Page 95 of Humility

“Don’t worry about that right now. Just go back to sleep for a few more hours. There is nothing we can solve at the moment.”

I knew he was probably right, but I couldn’t stop my mind from racing in circles like a windup toy.

“Dario?”

“Mmmhmm?”

“Thank you. You saved my life.”

“You never need to thank me for that. I would happily lay my life down for you and die a happy man, but you are welcome. Now get some rest, and then we will talk.”

Enzo shuffled closer, his hand reaching out and finding mine. I wasn’t sure what led to Enzo being in bed with Dario and me instead of Angelo, but I linked our fingers together and closed my eyes.

* * *

“Fuck, I don’t like this,” Dario growled as he marched the length of Angelo’s office. “We don’t even know who it is, let alone if they will try again.”

“I agree, but we can’t show weakness. That is the surest way for someone to think they scared us. The three of you stay here, and I will go with the guards Kenji lent us. I guess it’s time I looked at hiring my own team again. First on the list will be Kristof.”

“No,” I said, interrupting them before they continued arguing the point. Pushing myself up from the couch, I walked across the room to meet my men.

“No, what?”

“No, I am not staying here.” Rolling out my shoulders, I straightened my spine and took on Angelo’s stern stare. I didn’t care if he didn’t want me to go now. This was my new life, the one I chose, and I was going to dinner.

“Yes, you are. It’s safer here,” Angelo said as he poured a glass of his whiskey.

“And I don’t really care if it’s safer. I’m not staying here. How, why, or if another attack happens is completely irrelevant. I could be shot sitting in the garden. I could walk into my room, and it’s boobytrapped.” Angelo’s face paled. “We are safer together, and you’re right about acting normal. We should keep the plans to visit your distillery and then have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes. Anything less will look weak, and I, for one, refuse to allow some asshole to scare me.”

“I’m not sure I like that idea any better,” Dario said. “Can’t they come here instead?”

“No, they can’t. Riker made it very clear that they had limited time before they needed to deal with a hell of an issue.” Angelo waved his hand as if that would dismiss the comment. “No, he didn’t mention what that means. If I’m going to make the deal, I need to meet him at the restaurant like planned.”

“I can whip something up that will help,” Enzo said, and we all turned to face him. “Obviously, I can’t do anything with a gun, but I can get us all trackers, earpieces, and taser pens. I’ve been working on some smaller gadgets we can use daily.”

“I don’t know,” Angelo said, leaning against the desk.

“Angelo, this is the smartest plan. I know you want to keep me locked up here where you think it’s safe, but divided, we are weakened. We stick to the plan and take the men you mentioned like nothing has fazed us.”

His hand clenched into a fist on the desk, and I thought he was going to keep arguing with me like all the other men back home would. No, that wasn’t true. They wouldn’t have allowed me in the room to begin with, but Angelo surprised me by nodding.

“Are you sure you’re fine with this? You just had a very traumatic day yesterday.”

I crossed my arms. “Spend a single day as a woman and then tell me yesterday was dramatic in comparison.”

Angelo smirked. “Okay, fair. I….”

We all turned and froze when the doorbell rang. Dario pulled his guns as Enzo jumped up and hit a button to show the camera outside the door. I stared at the screen, frowning.

“Who is that?” I asked as the guys swore in unison. The woman on camera was a pretty blonde, who looked a little older but was well dressed in a skirt suit.

“I’ll go get rid of her,” Angelo said and left the office.

I crossed my arms as I looked at Dario. “Who is that? I want the truth.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked uncomfortable, which was an easy tell that I wouldn’t like the answer.

“That is Mrs. Sherwood,” he said, and I raised an eyebrow.