I have no idea what is going on or how Lincoln became involved in all of this. One minute I’m running from my family with Angelo, and the next I’m being handed off to Lincoln. One thing is for sure; I need to know. I need to be sure that he isn’t involved in anything that has to do with my father.

Linc pulls me in close to his side, his arm wrapping around me so tight it is almost uncomfortable. “You’re safe, Lillian. I won’t let anything happen to you.” His lips kiss the top of my head, lingering there a few moments until he speaks once more. “I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see you again.” Linc’s chest rises and falls quickly. “But now that I have you, I’m never letting you go.” These are the words every woman wants to hear, but I’m not going to believe them until I know exactly what is going on.

It is a challenge, but I pull out from underneath Lincoln’s arm and slide away from him. “What’s going on, Linc? How do you know Angelo?” I’m sure he recognizes the fear and skepticism in my eyes; he senses I am having issues with what is happening.

Lincoln’s raises his hands in front of him. “Don’t be alarmed. I promise you, until earlier this week, I had no idea who Angelo was.” He reaches for my hand, but I pull it out of reach. “Lillian, he came to me a few days ago, asking me questions about protecting you. I swear to you on Peanut’s life that I’m telling you the truth.”

As soon as I hear him swear on his nephew’s life, I know he is telling me the truth. This man loves his nephew more than anything in this world. Seconds is all it takes me to move from where I am sitting and into his lap. His arms quickly enfold me and pull me tightly to his chest. “You really are going to protect me, aren’t you? I’m so sorry I doubted you. It’s just that I never know who I can trust. Please forgive me.”

Lincoln’s hands cup my face, and he looks me directly in the eyes. “You have nothing to be forgiven for, Lillian. I understand trust issues, beautiful. You can always trust me. I’ll never lie to you.”

“How, Lincoln? How is it possible that you’re here with me? More importantly, where are we going? We can’t stay here in the city, Linc. They’ll find me.”

His lips brush against mine, softly. “Don’t worry, beautiful. Where I’m taking you, they’ll never find you.”

I sigh softly, content to be in his arms, and relish in the fantasy that everything will be fine and no one will ever find me. I know that’s not true. Someone will find me. They always do. My family’s reach is long, across oceans and continents. Little tentacles connect my family to others via phone. Everyone trying to vie for a marker from the infamous Francesco Vicci. Something to set them up on the good side of the Vicci family. As much as I want to believe Lincoln can protect me and keep me safe, it scares me to think at what cost it may come. He’s just a man, a wealthy one, yes, but does he have the means to fight off the mafia?

“Lillian,” he whispers in my ear, “you’re going to be safe. I can protect you. I can hide you, and I will make you mine.”

It’s like he speaks my mind. How is it possible that he knows my thoughts? Hearing him say he’ll make me his should frighten me, but it doesn’t. I tilt my head up, my eyes glaring into his. “How did you know,” I say, “that I was wondering how you could possibly protect me?”

His gorgeous smile lights up his face. “The same way I knew you wanted me the first day I met you. I can read people, Lillian. I know what they are thinking before they do. It’s a gift and the reason I’m so good at what I do.”

He’s such a smug bastard. I want to tell him he has it all wrong, but he doesn’t. He’s right. I did want him the minute I saw him. It seems like it was forever ago, not just a few months, and I wonder how Peanut has been doing. “Tell me, Lincoln, how is Peanut? My last conversation with Doctor Copley indicated everything was well, but I want to know how he is doing, not his health.”

Before Lincoln can answer me, the car pulls to a stop by his yacht. David, his assistant, stands awaiting our arrival. Beside him is a very large man with bald head, wearing dark glasses and a black suit. Obviously, this gentleman is part of Lincoln’s security detail. The door quickly opens, and David welcomes us. Linc steps out of the car, reaching in to grab my hand, and pulls me out. I’m quickly tucked in alongside Linc as we walk up the gangplank, then onto his yacht. Everything is different this time. There are men in black suits with handguns everywhere. No one says a word as we walk past them. They are focused on everything but us. I follow Linc down the hall toward what I assume is his bedroom. When the door swings open, my assumptions are confirmed.

“Rest, beautiful. I’ve got some specifics to work out with the captain and the crew. Now, give me your cell phone, baby. You won’t need it.”

I know why he wants my phone. He’s going to destroy it, so no one can track us. I know it’s the right thing to do, but it feels wrong. I feel like I’m saying goodbye to my life and my family, and I’m not sure how I feel about that right now.

“Come on, baby. I promise you a new one, one that no one can trace. Please, just give it to me so I can protect you. We don’t have much time before everyone realizes you’re gone.”

He’s right. Once my family realizes I’m gone, they’ll be all over every piece of technology to find me. I’m hesitant when I reach inside my purse and grab my phone. Linc smiles at me, taking the phone from my hand, then places a chaste kiss on my lips. A shiver runs down my spine, and my nipples harden from that simple kiss. Maybe it’s knowing that he will do everything to protect me. Or maybe it’s because I’ve desired him since that night, the feel of his body pressed against mine, the tenderness of his touch as he made love to me. Or maybe it’s the fantasy of what it would be like for him to take me, uncontrollably and wild, knowing that he can take whatever he wants from me, and I’d willingly give it to him.

I kick my shoes off and walk toward the chair, grabbing the blanket that rests over the back. It’s not long before I’m curled up on the bed and closing my eyes. Though sleep never consumes me, I imagine what the rest of my life will be like. Unable to turn off the thoughts rolling around inside my skull, I reach for the television remote and turn it on. I flip through the channels trying to find something to hold my attention, but nothing seems to capture me completely. With one more click, I land on a local news channel. The words BREAKING NEWS roll across the bottom of the page. I turn up the volume to hear the news anchor.

“Violence once again darkens the Big Apple as war between the Irish and Italian mobs erupt. Just a few moments ago, head of both crime families were seen entering an abandoned warehouse just prior to an explosion which claimed the lives of Salvatore Mangano and Quinn McGrath.

I sit up quickly, my mind envisioning what this will mean for my family now that Salvatore is dead. Will my dad be pulled back to lead the family? His health is not strong enough yet, and that will make him easy prey for anyone who wants to see the demise of the Vicci Empire. How long will it be until the reality of my life comes crashing down on all of us?