She looked away, apparently struggling with something. “The only stalker I have is Leo. If I need protection from anyone, it’s him.”
I loved how she always tried to keep me as her little secret. Her way of protecting me back like I’d protected her. Even if she hated me. My eyes dipped to her lips, the urge to kiss her more prevalent than ever. “I can protect you from him, too.”
“You’ll protect me from your own son?” she scoffed.
“I’ll protect you from anyone. From the whole world if I have to.”
She blinked once, her face a deep crimson now, her eyes sparkling at me. “Why would you do that, Don Bellomo?”
Because you’re mine. I protect what’s mine. “I told you. Your safety is my responsibility. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even from my own son.”
She held my gaze, her face a question mark, until Nicole returned with my coffee. Then she hid her eyes from me again.
“Here you go. Sugar. No cream.” Nicole gave me a steamy cup of coffee and sat next to Angel, a grin on her face. “To what do we owe the honor of your visit, Mr. Bellomo?”
My innocent Angel begged me with her eyes not to tell on her. Don’t worry, my sweet girl. Our little secret is safe with me.
“As hard as it is to say it, there has been a misunderstanding, and I’m afraid my son is to blame,” I told Nicole.
Her grin shrank. “What misunderstanding?”
“See, in traditional families like ours, things are a little different. There’s a girl that has been promised to my son since she was a baby. Sadly, Leo didn’t take that promise seriously.”
Angel’s brows hooked. “What?”
“Yeah, what?” Nicole repeated. “And what has that got to do with us?”
“Leo has shown interest in your sister, Nicole, without regard to consequences. His behavior is reckless, no doubt about it, but he meant no harm. However, our families don’t take matters related to honor lightly.”
Nicole’s smile vanished completely. A deep frown contorted her face as her stare darted back and forth between Angel and me. “You hooked up with Leo Bellomo?”
“No! He asked me out without saying he was a Bellomo,” Angel shifted her stare toward me, “or that he was engaged, and I refused.”
“It makes no difference, though,” I said.
Nicole’s grimace deepened, alarm evident on her face. “What does that mean?”
“The situation can upset the other family either way as it hurts the reputation of their girl.”
“But that’s not Lina’s fault.”
“Nobody’s saying it is. I’m just explaining the unfortunate situation you’ve been thrown into.”
“Mr. Bellomo, are you saying my sister is in danger?”
“Nothing that can’t be avoided. But until the situation is fixed, I prefer to have you both as my guests at my mansion, where I can keep things under control.”
They both exchanged glances silently, holding each other’s hands, but, strangely, neither of them was afraid. Well, I could have exaggerated it, scared them for real, if I really wanted them to live with me. But I toned it down, and they were smart enough to know even the Mafia wouldn’t harm them just because of a few talks. I knew not even a psycho sadist like Enzio Lanza would. This whole thing would disappear if Leo set a fucking date.
“Mr. Bellomo, as much as we appreciate your concern and your offer, I’m afraid we can’t accept it,” Nicole said.
“Why not?”
“I’m quite capable of protecting my sister, and with all due respect, I don’t believe we’ll be safer at your mansion. Your son will be at your mansion, and that is more dangerous in my opinion.”
I couldn’t agree more. “But he won’t. Leo doesn’t live there.”
“Still, he can visit. He’ll have easy access to Lina. He might even ask you to move in as well. He’s your son. You won’t kick him out for my sister.”
“What about what I’ve just told you? About the girl’s family?”
“Thankfully, you said you could fix it, and the danger is nothing that can’t be avoided.”
I grunted. “Angelina, is that your decision, too?”
“Yes. I’d like to stay here with my sister,” Angel said. “The Bellomos have done so much for us, and we’re forever grateful, but I think we should leave it at that. Like I said, we just want to live in peace.”
“Understood.” I rose, convincing myself that I had done everything in my power to grant my son his wish, even though it didn’t work out in his favor. I wasn’t even sorry.
The only thing I was sorry for was the night I invited him to the penthouse. I regretted it as much as I regretted his mother’s death. My son and my Angel were never meant to cross paths. I should have known he’d get obsessed with her like I was. He was my son after all.
Leo and Angel would stay away from each other until my girl would turn eighteen in a few months. Then nothing could stand between us ever again. Everything was back according to my plan.
“You haven’t touched your coffee, Mr. Bellomo,” Nicole said, getting off her seat.
“Some other time. At Angelina’s scholarship award maybe or your graduation. I hear amazing things about you, Nicole. Keep up the good work.”
“Thanks. Let me see you out.”
“It’s okay, Nicky. I will,” Angel said.
“Sure. It’s been an honor to meet you in person, Mr. Bellomo.” Nicole excused herself while Angel walked me to the door.
“Thank you for not telling her,” she whispered. “Is any part of that story you told us true?”
“Every word.”
“Wow. I’m such an idiot.”
“No, you’re not.” Leo wasn’t playing her. He didn’t believe he was engaged. He resented our life, and only for her, he was ready to forsake everything and be a man he never wanted to be. But she didn’t need to know that. “I’d like to know as well. Is any of what you told me true?”
“About?”
“The vigilante. Is it true that he’s not bothering you anymore?”
Her chin quivered. A haunted look took over her eyes as they glistened. “He’s long gone.”
I believed Leo when he said she was angry and sad about it because that was what I liked to believe. Now I could see it for myself, and it warmed my heart a thousand times more.
“Answer me this one question. Does he know where you live?”
She nodded, her chin still trembling.
“And you don’t want to leave here…in case he comes back?”
Her head jerked up, her eyes wide, shocked, afraid. A little girl that was just caught stealing cookies. “No. Of course not.”
She lied, but the look in her eyes told the truth. A look I’d never forget my whole life.
The look that changed everything.
Chapter 18
Lina
I hadn’t seen Leo all week. I must admit, I was relieved, yet the void he’d been filling for me had returned to swallow me.
With Leo’s attention, even though I knew it wouldn’t last, I thought I was over him. The second I was reminded of his abandonment, and with nothing to keep my mind off missing him, I was lost again, longing for something I should have never desired.