Page 26 of Vanished in Vegas

“Scared?” I looked at him and frowned.

“Are you serious?” I laughed. “Why would that scare me?”

“Maybe because I’m a complete stranger, who hasn’t been able to stop thinking about you since the wedding. And now you’re a… guest at my house.”

“Guest?” I giggled. “Hostage. When you kidnap someone they become your hostage. Not your guest.”

The corner of his lips curled up into a bad-boy smirk. The kind of look that makes panties drop. If I had any on, mine definitely would have hit the floor.

“You’re right,” he nodded. “But I’m hoping you’d like to change your status from hostage to guest.”

“What would become of the situation with my uncle?”

“Well,” he took a deep breath. His hand ran through his short hair. “That’s a bit complicated.”

“Do you plan on killing him?”

“You sure are curious.”

“I’m a Romano. Being curious and asking questions is what has kept me alive this long.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

ANTONIO

The thought of Sofia having to be on guard her entire life pissed me off. I didn’t like her having to worry about someone hurting her. The fact I had her kidnapped only added to my anger. I was no better than the others out there who she was constantly looking out for.

“If you stay here, you won’t have to worry about anyone hurting you. Ever,” I declared. She looked at me long and hard. Probably searching for the bullshit flag. “I’m serious, Sofia. If you stay with me, you’ll never have to worry about anyone hurting you. I swear to that.”

“How can you be so sure that no one will hurt me while I’m under your protection?” she asked, plopping a grape into her mouth.

“Because I’ll give my last breath before that happens.”

Her body tensed and she took a deep breath. I expected her to tell me I was full of shit. However, she didn’t. She nodded her head to whatever thought she had then turned her attention to the food.

“Do you like pancakes?” she asked, catching me off guard.

“What?”

“Pancakes.” With her fork, she gestured at the stack of pancakes.

“They’re alright. Not my favorite,” I shrugged.

“Mine either,” she said, cutting into them using her fork. “What about waffles?”

“Not really a fan of those either,” I admitted as I watched her take a bite of the pancakes. “Thought you didn’t like pancakes?”

“I don’t but your chef went through the trouble to make them so I’ll eat it,” she smiled sweetly.

Never had I met a woman like Sofia. Everything about her was mesmerizing. She came from wealth yet she was modest and humble. Most women with the same background as her were materialistic and stuck-up. Not Sofia.

“He won’t mind if you toss them,” I said. She frowned at my words then took another bite of pancakes. She shook her head and swallowed the bite.

“That’s rude.” She pointed at me with the fork. “You need to appreciate your people more. Don’t end up like my– Just take better care of your people.”

I wanted to push her to finish her sentence but I knew if she wanted me to know, she would have told me. So whatever it was, she wasn’t ready for me to hear just yet.

“I do take care of my guys. I make sure they get vacations and everything,” I stated.

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