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“Dirty. Ugly. Greedy. Needy. Expensive. That’s what I think about the city. I dread every day I come home.”

“You could always come live with me in my house. It’s small, but not so much you feel cramped. There’s a front and back porch, a swing set out back for Gabe and one on the front porch for adults. It’s my favorite place to sit, read, and drink a glass of wine. I redid a lot of the kitchen myself with my two little hands. It was a big deal to me being able to do so. Plus, the backyard is incredible. I have almost two acres and at least half is filled with huge oak and maple trees. I think you’d like it there.” Gah. Why was I bothering to share anything about myself?

He still wasn’t looking at me, but I could easily tell he was reflecting on the image created in his mind. “Sounds amazing. A little like where I grew up. I bet it’s perfect for Gabriel.”

“Yes, and he just requested a dog. I wondered when that was coming.” I laughed, instantly loathing the bitter sound.

He grinned in a loopy way. “Every little boy deserves a best friend.”

“Yeah, they do. He was asking when we can go home. All his things are there. His friends. And believe it or not, he adores his preschool teachers. Why couldn’t we live there? It’s a little more than an hour away from the city.”

“If only we could, Carmella.”

“Why can’t we?”

Alejandro wasn’t the kind of man to do anything without reason. I’d determined that early on. “Because it’s too dangerous. I can’t expect my soldiers to uproot their lives for me to move out of town.”

“Oh, but you and everyone else expect that I would have no issue doing that to myself and my son. I see how this game works.” I was determined to get as far away from the man as possible. But he wasn’t interested in allowing me.

He snapped his hand around my arm, tugging me closer. The heat in his face and the fire in his eyes took my breath away as it had done several times before. “Don’t be that way, Carmella. You know what happened to the couple posing as us. You know what could happen now. Do you honestly think I’d allow either you or Gabriel to be placed in harm’s way?”

“Why should you care? Aren’t we a meal ticket to your giant leap up the ladder?”

I could instantly tell I’d irritated him, but I was so flustered and uncertain of everything that I just didn’t care.

“Because believe it or not, Carmella, I can care about another human being. I care about you. And Gabriel.”

I would have laughed had it not been for the sincerity in his eyes. “I can’t live this way, Alejandro. This isn’t right.”

“I can’t live this way either. Which is why I found a house I think both of you will love.”

“A house? Let me guess, some fucking mansion in the Hamptons.”

He pulled me closer until I was standing on the tips of my toes. Our lips were far too close, his scent far too masculine.

“Nothing like that, my lovely wife. But you can approve or deny. The choice will be up to you. Grab your things and Gabriel. Why don’t we find out?”

CHAPTER18

Carmella

“Where are we going?” It was the second time I’d asked Alejandro the question.

He peered over at me from the driver’s seat of his Mustang. I was surprised he was driving himself since he’d suddenly become a man of importance. There was an SUV following us, at least two of his men providing protection, but the three of us were squashed together in his muscle car.

Not that Gabriel seemed to mind. He was constantly bouncing on the seat while he chattered away about whatever was going on in his little mind.

A dog had come up more than once.

“If I told you then it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Alejandro grinned before lifting his sunglasses, allowing me to see his piercing eyes. They seemed even more vividly green today, his irises surrounded by rings of gold like iridescent fire.

“I don’t like surprises.” Which was the truth. I’d had too many that had altered my life. I folded my arms, embracing the slight chill as I stared out the windshield. I’d grown up in New York and had an inkling of where he was going, but that was a surprise.

Maybe not such a bad one. As much as I hated to admit it.

Although thoughts of my beloved clinic continued to weigh heavily on my mind. I was still having a tough time wrapping my mind around the fact I’d be forced to leave what I’d struggled so hard to build.

The engine of the sports car vibrated between my legs and for the life of me, I couldn’t seem to stop my pussy from throbbing. It was ridiculous to have such unnatural sensations.