Now, we’re getting somewhere.

For the first time in ages, I’m hopeful. We’re back at the clubhouse, my best friend is in a room down the hall getting much-needed rest, and Silas has extended me some trust. Thrilled to have my phone back, I set it to charge beside the bed in the guest room using a spare charger that Tate lends me. I need to fix this situation with my father before Lorenzo poisons the well for Silas’s club. I’ll straighten this all out once and for all.

Silas isn’t as calm as I expect, though. He’s in here, pacing around the room. Every so often he swears under his breath. He’s finally coming to terms with the possibility that his dealings with Lorenzo was one big trap. I feel horrible for having kept information from him, but my omission isn’t the same things as utter lies and intentional entrapment.

Lorenzo Giovanni is the real bad guy here.

On top of all that, Silas should not have gone off the deep end about my engagement when he himself never told me he was in the Exact. Same. Fucking. Situation.

More or less.

“Was there another reason you ended it with Riley? I mean, do you have…others you’re interested in?” The second question flies out of my mouth too quickly. I can’t take it back.

“The way I see it, the real question here is why do you care?”

I shouldn’t be surprised that he deflects just to avoid talking about his feelings.

“I care. You need a reason why, now? How about giving me a response instead of answering with yet another question?”

“It’s not much different from your situation. Well, minus the attempted kidnappings and other repercussions from your crazy fiancé. Can you answer my question now? Tell me why you care.”

It’s cool in the room, so I get up from the side of the bed and pull a sweater over my shoulders. “Because, despite your protective and rather stone age attitude toward me, I can be myself around you.” I lean on the dresser near the window, arms crossed and eyes fixed on the darkness outside. A slew of emotions keeps bubbling to the surface, making my throat tight. “Your people…they’re here by choice. I like that. I want to have that. Getting to unload on Riley was…freeing. And just like that other sack demon, well, I showed them who they’re dealing with.”

He smiles. “Cindy kinda likes you. That’s a pleasant surprise.”

“You still think of me as this gussied up, spoiled princess, but I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. I don’t want to be married off in the mob, but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect your lifestyle. Living with conflict is in my blood. I haven’t been running from Lorenzo so much as I’ve been trying to run to some place where I can define myself. You may not think I fit in here, but I’m in my comfort zone.”

“All along you wanted me to return you to your condo, and now you want in at the MC? That’s some turnaround.”

“Well, to be fair, it was after you put me in the mafia princess box and before you saved my best friend.”

“I haven’t put you in any mafia princess box, whatever that is, Sabrina Rizzo, daughter of Romano Rizzo, the Padrino himself.”

“See what I mean? You did, Silas. You have. From the second you saw me, you see me as this fragile thing you need to protect or lug around in your pocket. If you trusted me, maybe you’d see that I’m capable in my own right. I can help you, if you’d believe it.”

“Trust is a tall order for someone who’s going back to her old life in less than twenty-four hours. I’m giving you the courtesy of a call to your father and to Bain’s old man. Beyond that, it’s best if you put me and my MC out of your mind.”

I pivot to face him as he’s so close, standing less than a foot away. “Give me a chance, please.”

His hand wavers indecisively near my hair for a moment, and then sweeps a lock behind my ear. “It could fuck up everything…”

“We’re all screwed anyway. But explain something to me. Why did you tell me I was yours where it matters, that you owned me in every way that it counts, and now you’re wavering? What do you want from me?”

“After these phone calls, I’m returning the kid to his father. After that, I’m taking you back to my bed. I’m not letting you out again until the meeting tomorrow. We’ll make the most of the time we have left.”

It’s not the answer I’m expecting. Far from it. But hell, maybe it’s exactly what I needed to hear. Within a few hours, most of the loose ends are tied up. Jordan is reunited with Governor Bain. The reward to the MC for his return will be in the works. The meeting between Silas and my father has been moved to his warehouse, and now includes Lorenzo. Everything will be in the open, and Lorenzo won’t be able to hide behind his usual manipulation tricks.

I don’t delude myself, though. Tomorrow can still turn out disastrous.

For tonight, I have Silas.

It’s more than enough for me.