Page 74 of Dangerous Games of Trust

“We thought you might like to check out the penthouse. Maybe even have a couple of drinks behind closed doors.” He grins, a twinkle in his eyes. I let him take my hand and lead me back to the elevator with the other boys. I know one thing for sure after everything that’s already happened tonight. This will be our last night together. And I intend to make the most of it.

Chapter 37

I find Dani inthe bedroom she’s sharing with my brother, my stomach twisting uncomfortably with what I’m about to do. I know it’s not right; it goes against every impulse within my body. But being me is what has me stuck in this mess. I refuse to continue on as this vulnerable girl. I need to grow some balls and take what I want from this life. No one is going to give it to me here, no matter how hard I beg them. They all have their own agendas. I can see how much they love me. That’s not in question. I don’t feel their respect even after all this time. They still see me as the fragile little princess who needs them to take care of me while the men sort out all the real shit. Well, not anymore.

“Dani, is there any chance you can take me to the drug store real quick before Geovani takes me to the airport tonight?”

She smiles at me, looking up from the laptop she has lying out on her bed. “What do you need, girl? I probably have whatever it is in my closet. Except if it’s sanitary products, had the shot, you know, so don’t get my period anymore.” She laughs.

“I wish it was that.” I give her a serious expression, hoping it will freak her out enough that she lets me out of this place without a male escort.

She sits straight up. “What the fuck?”

“When Alessandro put the idea in my head the other day, I hadn’t even considered it. But it’s been a long time since I’ve had my period, and I seriously wouldn’t put it past them to mess with my birth control. Do you have time to help me out, please? I don’t want to leave without knowing either way.”

“Sure,” she agrees. “I’ll just text Geovani and let him know we will be back soon.”

“Good plan.” I smile at her.

She texts Geovani, who’s in a meeting downtown with Alessandro—also why I chose this exact moment to ask for her help. She takes her car keys, and the two of us walk down through the back end of the house into the garage. We hop in her Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and she takes off down the driveway, the guards waving us through as soon as they see us approaching. I wouldn’t have gotten past them on my own.

The first drugstore we pass she drives into the parking lot and parks her car. It’s early afternoon, and there’s not many people around, but she still looks over her shoulder before getting out of the car.

We enter the drugstore, and I pick out a couple of different brands of pregnancy tests just to be sure what I’m doing looks legit to her.

I feel her gaze on me as she looks over my shoulder. “There’s a bathroom in this place. You should take it now. I don’t want to wait till we get back to the boys’ place.”

I give a hesitant smile, not quite reaching my eyes. “A drugstore bathroom isn’t the place I want to find out I’m pregnant.”

“It would be a good place to find out you’re not.” She shrugs.

I purchase the tests and leave the drugstore with her close by my side. Once she starts up the car and drives us back toward the boys’ place, I pop the glove box and pull out the gun I put in there earlier. “Pull the car over and get out,” I say, a calmness washing over me.

She glances back at me, her sudden fear obvious. “What the fuck, girl?”

“You and I both know I can’t stay here. I’m a fucking dead girl if I do. You want to help me? You will do what I say.” I attempt to hold the gun steady, but my trembling hands betray my nerves.

Without hesitation she pulls the car over to the curb, dust flying up. She kills the engine but leaves the keys in the console. “Lana, this is crazy. You have a flight out of town tonight, a way out of all this shit.”

“I don’t want out. I want my fucking freedom and Enzo Moretti dealt with. I’m sick of being told it’s all being taken care of. ‘Just trust us.’ Well, I don’t trust anyone anymore except myself. You have all proven to me where I stand, and I for one am done with being the damsel in destress. Locked away to be protected.”

Her lips quiver, and I know the realization I’m not playing some fucked-up prank on her is settling in. “I can’t leave you alone. The boys will kill me.”

“Geovani and Marco will protect you. We both know it. Answer me this, friend. How many cameras did you and Geovani have installed in my new accommodation?”

Her eyes flick back up nervously to me, and she swallows hard. I don’t look away; she needs to see the hurt she has been a huge part in causing. All over her face is her betrayal. Not only from the past, but every way she would continue to serve Geovani over me. No matter how close we get, she will always side with him first. And her face says it all. That place in Australia would have been bugged. I knew he had no intention of ever truly letting mego. Knew there would be new cameras watching my every move. I understand his obsession, but he has to understand that it’s gone too far. They all have to know it’s gone too far.

“I get it. You can’t,” I huff, not ever really expecting her to answer me truthfully. “Tell Geovani and Marco the Havardi businesses are theirs; I want no part in it.”

Her eyes go wide. “You’ve lost your mind.” She lets out a half-hearted laugh, tinged with nervousness.

“No, I’m seeing everything crystal clear for the first time in my life. I’m not letting any of you manipulate me for your own gain anymore. I’m taking back the control. Now get out of the car.” I raise the gun toward her.

She fumbles with the handle, then steps out of the car.

I climb over the gear box and plonk down in her seat, pressing the ignition, and the engine roars to life. “I’m so sorry, Dani.” A single tear glides silently down my face. I didn’t want to do this, but they all gave me no choice. I press down on the accelerator, feeling the car surge forward as I speed up the road. Through my rear-view mirror, I watch her trying madly to call someone.

From its spot on the passenger side, my phone rings, her name lighting up the screen. Did she really think I would pick up? It’s too late for regrets. My mind is set on my plan, and I cannot afford to give up now.

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