Lillian didn’t wake when I pulled her into my arms and carried her to the bedroom. That was several hours ago. I’ve been looking for any bit of news about the wars in the city, but everything I find is based on what the police are releasing. I need to know more. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dial Angelo and listen as it rings twice before he picks up.

“I told you not to call this number unless it was an emergency,” he answers.

“Don’t worry, no one, and I mean not even NSA, can trace this call. Lillian is scared, and she wants to come back. I’ve appeased her for now. She’s asleep, but I need to be able to tell her something. Everything on the news makes it sound like her father is in danger, and that has her worried.”

Angelo takes in a huge breath and then sighs. “She’s always been demanding, that one. Tell her, her father is fine. I’m not sure how long he will be, though. The Westies are out for blood. They’ve threatened both our families. Once they heard that Salvatore crossed them, and my dad stepped in as interim boss, they’ve made it clear they are coming after us, no matter the cost.”

“Son of a bitch, Angelo. I can keep her safe, but she’s going to want to speak with her father. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hold her off. Christ, I just found her. I won’t lose her again to her family.”

“I understand, Linc.” Angelo takes in a deep breath. “Trust me, I know how it feels to lose her. Keep her safe and don’t call again. I can’t risk anyone knowing she is with you, and neither can you. There are moles within the family, and until I find out who they are, the risk of adding your family to the list of potential marks for the Westies is too high.”

“Agreed, Angelo, but if anything happens to Lillian’s father, you have to call and tell me. She’ll never forgive either of us if we keep something like that from her.” My gut rolls at the thought of Lillian finding out somehow that something bad has happened to her father and it isn’t me who tells her.

“Yeah, I got it,” Angelo speaks, then disconnects himself from the call.

The top of my forehead tightens, and I rub my fingers across it several times trying to loosen the tension. When I stand, exhaustion finally catches up to me. It was only a matter of time. One can’t run on adrenaline overload and not get to a point when they need to crash. Lillian is still asleep when I open the door to the room. I stand there looking at her. The sheets have twisted around her legs, exposing her milky skin from the waist up. Her chest rises and falls peacefully. I cross the room, stripping out of my clothing until I’m standing next to the bed in my Armanis. I untangle the covers from around her legs to slide in beside Lillian and pull her into my arms. Her head rests on my chest, her arm flopping across my abdomen. I brush my lips against the top of her head and close my eyes praying that sleep will take me away and when I wake up, everything will be just fine.

My eyes open to the sun shining fully through the window. Lillian is still asleep in my arms. I lie there for a moment and stare up at the ceiling. Why does life have to be so difficult? Normally, I’m the master of difficult. I take complex situations and make them simple. But this, this is something I can’t control, and that is why I’m struggling with the inability to ensure everything works according to the plan. My part will be handled correctly, limiting some of the risks, but having to count on others to field the brunt of the rest is something I’m uncomfortable with.

I let one hand run up and down Lillian’s back while my other rests against her face, the thumb stroking her cheek. “Wake up, baby,” I say, but nothing seems to stir her. I press my lips to her forehead and revel in the feel of her beside me. “Nothing will ever take you away from me,” I whisper in the air. “Nothing. I promise.” My eyes close for a moment, but when I open them again, it’s almost five at night. Both Lillian and I have slept the day away. I attempt to move my arm, but just that slight movement causes Lillian to stir.

“Lincoln?” Lillian asks as her eyes open. “It wasn’t a dream, was it?”

My lips kiss the top of her head once more. “No, baby, it wasn’t.” I know what she is talking about without her saying the words. “Don’t worry, your father is fine.”

Lillian sits up in bed, pulling the sheet tight around her chest and exposing my body to hers. Even though I’m still wearing my Armanis, it doesn’t hide the fact that I’m hard. Her eyes glance at my erection, then back to my face. She smiles briefly, but that gorgeous smile soon falls. “How do you know my dad is fine?”

I sit up next to her, taking her hand in mine. “Because I called Angelo last night, and he assured me everything was fine and that we should refrain from calling right now. He said he’ll call us if anything changes and not to let you bully me into calling your dad.” I smile as I tell her the last part.

Lillian slaps my arm. “As if anyone could bully you, Linc. You’re the biggest bully I know.”

I push Lillian back onto the bed and climb on top of her, thrusting my erection against her. “Is that so, baby? Let me show you just how much of a bully I can be.” I roll to the side, ripping the sheet from Lillian’s body before I climb back on top and take what’s mine.