Finally, the saleswoman brought out a stunning red dress. It had a deep V neckline and bell sleeves, and it cinched at the waist before falling to the floor in a graceful cascade. The soft jersey fabric was luxurious to the touch.
As I stepped out of the dressing room, Drake's eyes lit up, and I could see the approval in his gaze. I gave him a little twirl, and he raised an eyebrow. "That's the one."
I grinned, feeling like a million bucks. "I thought you'd like it. It’ll be perfect for the reception."
I felt like something was missing. Drake just continued sipping his champagne and watched with an amused expression on his face.
Finally, the saleswoman brought out a beautiful fuchsia-colored dress, and as soon as I put it on, I knew that it was the one. It fit perfectly in all the right places, hugging my curves without being too tight or too loose.
Drake let out a low whistle when he saw me in it. "You look beautiful," he said softly, and there was something in his eyes that made me blush.
As I modeled the dress, I couldn't help but notice the way Drake's eyes seemed to devour me. "You look like you want to eat me whole," I teased.
"That's because that's exactly what I'm thinking about," he shot back, his voice low and sultry.
We shared a moment, our eyes locked in a smoldering stare, and I knew this was more than just a shopping trip. This was a game of cat and mouse, and I was more than happy to play.
I changed back into my regular clothes, and as the saleswoman rang up our purchases, I felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. We were about to pull off a dangerous scheme, and I would be dressed to kill. Literally.
The sun was setting as we left the boutique, the sky awash in shades of pink and gold. Drake held the door for me, his face betraying nothing of the charged moment we'd shared earlier. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was made of stone.
As we cruised back to the house, my mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming evening. What if our plan didn't work? What if Massimo saw through our ruse? And what would happen between Drake and me once this was all over?
“Daphne, listen," he began, his voice strained. "About your mother being at this wedding. What do you need from me? How can I help? I know your relationship is strained."
My heart squeezed. In the midst of danger, he still wanted to take care of my heart. "Drake," I said, my voice soft, "You don't have to get involved in that. It's between my mother and me. I’ll just avoid her."
He shook his head. "No, it isn't. We’re doing this together. And dangerous or not," he said, gripping my chin between his forefinger and thumb, “you’re not alone.”
I had never asked Drake for help before, but now I realized that I needed him more than ever. He was strong and brave, and he had already proven his loyalty time and time again. With a deep breath, I finally nodded in agreement.
"Okay."
Drake's expression softened and he stroked my cheek tenderly with his thumb. "I'll do whatever you need me to do," he whispered, and there was an intensity in his eyes that made me shiver with anticipation.
Drake reached over, taking my hand in his. "I promise you, Daphne, you'll be safe with me. I won't let her hurt you."
His words brought me a strange sense of comfort, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. Somehow, I knew he meant it.
"Thank you, Drake," I murmured, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
He smiled, his grip tightening around mine. "You don't need to thank me. We're in this together."
As we sat in the car, hands intertwined, I couldn't help but think about how far we'd come. From strangers thrown together by circumstance to partners, plotting to take down a dangerous man and navigating the treacherous waters of my family dynamics. It was a wild ride, but there was no one else I'd rather have by my side.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the countryside.
But as we walked toward the house, Drake's phone rang, and the tension level instantly spiked. He glanced at the screen, his face turning ashen.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He swallowed hard and shook his head. “Nothing. It’s not important.”
“Don't do that. I thought we weren't keeping secrets. Tell me.”
With a sigh he turned his phone around. It showed a photo of my sister and Travis. “Massimo wants me to know he’s got eyes on your family.”
My head spun and I listed to the side, but Drake caught me before I hit the ground. “I need to call my sister.”
Drake
Daphne was upstairs on the phone with her sister, so I took the opportunity to call in reinforcements.
As I paced the length of the kitchen, I knew I couldn't execute this plan alone. I needed backup. I dialed Gabe.
It rang only once before he answered. “I know. You miss me already. One of these days we're going to have to tell Tabatha about us.”
“Cut the shit, Gabe. I need a favor," I said, cutting straight to the chase.
Gabe's voice turned serious. “What have you got?”
I explained the situation to Gabe, and he let out a tired sigh. " Christ, Drake, shit has gotten out of hand. I hate to ask this, but my last mission taught me to ask all the questions. Are you sure you can trust this woman?”
"Yes," I said without hesitation. "She's been a pawn in this. I need some backup. We're trying to lure Massimo out at a wedding rehearsal dinner, and I could use a team of four," I said, trying to sound casual.
There was a long pause, and I could practically hear Gabe's disapproval radiating through the phone. "You're using Daphne as bait, aren't you?"
I hesitated for a moment, torn. "Yes, but it's the only way we can guarantee he'll show up."
Gabe sighed. "Drake, I don't like this. I don't like it one bit, but I understand why you're doing it. I'll assemble a team of four. But be careful. We don't want anything happening to Daphne."
"Thanks, Gabe. I owe you one," I said, relieved.
As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. I didn't like using Daphne as bait either, but I couldn't see any other way to bring Massimo out into the open. And the fact that Gabe had agreed to help me put me slightly more at ease. Now the only thing standing in our way was time.
With the Rogues on our side, I felt a bit more confident that we could pull off this plan and finally stop Massimo from hurting anyone else again.
I hung up the phone and went to find Daphne, who had just finished her conversation with her sister. She turned to me with a questioning look on her face as if she knew something was up.
"Everything all right?" she asked cautiously, eyeing me warily.
"Yes," I replied confidently. "We have backup to help us out."
"Do you really think that’s necessary?" she asked hesitantly. "Can we trust them?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "Massimo isn't going away unless we fight back. I trust Gabe with my life. He's as solid as they come. Besides, I can’t control the room, protect you, and grab Massimo all at the same time. It's a numbers game. We need the extra hands.