“Not here.” My sweaty hands twisted together as I searched the staring faces again. “Please.”
“Where then?”
“I don’t know. Just get out of here.” I willed him to understand. It didn’t matter if he was Tino Bellomo’s son. His life was in danger.
Because of me.
What had I done? What was I thinking going out to the movies like everything was normal? What was I thinking when I agreed to live with the Bellomos to provoke him when I knew this could put Leo’s life at risk?
How could I have been so selfish? Was this how I repaid Tino for all the good things he’d done for us? Put his son’s life in danger? Putting his own life in danger, too?
If anything happened to either of them, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I should’ve just left like I’d planned.
What had I done?
Chapter 24
Tino
Angel burst into my office. The bodyguards, including Michele yelled at her for barging in, nobody touching her as I’d ordered.
I nodded at them to shut the fuck up, and the room shrank in silence.
“I’m sorry.” She sniffled. She’d been crying again. Her red eyes glanced over the other guards standing in front of me, Leo’s guards. “I didn’t know you weren’t free. I just really need to talk to you. I’m sorry. I’ll come back later.”
“You can come in any time you want, Angelina.” I smiled at her as I stood, and then I glared at the guards. “Out.”
The second we had the room to ourselves, she burst into tears. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I went over to her, and my arms folded around her.
She embraced me back, her head pressed to my chest, her tears wetting my shirt. I cradled the back of her head and kissed her hair, her scent and the feeling of her body on mine intoxicating. Wary she might recognize it, I only shushed her in my head like I did whenever she was scared in my presence, the sound that silenced her fears even if she thought it worsened them. “Get it all out. I’m right here.”
“Can you ever forgive me?” she whimpered.
I lifted her chin so she could see me. “There’s nothing I can’t forgive you for.” I might get mad at her. I would punish her. But I’d always forgive her.
She teared up some more. “Even for putting your son in danger?”
“It’s not your fault that Leo is a fool. He wouldn’t stick to the rules. He’s the one who needs forgiveness, not you.” That devious fuck thought he could manipulate me like that. He didn’t pull that stunt because he couldn’t stay away from her anymore. He was putting himself in danger on purpose, so I’d rush to protect him by bringing him here to my mansion, where he’d be safe as well.
Not too shabby. If only…
“When I came here, I was only thinking about myself. But when I saw Leo in the movie house, the same place where he might have been lurking… I didn’t know if he was there, but he could have been… He could have hurt Leo.”
“No, he couldn’t have.” Not when it was my only son. If he’d been anyone else, I’d have wiped them out without a second thought. But it had to be him.
“Yes, he could. Tino, that man is dangerous. He’s a killer.”
“And you think I’m a tomato seller?”
Her gaze dropped. “I know what you do, Tino. But what if—”
“Don’t even think about saying it. If you believe he’s a threat to me, I’ll take great offense.”
“I…I don’t…”
“Enough with this silly talk then. In a matter of weeks, your attacker would no longer exist.”
“Weeks?”
“If not less.” I enjoyed the way she paled now. She didn’t want me to get hurt. She didn’t want me dead. “And don’t worry about Leo. He’s safe.”
“Okay.” She sighed. “But he won’t stop trying to talk to me. I’d like to get this over with. I think it’s best if he just comes here and we talk it through once and for all. It’s the safest place where we can meet.”
My eyes twitched. The idea of them together, alone, talking… one thing might lead to another, and the next thing I knew they would be fucking dating. “I don’t know how to respond to that.” I did. A big fat no. I had no valid excuse to say it, though.
“Why not?”
I wiped under her eyes, biding my time. Then I just said it. “I don’t like it. I don’t want him alone with you.”
She tilted her head back, her eyes narrowed at me. “If you’re worried I’ll steal him away from his fiancé—”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. It’s pretty much the other way around.”
The corners of her eyes crinkled some more. “What do you mean?”
If I told her now, I’d come too strong. She’d freak out. She wouldn’t understand. “I’m worried he’ll make you forgive him. I’m worried he’ll make you fall in love with him. Leo will steal you away, only to break your heart, Angelina.” She was too fragile now to see it on her own. She needed the care, the love. She’d throw herself into the first arms that promised her those. He already thought he was in fucking love with her, and he was her age, and he looked like me. The only man she’d ever been attracted to.
She’d fall right into his trap if I didn’t stop it.
Her lashes cast a shadow down her cheeks, and then her sparkling green eyes held my gaze. “Then don’t leave us alone together.”
The way she looked at me, vulnerable, innocent, a little kitten in need of shelter, stretched a smile on my face. I loved it when she needed me, when she hid in my embrace, when she asked for my help. “Bene. I won’t.”
She smiled back. “Thank you, Tino.”
My smile turned into a grin. The things I’d give to kiss her right now.
Dark pink painted her cheeks. God, she was killing me. Her gaze dipped to my lips. She, too, wanted to kiss me. All she had to do was ask.
She cleared her throat and ripped her gaze off my mouth, but she wouldn’t leave my arms. That she couldn’t bring herself to do. “I feel like I need to apologize for last night. I was being…” She laughed nervously.
Naughty? Lovely? Breathtaking? “You were being what?”
“Inappropriate. Whatever that was, I think it’s because of the incident. I…I’m dealing with it all wrong. I mean, my whole feelings about him are wrong.”
Do tell. “What kind of feelings do you have for him?”
Tears fell off her eyes again. “I never told this to anyone, but I feel like I can tell you. I want to tell you.”
I took her hand in mine and kissed her forehead. “You can tell me anything.”
“He plays with my head, Tino. He makes me…want him.” Her voice shook. “I hate it. He’s the last person I should feel that way for, and I’m so angry and confused.” She stopped crying all of a sudden and stared at me. “I want to be with him so much.”
The heat in her words went straight to my cock. Fuck. I raked her from head to toe, my jaws clenched, the devil in me snarling.