My entire life had been one big string of disappointments and being let down by the people who were supposed to love and protect you.
“It’s going to be okay, Cait.”
Arianne kept saying that.
I just didn’t know when, or if, I would ever believe it.
“You’re sure?”
The voices beyond my room made me stop rising from bed.
After a morning of going through the new things Arianne had bought me, I’d retreated to my room to rest. I must have fallen asleep because it was hours later and already dark outside.
“Our contact at the hospital said DiMarco showed up first thing this morning, sniffing around.”
A chill ran down my spine, fear stealing the air from my lungs.
Zander knew—he knew, and he was already looking for me.
“But they didn’t tell him anything, right?”
“No, patient confidentiality will protect her to a degree, and we paid off the right people to buy discretion, including wiping the CCTV, but if he manages to get anyone to talk—”
“They could place Enzo and Matteo at the hospital.”
“Unlikely, but it’s a possibility.”
I was up and out of the bed before I knew it. Yanking the door open, I stormed into the living room. Arianne’s eyes widened to saucers. “Caitlin, what are—”
“He knows.” I looked at Nicco.
He drew in a sharp breath. “It would seem so.”
“Shaun?” If anything had happened to him because of me… I wasn’t sure I could live with that.
“We don’t know yet.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know yet?”
“We have to tread very carefully. If DiMarco suspects we’re involved—”
“If Zander suspects Shaun lied, do you have any idea what he’ll do to him?”
Nicco’s eyes darkened. “I have a pretty good idea.” He rubbed his jaw. “I know this is hard, but until we figure out how to handle this—”
“Nicco.” Arianne inched closer, shooting her husband a scathing look. “I’m sure your friend will be okay and as soon as it’s safe to do so, Nicco will send someone to check on him. Won’t you?” She pinned him with another hard look.
Hands jammed casually in his pockets, he gave her an imperceptible nod. “We have guys in Providence keeping an eye out, but right now, we have to be discreet.”
My gaze bounced between them both as I hugged myself tight.
“Cait,” Arianne said softly. “We’ll do everything we can to protect you from Zander, I promise.”
She kept saying that, but she didn’t know what he was capable of, how obsessed he was.
“I need to check in on my father,” Nicco said. “I’ll be back later.” He went to Arianne and cupped her face in his hands. “Ti amo, Bambolina.”
Her eyes fluttered as she kissed him back, and I turned away affording them some privacy. Ignoring the ache—the longing—in my chest.
Their love was a living, breathing thing that bled throughout the entire room. It was impossible to be unaffected by it, no matter how much it made my heart squeeze.
Nicco left and Arianne offered to make us both some hot cocoa.
“Are you hungry? There’s some leftover lasagna.”
“I’m okay, thank you.”
“You haven’t eaten much since you got here.”
“I don’t have much of an appetite yet.”
She nodded, handing me a mug of frothy, rich hot cocoa topped with marshmallows.
“Is Nicco’s father okay?” I blurted out, my cheeks burning at my sudden outburst.
“Actually, no.” Grief washed over her. “He’s sick.”
“I’m sorry. That must be very difficult for Nicco… and you.”
“If you have something you want to ask, ask it.”
There was no malice in her words, only gentle understanding.
“Will…” I inhaled a sharp breath. “Does that mean Nicco will…” I trailed off, dipping my gaze.
“Will he take over his father’s… responsibilities? Yes.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I knew who Nicco was when I married him, Caitlin.” Her expression softened. “And my answer would always be the same. I love him. And love knows no bounds.”
Spoken with a conviction I myself couldn’t understand. I’d never known that kind of love and devotion.
“You seem very happy,” I said.
“We are. You know, Matt—”
Panic welled inside me as I rushed out, “Please, don’t.”
“Very well. But you know, Cait, you can’t avoid him forever.”
Precisely why I couldn’t stop thinking that letting them help me was a huge mistake.
“Cait, we’re almost here.” Arianne gently shook my shoulders, rousing me from a fitful dream.
I hadn’t meant to fall asleep on the way to the cabin—it was only a short ride—but the rumble of the SUV had quickly lulled me into oblivion.
Rubbing my eyes, I peered out of the tinted window, watching the dense trees roll by as Luis drove down the dirt road to the cabin.
“There’s only one route in and out,” she said. “Luis knows this area like the back of his hand. Nicco and his cousins too. There’s hot water, electricity, and plenty of home comforts. Cell service should be okay.”
The brand-new iPhone felt heavy in my pocket. I hadn’t wanted to accept it, but Arianne wanted me to have a way to contact her should I need to. Plus, it gave me a tether to the real world.
Not that I had anything left in the real world.
“My offer still stands. I can stay—”
“No,” I said hastily. “You don’t need to do that. I need some time… alone.”
Arianne smiled. “I understand. Nora was sorry she couldn’t make it.”
“That’s okay.” I didn’t need a farewell party. It already felt like they had done too much for me.
“Remember, you can take as much time as you need.”
I nodded.
The SUV came to a stop and Luis climbed out, coming around to open my door. “Miss O’Connell,” he said.
“Thank you.”
God, I seemed to be doing a lot of that. Thanking people. Nodding. Agreeing with them. Zander had turned me into a docile, wounded creature.
And I hated him for it.
But what choice did I have but to acquiesce?
Unless I wanted to go it alone with nothing but the clothes on my back and the few dollars in my purse, I needed the help. At least, until I could figure out a plan.
It wasn’t like I had much in my apartment in Providence anyway, and a lot of it came from Zander. Things I didn’t ever want to touch or see again.
A shudder ran down my spine as I climbed out of the SUV. The frigid air brushed up against me and I burrowed deeper into the thick sweater Arianne had bought me.
I was grateful, I was. But part of me was angry that I was here. Again. Relying on the charity of others. DiMarco’s was supposed to be my way out. When Zander had offered me the job, I’d jumped at the chance to fix my desperate need to earn money. But I’d underestimated his motives, and before it was too late, he’d set his sights on me.