Page 46 of Dangerous Intent

“Lorenzo told me about Miami.” Milo looked between me and Lissia. “If that’s what this latest argument is about, I can go. It’s not a problem.”

I didn’t need my brother taking her side.

“It is a fucking problem! I’m going to Miami. Your job is to stay here and get this club going.” I nodded toward Lissia. “And to watch her and make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Fuck,” Milo mumbled.

“I’ll put her on lockdown. She’s not leaving the main house.” I paced the small hallway, turning back to them. “Do you both understand the fucking plan? Because I don’t know how I can be any clearer.”

A flame of fury flickered in Lissia’s eyes before she pushed past Milo and stormed into the club. When I went after her, Milo grabbed my arm, giving her a chance to get away.

“Ricardo won’t let her do anything crazy,” he said.

“Do you really believe that?”

“Christ, Chello.” He held me back. “Can you give her a break? She’s been through hell.”

“I’m trying to pull her out of that hell.” I tugged from his hold. “She makes everything so difficult. Why can’t she listen?”

I don’t listen…Her words from a few months ago echoed in my head. She wasn’t lying when she told me that.

“She does seem to cause a commotion wherever she goes.” He laughed. “But you chose her.”

“I thought I would break her by now.”

“You thought wrong.”

“We need order in this organization.” I pointed at him. “I’d appreciate it if my fucking second didn’t undermine me in front of my wife.”

“Fuck you.” He gritted his teeth. “You know that wasn’t what I was doing.”

“Would you have challenged Dad that way? Would you have intervened and told him you would go somewhere in his place?”

“If I thought it would help him, I would.” Milo squared his shoulders and scowled in my direction. “Speaking of Dad, he would want you to get your wife under control. How are you supposed to run this empire when you can’t even keep your bride in line?”

“Watch it.”

“I don’t want to fight with you, but someone has to say it like it is.”

“You could have fooled me.” I cocked my head to the left, trying to decide if that ugly picture of a horse was straight or not.

“It’s my job to see the things you can’t.” He challenged me with this line of thinking. “You’re in a mood because you have to leave New York and go back to the place where you feel you failed the most.”

I leaned against the wall, bracing myself for Milo’s brutal honesty. As much as I hated him lecturing me, I needed to hear it.

“You think you didn’t protect Lissia when we were in Miami, and now you have to face it all again.”

How could I bring her to the place where I almost lost her? Why would she ask me to take her there?

“When I offered to go in your place, it wasn’t about undermining you. I would never do that.”

“I know,” I said. Milo was always on my side, even when he was at his most honest. “I’m sorry. I’m keyed up, and fighting with her makes me crazy.”

“I wanted to remove you from a situation I didn’t think you needed right now. I’m protecting you.”

“I appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome.” He leaned against the wall next to me. “Lissia can’t help who she is. And I don’t think you want her to change.”