Page 98 of Like An Animal

Massimo looks just as suspicious as I have been, but doesn’t say anything.

We all walk out of the lounge as Silva steps out of the kitchen.

“Are you alright, miss?” she asks, a look of concern across her face.

“Yes, Silva. I’ll be back shortly. Can you keep Charlotte entertained until I get back?”

She nods. “The little one will be fine. We’ll get started on lunch while we wait for you.”

I nod with a smile. “Thank you.”

Alex, Tobias, and Massimo create a barrier around me as we walk out the front door. We head to the line of cars surrounded by Dimitri’s guards.

Dimitri, Massimo, and I slip into the middle car as Alex and Tobias go to the others. I take my place between Massimo and the door, holding his hand to reassure him that I’m okay.

As soon as the door closes and Dimitri’s driver gets moving, I release Massimo’s hand.

“Are you sure about this?” he whispers in my ear and I slowly shake my head.

“Not at all. He just said he wants to show me something, but he’s the bratva. Let Jeremy know what’s happening in case it goes south.”

Massimo smirks his agreement before pulling out his phone.

I really wish Jeremy had gotten me a phone before now. I really don’t feel safe but I had little choice.

One of the many things the boys told me growing up rings through my head.

You don’t say no to the bratva.

Massimo’s phone pings as a message comes through. He reads it as I stare out the window, watching as the houses pass us by before leaving the neighborhood.

“I know Jer didn’t want to tell you, but for your peace of mind, I think you should know. He put a tracker on you on your first day in Newark. If Dimitri tries to hide you away, Jeremy will have your location in half a second.”

That should not bring me the sense of comfort it does.

“And if he plans to kill me?”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“What if he kills you, too?”

“He won’t be able to get away with it. I’m the only heir for my family, just like Jeremy is. My father will start a war over my death and Dimitri will sign his own death certificate if he kills you. Jer has killed and nearly killed men for way less where you’re concerned. Don’t even get me started on what Xavi would do.”

Xavi. What?

“Of course Xavi would be upset. He’s my friend. Just like you.”

Massimo scoffs. “So you’re just as blind as Jer. Got it.”

Blind?

My eyes narrow with confusion.

“Xavi isyourfriend, Bronwyn. He would kill anyone to protect you, but that’s not because he’s your friend. He’s been nuts about you since middle school, but he has kept it to himself because he respects Jeremy and would never do anything to sabotage your relationship. The only reason I have confirmationabout it is because he made a drunken confession to me the night Jeremy was arrested. We knew there was something between you two even if you guys didn’t say it out loud. That’s why he stopped being Xavi after that point. It was the point he accepted that he never had a chance with you. I know we have this whole thing to deal with right now, but when we get out of this, you need to let Xavi go for his own sanity. You need to let him live his own life away from your little family. It’s killing him.”

I never would've thought Xavi had a thing for me. He’s always been openly flirtatious with everyone. The only time he ever went above and beyond with me was when he was trying to mess with Jer.

I don’t want to be the reason he’s hurting, but what about Charlotte? She is so beyond attached to Xavi that I don’t know how she would cope if he wasn’t there every day.