13
Dante
The brat couldn’t chill and keep calm on the car ride over to the complex. I didn’t expect she’d be thrilled to come with me, but escaping took serious balls.
I don’t trust her to tell her my plan. All I intended was to buy her freedom, keep her away from her psychotic father, and then drive her to the nearest bus station.
She still wore that sheer pink negligee. Gino hadn’t even handed the girl a robe to change into.
Nicole needed clothes. We can stop at my place, find her something suitable to wear, and then I can have one of my men drive her out of town.
That had been my plan until she opened the car door and fled on foot.
Maybe I shouldn’t have chased her. But what was I to do, let her return home?
It will get us both killed.
I need to get her back to the complex, clean and bandage her wounds. Hopefully, she doesn’t have a concussion.
“Stay awake,” I command.
Her eyelids flutter open, and she groans. I can’t tell if she’s making sounds because she feels sick or it’s a result of falling down the mountainside.
I doubt she’d tell me the truth if I asked her.
And those handcuffs are a bitch to wear. I almost feel bad, but I can’t take a chance that she’ll try to escape again.
Every few seconds, I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, and I careen the rest of the way up the mountainside to my place.
It’s secluded, off the beaten path and a hideaway.
It’s less formal and flashy than my predecessor’s compound.
I don’t need to draw attention to myself or the family, especially from the authorities. They’ve been keeping a watchful eye and waiting for us to slip up.
I’m not an idiot. I have enemies who would turn over anything they could to put our family out of business.
Bringing Nicole to my home is a risk. I should drop her off at the bus station with a one-way ticket to the east coast, and I will, but she’s injured and tired.
I have men who can take care of her, a doctor who can ensure she’s healthy before sending her on her way.
Tomorrow I’ll never have to see her again.
It’s just one night with her at my house. How much trouble could one girl cause?