Page 42 of Declan's Dove

I shake my head. “No. I don’t think they’re related. It adds to my concerns, though. Matteo assures me no one was watching your apartment when we came to get you, and we weren’t followed back here. But my gut tells me there’s more. I just don’t know what, and it terrifies me.”

“Kayce and Vincenzo won’t let my troubles find you,” she says, inhaling deeply. “We’ll meet with Kayce and then I’ll go with him and his team into hiding again.”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort.” Vincenzo’s deep voice rumbles from the doorway as he strolls into the room.

“I don’t believe you have any say in what I do or where I go,” Mili argues. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and for Violet, but I can handle myself from here.”

Vincenzo stalks slowly into the room, a predatory gleam in his eyes as they scan Mili from head to toe. I almost feel like an intruder in this conversation. The tension is so palpable. He walks to the side of the bed, sitting beside her. I release her hand, not sure what I should do in this situation.

Vincenzo grips Emilia’s chin firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You’ll do as you’re told until I am certain your life is no longer in danger, or I’ll be forced to take measures into my own hands.” He looks at me. “That goes for the both of you.”

“Hey!” I snap back. “I’m not a part of whatever this is.” I wave my hands between the two of them. “I’m going home to my son. If Mili wants to stay with us, she’s welcome to for as long as she likes. But I agree with Mili. If Kayce wants to put her in another location under the protection of his men, she should go.” I shift my attention to Mili’s glassy-eyed glare. “I don’t want you to have to start over, but if it will keep you alive, I’m all for it.”

Emilia sighs, tossing her arms in the air. “Well, I’m glad to see everyone else has a say in what I should do with my life. I’m the one who is hurt. It’s my life being uprooted. I think I should have a say in what I do from here. And you.” She digs her finger into Vincenzo’s chest. His eyes follow her movement, then snap back to glare at hers. “You have not a goddamn thing to say about anything I do. I’m not one of your soldiers. I don’t take orders, and I damn sure don’t bow to the boss. I do whatever the hell I want, and you will accept it, or you can take a long walk off a short peer wearing a pair of cement shoes. Are we clear?”

Vincenzo appears to be fighting a smirk, but he doesn’t break. Instead, he leans in close to Mili’s ear and whispers something that has her cheeks flaming red and her eyes growing wide. She swallows hard as he pulls back, releasing her chin, grazing her cheek with the back of his knuckles as he moves off the bed.

“Kayce will meet us at my home in Oakridge. The jet will be ready in an hour. You have twenty minutes to collect your things and get dressed for the flight. Violet, help Mili change into her clean clothes. My staff has packed the rest of her belongings, but there’s a clean set of clothes in the bathroom for her.” He turns back to Mili and says, “And Emilia, don’t forget what I said. I’m patient to a point, but don’t test me.”

When he leaves the room, I slide up next to Mili on the bed, gripping her hands in mine. “What did he say?”

Mili looks up at me through her long lashes, a hue of pink staining her cheeks. She shrugs. “He told me what would happen if I tried to leave without his permission.”

“Did he threaten to hurt you?” I’ve never known Vincenzo to harm a woman, but I wouldn’t put it past him to threaten it all the same.

“Not exactly,” Mili whispers. “He promised to find me and punish me thoroughly if I run.” Her breathing is a bit ragged, and I’m worried her ribs may be causing her pain, but just as I’m about to ask, I see the slight smirk play on her lips and the look of intrigue in her eyes.

Holy shit.

“Should I run you a bath and let you handle your, uh … situation? I can come back in ten minutes and help you get dressed.”

Mili’s head snaps up. She releases my hands, slapping my arm. “Ow. Fuck you.” She laughs, holding her side. “I don’t have a situation. Just a bossy Italian who thinks he has the upper hand. I’ve outsmarted more than one mob boss in my time. He’s no different.” She waves me off. “Help me up. I can clean myself in the bathroom. I’ll just need help to get dressed.”

“All right.” I help her to the bathroom, getting the shower started and making sure she can reach everything she needs on her own. “Do you want me to help you with your hair?”

“Just put it in a bun, would you? I’ll take a proper shower when we get settled. Right now, I just want to get cleaned up and changed so we can get the hell out of here.”

I get her hair up and out of her way, then wait outside the bathroom door in a chair while she showers, keeping the door cracked open so I can hear if she calls out.

My phone vibrates in my pocket.

Guardian: You have some explaining to do.

Me: About what?

A sense of dread fills me after reading Kayce’s text. He doesn’t respond to my question, which only serves to make me even more nervous.

The housekeeper comes into the room carrying a tray with two sandwiches, two bottles of water, and a small plate with Mili’s pain meds.

“Mr. Parisi asked me to be sure Miss D’Angelo eats and takes her medicine before you leave. It will help her relax for the flight.”

“I’ll be sure to let Mili know. Thank you.”

After the housekeeper leaves, Mili calls out for me. When I open the door to the bathroom, she’s seated on the edge of the bathtub. Even after all the rest she’s had over the last few days, she still appears exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes and the paleness of her skin worries me, but it’s her labored breathing that’s most concerning.

“Are you all right?” I ask, rushing in to help her. Mili waves a hand at me as she gasps for breath. “How can I help?”

“I’m a little nauseous. I just need to sit for a minute,” she says. I watch as she struggles to slow her breathing down. Emilia rubs her temples with both hands.

---