Page 119 of Ruthless God

“Lina.”

Massimo’s brows pulled together in a small frown, looking over to the door. It took him a second to realize what I was saying. Anger marred his face.

“Fuck, are you serious?”

I nodded.

“I’m going to talk to her,” he said.

Massimo made a move to get me off him when I stopped him. “Please don’t.”

What would he say to her anyhow? Why were you watching us? My cheeks tightened.Whywas she watching us?

“I can send her away,” he said. “We have a few safe houses.”

I thought about it. “Can the Bratva find her?”

He hesitated. “It would be hard.”

But not impossible. And if something happened to her, I would have that on my conscience.

He let out a small sigh. “We can’t take care of her for the rest of her life.”

“I know,” I said softly. “Give it a week. I’ll talk to her about it.”

His lips tightened, but he nodded after a moment. I knew he didn’t like this. I didn’t either. But a week would give her some time to get used to the idea of leaving here.

I hoped.

I didn’t getto talk to Lina after that day.

I didn’t know how to bring it up, and she had acted like nothing had happened, even when I knew for a fact she’d seen us.

What was she even looking for?

Almost a week had passed, and still, I’d said nothing. I could feel myself reverting to the person I’d once been back in Chicagowhen I was still living under Andre’s household, and I hated it. Hated it so much.

I stared at her sitting across from me during dinner, trying to figure her out and coming up with nothing.

“What?” she asked, annoyed, as if I was the one intruding in her life and not the other way around.

Her annoyance made it easier for me to say what I needed to say. “Massimo has set up a safe house for you to stay at for as long as you need until you figure out what you want to do.”

Anger flashed over her face. “Are you kicking me out?”

I didn’t say anything to that.

She shook her head, her face pinching in disgust. “Look at you, so brave now with your husband at your back.”

She looked around the big house. “This was supposed to be mine.”

“Well, it’s not yours,” I snapped. “And I’d appreciate it if you would stop making comments like this.”

She didn’t say anything, just shot me a dark look. I let out a small sigh. “Just have your things ready to go by the end of the week. I’m tired. I’m going to bed early.”

I got up and walked away before she could say anything else and before this could turn into an argument that I had no energy to participate in.

When would I be able to stand up to her?

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