Page 33 of Her Michigan Mob Boss

It had occurred to me that if I sent her away, Danny might assume I was no longer interested in her, but the stakes were too high to take the risk.

“No. a man like him can get to you anywhere.”

Her face blanched. She stared at the bed for a moment and then looked up at me, determination clear in the clenching of her jaw.

“I’ll take my chances. Let me go home. If I feel like I’m in danger, I’ll call the police.”

“You don’t know the type of men Mulhearn has working for him. They’d have you bound and drugged before you could even reach for the phone.”

Annie threw her hands up in despair. “Am I supposed to take your word for all this? I don’t trust you, Ciaran. As far as I can see, you’re the bad guy. You’re the one who had me dragged off the street and brought to your apartment. You’re the one who locked me in a room when I wouldn’t give you what you wanted.”

Frustrated, I shoved my fingers through my hair. “All I’ve done is try to protect you from a man who’d have no qualms about slitting your throat. I hate to say it, but from the moment I kissed you atLola’s, you became a target.”

“But we’ve only just met. Surely using me to hurt you would be pointless.”

“Are you suggesting I don’t care enough to hand over everything I own to save your life?”

My declaration startled Annie. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “You can’t possibly feel so strongly about me already.”

“I can assure you, I do.” The truth of that pressed down on my chest. “I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. I’d kill any man who tried.”

Annie sighed. “But you’re hurting me by keeping me here.”

I shook my head. This was going nowhere. “Look, Annie, you’re staying here whether you like it or not. It’s up to you if you enjoy it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you can either sulk in this room or you can enjoy the swimming pool, the gym, the library. You can spend time with my family, get to know them.”

She gestured toward her body with her hand. “How am I meant to do that without clothes?”

“I’ll have your luggage brought to you.”

Her face darkened. “You have my luggage?”

“Yes, I had it brought here last night.”

“Unbelievable,” she muttered.

I stood up from the bed. “What’s it to be, Annie? Are you a prisoner locked in this room or a guest with the run of the house?”

“It seems I’ve no choice. I’ll accept yourhospitality,but I don’t want to see you or speak to you until you come to tell me I can go home.”

I bowed my head, resigned. “If that’s how you want it.”

She pursed her lips and turned away. It seemed the silent treatment would begin immediately.

“I’ll get your things brought to you straight away. When you’re dressed, come downstairs. Emily will show you around.”

She didn’t even nod in response. Deflated by our encounter, I headed back downstairs to find my sister hovering in the hallway.

“How did it go?”

“She’s upset with me.”

I expected Emily to tell me it’s what I deserved, but instead, she put a hand on my arm in a gesture of reassurance. “You really like her, don’t you?”

“I do.” Though I barely knew Annie, my gut told me we were meant to be. “I’ve told her she can go wherever she wants inside the house. When she comes down, can you show her around?”

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