father.” Something in her expression tightened.
“How is he?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“Antonio is a fighter.” He squeezed her shoulder gently. “If anyone can beat it, he can.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m to accompany Miss O’Connell to the cabin tomorrow?”
“We’ll all go and get her settled. But yes, I’d feel better if you’d stay.” She glanced at me. “If that’s okay with you?”
“I…”
“I’ll keep out of your way. You’ll hardly know I’m there.”
“O-okay.”
The gravity of my situation crashed into me. I was in Niccolò Marchetti’s apartment with his young wife, discussing being shipped off to their family’s cabin with close protection.
It was too much to process.
And yet, no one had ever gone to such lengths to make me feel safe before.