Dad didn抰 smile. 揧ou have to accept Anna抯 decision for both your sakes.?
揑 know,?I said. And I fucking did.
The next day, Dante asked me to come over for a final conversation about my Paris assignment. I抎 already called Arturo for a meet-up in the evening and chat about us working together again. Anna moved on with her life, and I would too.
I entered through the guard house entrance and headed through the underground corridor toward the mansion. I felt fucking anxious.
The second I entered the house, I knew why. Anna lingered in the corridor in front of Dante抯 office. That was definitely not a coincidence.
I strolled toward her, trying to keep my cool, but my heartbeat sped up as it always did when I saw her. She wore the last dress she抎 sewed in Paris, a form-fitting, long-sleeved mini-dress with an asymmetric neckline. It was the first time I saw it on her. She looked marvelous in it.
Our eyes locked. 揜eady to resign??she said quietly.
I didn抰 say anything, only walked past her and knocked at the office door. Anna walked off without another word. It took all my self-control not to chase after her and kiss her.
During our meeting, Dante expressed his gratitude and satisfaction over the work I抎 done in Paris. I couldn抰 deny it. I felt guilty for betraying my Capo, but I knew I抎 do it all over again, even knowing the end result. I didn抰 want to miss a single moment I抎 spent with Anna.
Dante browsed through a few papers on his desk, only briefly glancing up to ask, 揑 assume you still want to put down your position as bodyguard and return to working as an Enforcer??
揥hy do you ask??
揑 won抰 lie. I抎 prefer to have you as Anna抯 bodyguard. I trust you. But I抣l honor my promise, so if you want to be Enforcer, the job抯 yours again.?
揑抳e actually been thinking about remaining Anna抯 bodyguard. That way I can keep working together with my dad.?
What did I just say? Had I lost my fucking mind?
Dante gave me a small smile, no longer interested in his papers, his attention now fully on me. 揑抦 glad to hear that.?He came around the desk and held out his hand. After rising to my feet, I shook it, knowing I抎 just made a huge mistake.
揇o you need a few more days off before you work again? I realize you haven抰 had a real vacation in three years.?
揂 few days off would be great.?
I needed to get a grip. Working with Anna was a fucking risk. I could only hope she抎 make good on her words and keep her distance from me because I knew I wouldn抰 be able to keep my hands to myself if she made a move.
After four days off, I stepped into the Cavallaro mansion to guard Anna. She came down the stairs and paused briefly when she spotted me before she proceeded. She stopped a few steps from me and crossed her ankles. She only ever stood like that when she was nervous. 揗y dad told me you haven抰 resigned.?
揑抣l stay your bodyguard for however long you need me.?
Anna smiled, and fuck, my insides lit up like the tree in front of the Trump Tower in New York before Christmas.
揑抦 glad,?she said softly, taking a step toward me then stopping.
揥e抮e going to work together on a professional level.?
Anna nodded. 揙f course. As we discussed.?
揋ood,?I said, then glanced at my watch. 揇o you have any meetings scheduled for the day??
揕unch with Luisa, that抯 it. Next week will be busier. I抣l share my schedule with you vie Airdrop later.?
揑抎 appreciate that.?
Anna nodded, then motioned toward the door. She crossed her ankles again, her elegant fingers playing with a gold bracelet she抎 gotten from Clifford for Christmas. His mother had handed it to Anna because he抎 been away with his father. It was the first time Anna wore it since that day and it was a painful reminder of the man she actually belonged to. I抎 never gifted her anything lasting because that like photos might have been proof. Every single of my presents had been perishable, flowers, food, an activity. Perishable like what we抎 had.
揥e should head out now. Luisa is always on time.?
I led Anna to the Mercedes limousine in front of the mansion and opened the back door for her. It was the first time in three years that Anna wouldn抰 be riding in the front with me.
She gave me a polite smile and slipped into the back seat. I closed the door and took a deep breath before I got in.
We rode in silence for a while. It felt suffocating. My fingers on the steering wheel tightened with every passing second. Why hadn抰 I taken Dante up on his promise? Why was I torturing myself like this?
Did I really want to protect Anna on dates with Clifford? Or while she chose flowers for the wedding? Or tried on her wedding dress?
揝top.?
I glanced at Anna through the rearview mirror.