Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

TERZO
Dani was already on her feet before I could get close to her. She looked terrified, but the first thing I saw was the bruise on her chin.
I did long strides and held her face. “Who the fuck did this to you?”
She hissed, turning her face away from me. She looked like she’d been crying. I could still see the horror in her eyes, which reminded me of the look on my sisters. They both had been through a lot. It seemed like it turned into patterns whenever there were women getting into my life. They all got hurt.
“Dani, I will only ask you once, or I will scour the places you went to since you arrived. Who did this to you?” Guilt and regret were overwhelming as the thought of her trying to escape the inescapable horror.
“I’m fine. I just fell on my face.” She swallowed hard. Pain flared in her eyes as she looked away.
“Do you really expect me to believe that you fell on your face? I haven’t talked to Linden about the details of how you got in here, and I will get that story whether you tell me or not.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Linden came back. “Dani, the clothes are with Hope. Hope will show you the locker room. You can go change into something more comfy.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ll take her with me.” I instantly noticed Dani turn into her shell.
“I’m staying here with Linden.” The vulnerability in her voice tugged at something deep within me that I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I quickly weighed the pros and cons of her situation, and I couldn’t protect her if she was away from me. I did not doubt Linden’s men’s capabilities, but I couldn’t move with my plans if she weren’t with me.
“I’m not gonna hurt you, Dani.”
“And she shot you.” Linden tried hard to hold back his smile but slipped it anyway.
“Fuck you.”
“Is that how you say thank you?” Linden broke into a full-blown smile. “You’re welcome, Siciliano.”
“Asshole.” I turned to Dani before I blushed crimson. “Go with Hope and change. No more running away.”
She swallowed hard, bit her bottom lip, and nodded before she went to the door. She looked so fragile before me, not the same woman who shot me three days ago. The guilt of shooting someone must have weighed on her conscience. And I couldn’t wait to exploit it.
As soon as the door locked behind me, I faced Linden. “What happened?”
“She flew from Istanbul. She was probably pretty shaken up the moment she found out who you were. She thought her ex could protect him. Instead, she almost got—” Linden hadn’t finished the story, I was already cursing that son of a bitch.
I drew a deep breath before I could grab something and throw it at the wall. I ran my fingers through my hair and shoved my hands in my pockets to keep them from shaking.
I could barely breathe through the rage and fear choking me from within.
“I know that look, Siciliano. Don’t go there, man. Let’s make it official. If Dani doesn’t want to file a complaint, we’ll find something to nail that son of a bitch. I’m sure Dani knows about him more than we do.”
“You know I don’t do that kind of shit.”
“So what are you going to do? Kill him? The son of the governor, the future senator? Are you out of your fucking mind? You already have a lot to lose, Siciliano. I’m not gonna say it out, but something is going on between you and Dani. I’m not blind.”
“I don’t give a shit.” Rage rose inside me, mixing with pain and regrets, and it was not a good emotion to feel in front of Linden. “I’m here to finish the job.”
“Maybe you should. Think about Maverick, her son. Your nephew, remember Atlas?”
My eyes narrowed at him. “And I failed to protect them. I’m not gonna let it happen again.”
“Don’t blame yourself. She shot you. You’re incapable of protecting her. Let’s just be grateful she called the right number. Kye and Lynx just made it there on time.”
The moment Humphries laid his hand on Dani, he was marked. I would take him down with me in any way possible.
“I feel like a disappointment. I feel like I always fail everyone around me because I’m too lenient, and I let it happen.”
“No, man. You’re too hard on yourself. You did your best. Whether you accept it or not, they’re grateful, and they’re your hero. How did Dani get my number?”
I knew if she tried to escape, she would decide to come back home. If she got in trouble, she would call the first number on that address I slipped in the envelope.
“Clever.”
A few minutes later, Dani walked in, wearing grey sweatpants, a hoodie, and tennis shoes.
“I’m sorry, Dani, but I have to ask you some questions. I can kick Siciliano out if you’re not comfortable talking before him.” Linden went into full professional mode.
“It’s fine. I have a feeling he knows everything about my life anyway.” I understood her hesitation, and I would gladly get out so that she could tell Linden everything that happened.
“Okay. Just so you know, we have great lawyers at your disposal if you want to press charges against your ex.”
She quickly shook her head. “No. He’s just gonna get away with it. I was the one who went to his penthouse and asked for a place to crash. I just didn’t know he would do something like that to me, but I wanted to take my things to his penthouse. I left my passport there.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll ask someone to grab it for you.”
She looked at me. “How? The 24/7 security is impeccable with high-res cameras. You can’t get into the elevator without an authorized key card that’s programmed to a specific floor.”
Not the maintenance. “You don’t have to know how.”
The conflict was etched across her features. “You’re gonna kill him?”
“No. Why would I? He’s your ex, right? After what happened to you, the last person in his penthouse was you. You’re the first suspect if he dies.” I pointed at her chin. “And that bruise is not enough evidence of self-defense.” I stood up, and she inhaled sharply.
“Where are you going?” Linden asked.
“If she’s not gonna come with me willingly, I’ll arrange a house and her security.”
“I’m sure he has more things to do than come after me.” It seemingly came to her senses that she was not going away without protection.
“Not for him. For your father.”
She absorbed my words and nodded slowly. “You’re not going to take me to him?”
“If you only allowed me to explain before you shot me, we wouldn’t have been in this situation.”
She looked down at her hands and started fidgeting.
“Linden, thank you. Keep her safe for me for a day while I arrange her living situation.” I went to the door and resisted the urge to look at her one more time.
“Mr. Siciliano,” she called me, almost making me snort.
“Yeah?”
Linden remained silent at his desk.
I turned around, and she was already standing. “Do you need something?”
“I’m sorry for shooting you. I was terrified, and your men were pointing their guns at me. It was an accident. I hope we can put what happened to rest. I’ll do anything—”
“Don’t.” I stopped her before I could use her words against her. “Don’t say you would do anything to make things right. Apology accepted.”
“If you’re not going to take me to my father, then why do you need to protect me? Use me as your bargaining chip against my father?”
I faced her and looked her in the eye. No, but you owe me your life. Your life is mine now, Dani, and I take very good care of what belongs to me. I wish I could say it out loud.
“I’m the bargaining chip. Your father doesn’t care about you. He’s gonna use you as his pawn and sell you to dangerous people for business alliances. I won’t do that to you as long as you play by my rules.” I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt as I laid down my point.
She needed to hear it, but I wasn’t the one forcing her into this. It started with her father. She was the victim of all of this because of her blood connection. She didn’t deserve this, but this was the only way to keep her safe.
“And what are those rules?”
“You don’t want me to discuss it with Linden around.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”