Page 93 of A Bossy Proposal

I know it’s her.

I rush across the sand and when I reach her. My heart pumps like crazy against my rib cage.

Amelia sits on the edge of the beach, her knees pulled tight to her chest, chin resting against them. She stares out at the ocean, lost in thought. The waves crash, but she seems miles away from everything.

I approach with caution, afraid to startle her.

“Amelia,” I say her name softly to break through whatever spell has wrapped around her.

She doesn’t turn at first.

“I’m here.”

Her shoulders tense before she slowly lifts her head and glances over her shoulder.

Our eyes meet, and for a heartbeat everything else fades, and it’s just us.

“West,” she breathes, surprise flickering across her features. “You shouldn’t have followed me.”

“Why did you run when I told you I’d look after you?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “You shouldn’t be here alone.”

Her gaze drifts back to the horizon as if searching for answers hidden in the waves. “I never ran from you. I needed to be closer to them.” She bites her lip and shrugs slightly. “I know that’s stupid because they’re dead. But everything I’ve tried to bury—” Her voice shakes, and she stops talking to swallow her sob.

I sit down beside her and wrap my arm around her. She rests her head on my shoulder.

“Tell me everything.”

Amelia takes a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the horizon. “My family came to the US with a plan. We escaped the mafia, and the life they’d mapped out for me.” Her voice wavers. “My parents...” She swallows. “We were safe…but Giovanni Vincenzo...” She spits the name like poison. “He wasn’t about to let us go. He never gave up looking for me. We left California because my father heard through his contact that Giovanni had located us.”

“And you came here.”

“We did. My father moved us across the country, somewhere quieter, somewhere he thought we’d be safe. It was supposed to be perfect; it only has a small Italian population. But he was wrong.”

I feel my jaw clench. “What happened?”

“He killed them,” she whispers. “It wasn’t an accident like everyone thinks. His son held me captive while Giovanni tookmy parents out on their boat.” Her fingers dig into her knees. “He drugged their drinks, he murdered them, then sank the boat. They ruled it a misadventure.”

My blood runs cold. “Jesus, Amelia. I’m so sorry.”

She nods, blinking back tears. “I managed to escape at the airport. Told them I needed the bathroom.” A ghost of a smile flits across her face. “I stole a baseball cap that someone left while they went to the toilet. Hid my hair underneath and slipped across the hallway to the men’s bathroom. When they went into the ladies’ I ran and hid.”

“Smart,” I murmur, impressed despite the horror of the situation.

“I’d already stolen cash from Giovanni’s wallet. So, I had to bide my time. I hid for hours and when they left the airport, I hopped on the next flight out of South Carolina.” She shrugs. “Ended up in New York. A city which is the opposite of here. I mean... Where better to hide than a city so highly populated, right?”

I stroke her arm, gentle movements to keep her calm. “You’re incredibly brave, you know that?”

“I’m not brave.” She turns to me, her eyes red and shimmering with unshed tears. “But I am tired of running. I’m tired of being afraid and alone.”

I squeeze Amelia’s shoulder, my heart aching for everything she’s been through. “Then stop running,” I say softly. “I’ve got you. I can protect you. You’ll never be alone again.”

She looks at me, her eyes wide and still full of fear. “Nobody can protect me from the mafia,” she whispers, shaking her head. “Or you.”

I lean in closer, my voice low and firm. “I have a man already looking for Vincenzo. Within days, he’ll be dead.”

Amelia’s breath catches. She stares at me, searching my face for any sign of deception. “What? How?”

“I have connections.” It’s an exaggeration of the truth, but she needs to hear it. Holding her gaze, I add, “Powerful ones. The moment you told me about your past, I started making calls.”

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