I walk down the driveway with my arms crossed and my hands gripping onto my shoulders. I didn’t have an address to tell them to drop me off at. I can’t go back to my mother’s, even if my name’s on the mortgage, I don’t want to be there. And I don’t know Vince’s address, even though I’ve been living there for the last two weeks. So I gave them the only address I had, which was Vince’s parents' house.

I could run, I know that. I could go to a shelter and wait for the familia to eventually take me out. I could go into witness protection and give them everything I have on Vince. But I won’t. I don’t want to.

The blonde officer looked at me with pity, while the brunette one like I was a fucking idiot. And maybe I am. I know I could go to a women's shelter. They tried to convince me that’s where I should be while I get back on my feet. But that’s not where I want to be. I want to be with Vince.

Dante opens the door with an aggressive look directed at the cop car. He looks pissed and it takes me by surprise, but it’s not directed at me. Still, I struggle to breathe, and my gaze falls to the floor. Fuck, I knew I shouldn’t have come here. This was a mistake.

I move to turn away and go anywhere other than here. I don’t care where, but his strong hand comes down on my shoulder, stopping me from leaving. “Come on in,” he says calmly. I look over my shoulder and see the female officers watching me. They look like they’re waiting to pounce.

It’s my last chance to decide. I know it is. I can go inside and risk whatever plan the familia has for me, or I can turn around and take my chances with the witness protection program. I look up at Dante and ask him the only thing I want to know. “Is Vince here?”

He gives me a tight smile as he answers, “Not yet.” As soon as I hear his answer I walk inside quickly, pushing my body against the doorframe to get the fuck away from the cops. My arms are still wrapped tight around my shoulders.

“Elle!” Linda yells from the dining room. She strides toward me and wraps her arms around me. “Are you alright, sweetheart?” she asks me, pushing the hair out of my face. A soft smile forms on my lips. Sweetheart.

“I’m scared,” I answer honestly. I really am. My body starts to tremble.

“It’s okay, we’ve got you now.” She pulls me in for a hug and gently pats my back. She doesn’t understand that that’s why I’m scared. I feel like a sheep that’s walked into a lion’s den. I open my eyes and see Anthony and Dante watching me closely, mumbling something to each other.

Dante walks toward us, and I pull away from Linda. I give her a tight smile as Dante tells her to go upstairs. She says something to him, a protest of sorts, but I can’t hear. It’s like white noise in my ears. I turn toward the window and look outside, only to see the cop car leaving, driving away to leave me to this fate I’ve chosen.

Dante stands next to me and puts a hand on my arm. “Come sit with me, Elle.” I look up at him and try to speak, but I can’t. The knot in my stomach grows larger and my skin turns to ice with fear. I nod since the words won’t come out.

He leads me to his office. Anthony falls in line behind me. I'm convinced it’s a sentencing. I’m being led to my death. Tears leak out of the corners of my eyes as I sit in the chair in front of his desk. Dante’s quick to come to my side as I put my hands over my face and sob.

“I swear I didn’t--” I try to speak, but a hiccup interrupts me.

He shushes me and pats my back. “It’ll be alright, Elle. We’re just waiting for Vince.” Hearing his name helps calms me down. Vince will take care of me. He’ll protect me. I know he will.

After a moment my breath evens out, and my head seems to clear. I feel tired and emotionally drained as well. “When will he be here?” I finally manage to ask.

Dante searches my face for a moment, and I see Anthony sit in the chair on the far side of the room. “That depends on what you told them,” he finally says.

“I didn’t tell them anything,” I answer back. A smile grows slowly on his face.

“I believe you.” He sits at his desk and pulls out a bottle of some brown liquid. “Would you like a drink, Elle?”

I scrunch up my nose. “I don’t like whiskey.” He laughs from deep in his chest.

“Good thing this is bourbon then. I’m sure you could use a drink.” He pours three shots, and gives one to me as Anthony reaches for his.

“Throw it back and I’ll get you a chaser.” He winks and tosses his shot back, so I do the same with mine. Ugh. It tastes awful.

I put the glass on the table and look at him straight in the eyes. “The chaser?” I ask. I could really fucking use it. I want to lick my dress to get this taste out of my mouth, but then I’d have to lift the hem up to my face, and that wouldn’t be ladylike at all.

Before Dante can answer, the door opens behind me and I turn in my seat to see who it is.

“Vince!” I get up from the chair, knocking it into the desk and run into his arms. He holds me tight, and I melt into him. Everything is better now. I nuzzle into his arms. The heat from the liquor intensifies the warmth in my chest.

I pull back and look up at him with wide eyes. “I didn’t--”

He kisses me on the lips, cutting me off. He pulls back and a small grin pulls at his lips. “I know, sweetheart.”

“Do they have anything?” I hear Anthony ask.

“Nothing. They were reaching.” Vince answers over the top of my head. He leans down and gives me a peck on the lips. I grip him tighter, and he rubs my back in soothing strokes.

“You did good, sweetheart. You did real good.” Hearing his praise makes my heart feel light. He holds me for a moment and then they start talking behind me. I try not to listen as I shut my eyes and just focus on how good he feels.

“We need to get those MC bastards,” Vince says, and it makes my eyes pop open. I want to ask who they are. I want to know if they were the ones who shot at us. But I remember the rules. I turn in his arms and look to the door. I’m afraid to ask if I can leave. I shouldn’t be here listening. I know that much. But he pulls me into him, my back against his front, and he kisses my neck.

“We got 'em waiting for you, Vince.” Anthony’s eyes travel to my face and then back to Vince. “We figured you would want to do the honors.”

“Damn right I want the honors. All of them?” he asks.

“Still looking for two of them.” Anthony answers in a tight voice. It makes my stomach churn. Judging by the look on his face, that’s really fucking bad. I try to ignore it all. I need to forget.

His hands grip my hips and he leans in to talk to me in my ear, “Sweetheart, you stay here.”

I turn around and plead with him, “No. Don’t leave me.” I don’t want him to go. I don’t want to be left here.

“They put a hand on you, baby?” he asks me. “Who hurt you?”

I gently shake my head. No one’s hurt me. “No one.”

“That’s 'cause you’re mine.” He kisses me on the lips. “I’ll be back.”

“Please, Vince. Just wait till I’m asleep. I need you.” His face softens and he leans down to kiss me.

“I can do that, sweetheart.”

“Good man,” Dante says from behind me. “Take care of your girl, and then you guys take care of that shit tonight.” Vince nods his head as Dante walks to the door and opens it. “Don’t be late for dinner tomorrow,” he adds before crossing through the door. Under his breath, he mumbles, “I gotta take care of your mother.”

Vince smiles at his father and leads me to the door with his hand on the small of my back. “Let’s go home, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you.”