“You acted out of a place of kindness, Greta. You were probably in shock too. Despite your upbringing you aren’t hardened to cruelty and violence, so seeing it has unsettled you enough to lash out without thinking. And as far as I’m concerned, the guy deserved death.”
“But who am I to decide who deserves to die or not?”
I chuckled darkly. “My father and I are judges over life and death all the time, and so are your father and brother. And we kill people without a hint of a kind motive.”
She put her cheek down on her knee, making herself even smaller as she watched me with her dark eyes. All I could think about was leaning forward and kissing her.
“Thank you for coming, for listening,” she said simply. “For saving me again, though you said you wouldn’t.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome,” I said in a strangely gruff tone. “But I didn’t save you today. You weren’t in danger.”
She smiled strangely. “Maybe I’m now.”
I cupped her face once more. “Maybe.”
“Why do you make me feel like myself and at the same time like someone new.”
If I only knew. Why did she make me feel so unhinged and as if I’d finally come home at the same time?
“How long do you have before your family sends the cavalry?”
“I slipped out through Fabiano’s mansion.” She snapped her lips shut. “They won’t suspect anything until morning but I’ll have to be back before sunrise or risk running across someone.”
I nodded. It was past midnight in Vegas, three in the morning in New York, the end of a long day, and an even longer week. My heart and brain were a mess. Greta’s closeness wasn’t helping matters.
“You need to sleep. When do you have to return to New York?”
“I haven’t booked the flight yet but I need to be back Sunday evening.”
Greta regarded me. “Do you regret being here?”
I wasn’t sure. Fuck. “I need to catch some sleep and you should go back home.”
To the men who wanted me dead and who I’d kill if I got the chance.
I pushed to my feet even as my body ached to stay close to Greta, even as my heart called for her. Weakness I shouldn’t allow.
I couldn’t think straight with her in front of me, a fact I’d proven several times.
I held out my hand and Greta put hers in mine so I could pull her up. The desire to tug her against me and hold her close was almost overwhelming but I picked up the flashlight and my gun, forcing my face to stay emotionless. I could take the next flight in the morning and be back in New York in the afternoon.
“I’m going to spend the night in a motel. Is there a place where we can meet without being caught tomorrow?” I asked instead.
A hesitant smile pulled at her lips. “I have an animal sanctuary north of Las Vegas. I can give you the coordinates…”
“And you are alone there?”
I couldn’t believe Greta was ever alone somewhere. My father would never allow Mom or Marcella to go anywhere without one of us or a bodyguard.
“It’s a high security area, but I can let you in.”
“I’ll be there tomorrow. Send me everything I need.” I took a step back. Then I looked around. “How will you get home?”
“The same way I came here. By bike.”
I shook my head. “I can’t let you ride by yourself at night.”
Greta took a step back as well. “I can take care of myself. I can blend in. And this is my city. I know what corners to avoid.”
I couldn’t imagine Greta could blend in. She stood out like a beacon.
“You can’t bring me home, Amo. I’ll be fine.” She picked up a black hoodie, and put it on. It was too big on her and reached her knees. It must have been Nevio’s. She pulled the hoodie over her head. It was an absurd sight, the big black hoodie and Greta’s graceful legs in her ballet tights and her ballet flats peeking out. “And if someone stops me, I’ll tell them my name.”
Falcone.
Falcone.
A fucking Falcone.
She nodded at me, looking uncertain. “Until tomorrow?”
“I need the coordinates.”
Greta ran over to me, though it was so graceful, it looked like dancing. She pulled a sharpie from her pocket. “Do you have paper?”
I turned my arm and held out my wrist. She wrote down a row of numbers, her tongue wedged between her lips. “I’ll be there around three pm. You can come over any time after so I can let you in.”