Chapter 24

Chapter 24
Chapter 24

SOPHIA

A hand grabbed my arm the moment I opened my car door.

“I told you to stay,” Dario said in a commanding tone, taking the keys from my hand. His blue eyes burned with irritation, though his face betrayed no emotion. I suspected he was an expert at that.

“Yes, I heard you. But I’m not one of your employees, so don’t expect me to follow your orders like a trained dog.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t have time to waste. If you’re not going to tell me anything, then let me leave.”

“Where?”

“Home. Where else would I be going?”

“I’ll take you.”

“No, thanks. I can drive myself.”

“That wasn’t a request.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“Enough of challenging me today.”

“Did you hear what I just said? I am not—”

“I said we were going to talk. Now get in.” He cut me off, walking around the car and forcing me to follow. When he opened the passenger door, he waited, giving me a cold, unyielding look.

I gave in, thinking at least I could try to get some information out of him on the way. Once we buckled up and Dario typed something into his phone, we drove off.

“So… are you going to tell me what happened when I left the cruise?” I asked, watching the streets through the window.

“They sent men after you.”

“Xavier?”

“Yes. And I believe there are others who aren’t happy with your investigation. What exactly have you found?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“What do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t acted that day?”

I… could have been dead. Maybe I was being a little ungrateful.

“I’m sorry. Thank you for helping me, even after I rejected your help.”

“I don’t want your apologies. I want you to trust me. To let me protect you.”

“You really think you can ask me to trust you when all you do is hide the truth?”

“All you have to do is say yes.”

“I won’t.”

“Then I must have been wrong to think you wanted this as much as I do.”

“I have no idea who you are or what I’d be getting into, but from what little I’ve seen, staying away from you seems like the smartest thing I could do.”

“You really think you can stay away from me, sweetheart?”

His large hand landed on my knee, sending a shiver through me.

“I usually don’t have to try with women. I’ve been very patient with you, but all this time, there’s been a part of me fighting to break free and take everything it wants without caring about the consequences. That’s the only reason you should fear me. Nothing else.”

“Forget it. Forget everything that happened,” I said, pushing his hand off my thigh, which was already stealing my focus. “I don’t want any involvement with you, Mr. Salvatore. I just want you to sign the divorce and leave me alone.”

“I can see every sign in your body. Why are you denying it?”

“This is ridiculous. You want to know why I’m refusing to stay married to the man who was my fake husband for three years and who I now know is involved with dangerous people? You think I’m that stupid? You were on that cruise. At the dinner last night. You’re always surrounded by guards. Do I need to remind you of the day you got into my car, covered in blood, being chased? Who the hell are you?”

“I’ll tell you everything. In exchange, all I’m asking is for you to be mine.”

“My life has enough drama. I don’t need another one. I never would have gotten involved with you if…”

“If?”

“I thought you were just a professor.”

“You want to know who I am. And I can protect you and help you with this investigation. Do you want to make that a deal?”

“Dario Salvatore, the knight in shining armor coming to save me.” I let out a short, bitter laugh. “Let me guess, are you also going to avenge the death of my biological parents? Are you really trying to bargain with me, using me as a bargaining chip?”

“You said biological parents?”

“Forget it. Just drop it, okay?”

“The Dempseys weren’t your biological parents?”

“Here’s what we’re going to do: you don’t tell me anything about you, and I’ll do the same.”

“Why did you say avenge their death?”

“I told you to forget it.”

“All right. Maybe I’ll finally take a look at the report from that background check I ordered on my wife.”

“That only proves you really are a psychopath.”

“I’m not joking. If you don’t tell me, I’ll find out myself.”

“Have you considered I can do the same about you?”

“You wouldn’t get anything, sweetheart. No one would take the job.”

“Why not?”

“Tell me, and I’ll tell you what I got out of one of Xavier’s men that day.”

“What?”

“They think you know more than you actually do.”

“What did he say?”

“First, tell me about your parents.”

“Does everything with you come down to bargaining?”

“Sounds fair to me.”

I let out a long breath. I needed any piece of information that could help me with the investigation.

“I was just a kid. They died. I ended up in an orphanage. End of story. Your turn.”

“Why did you say vengeance?”

“We got caught in a street crossfire… a gang shootout. Later I found out it was the damn mafia. Happy now?”

He stayed silent, eyes on the road ahead.

“I’m sorry,” he said after what felt like forever.

“So? What did you find out?”

“They think you have evidence of a bribe connected to the purchase of a mine. But you don’t, do you? I know you couldn’t trace the origin of the stones you bought at the auction.”

How did he know that? It didn’t matter. I needed to focus on what was really important. That information only confirmed my suspicions about the mine’s collapse. The whole thing had been a setup, just like the evidence in the investigation suggested. Those damn vultures.

But I still didn’t have the proof they thought I had.

And if they believed I did, that meant I was still in danger.

A chill ran up my spine at the thought. At least Lily was safe. Maybe I really should keep some security around after all.

“If you tell me what you’ve found, maybe I can help you.”

“I don’t want your help. I appreciate what you did, but I don’t want you doing anything else.”

Dario was about to say something when his phone rang.

“Marco?” He answered and began speaking in Italian. At some point, his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, as if checking something. That instantly put me on alert.

“Va bene, fammi sapere,” Dario said before hanging up.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“You should never worry when you’re with me, sweetheart.”

He was calm, so I assumed it was fine.

When we reached my apartment, Dario’s phone rang again. This time, when he hung up, he looked irritated.

“Stay here,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

“What? Why? What’s going on?”

“Obey,” he said with that cold look before stepping out of the car.

I watched him meet with his men, who were already outside my building. What the hell was going on?

It was my home. There was no way I was just going to sit there. I opened the car door and walked toward them, determined to go inside.

“I told you to stay in the car,” Dario said, blocking my path.

“Why should I stay in the car? This is my house. I’m going inside. You’re the one who needs to leave.”

“You can’t go in.”

“What? Why?” I narrowed my eyes in confusion.

“Your apartment’s been broken into. I’m taking you home with me. It’s not safe here.”

“What? I… When did this happen?”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“When?”

“Not long ago. Which is why we need to leave. Now.”

I didn’t know what to say or do. I think I was in shock.

My home had been broken into.

Why? By who?

What were they looking for?

And what would have happened if I had been inside when it happened?

“Let’s go.” Dario took my hand, guiding me back toward the car.

I shouldn’t go with him, but right now, I was too afraid to go anywhere else alone.

“My things…” I said, glancing over my shoulder at my apartment door.

“Get in.” He opened the car door for me.

“Now, Sophia,” he said, his tone sharper.

I obeyed.