CHAPTER 16
CARA
As Cal helped me into the back of the car, Arran approached. I looked back to the club for Dante, and saw him walking round from the direction of the parking lot.
“Ya both alright?” Arran asked as he approached where Cal still held the back door open.
“Fine. Cara might have got a lead,” Cal answered.
“Jump in. Dante wants to get outta here as soon as possible. He wasnae happy that ye both left his sight,” Arran told us, then he jogged round the car to the driver’s side. Cal closed my door, then rounded the car too, jumping into the back on the other side.
“We had to leave his sight!” I argued. “We were safe and Cal texted you, so he can just get over himself.”
“I dare you to tell him that,” Cal joked.
“Let’s go!” Dante grumbled the second he had his arse in the passenger seat. He slammed the door closed way harder than he needed to, then turned to glare into the back. “You’re in deep shit,” he added, looking right at me.
“What did I do?” I cried.
“You went into the back! I couldn’t have followed you back there without creating a huge fucking scene and you knew it!”
“I text you that we’d be out the back. You circled round there, did you not?” Cal asked.
“That’s not the point. You said you’d follow our orders. You didn’t, therefore you’re going back home,” Dante said, glaring at me the whole time, then he turned in his seat and nodded to himself, seeming satisfied that he’d had the last word.
I didn’t even grace his arrogance with a response.
Instead I unlatched my seatbelt and opened the car door at the same time, then jumped out while Arran was starting to reverse the car from it’s parking spot.
I slammed the door closed then set off down the side walk, in the direction of the nearest bus stop.
I knew I wouldn’t get there, of course. The car stopped moving and two car doors slammed closed behind me. Cal reached me first. But he didn’t try to stop me. Instead he simply fell into step beside me and took my hand.
“Any specific destination in mind, babe?” he asked. I looked up at him with a smile.
“Just following my next clue,” I shrugged. “Bus stop’s at the end of this street.”
“Cara! Get back here now! What are you doing?” Dante stomped up at my side, and glared hard at me. I was actually starting to find his stern glare cute, in a strange way.
“I’m doing what I came here to do. I have two leads I need to follow,” I explained, then walked around him and continued on with Cal at my side.
“Get back in the car before I pick you up and throw you in it!”
“Try it and you’ll get your arse kicked, Dante. You put hands on me, and I will not be pulling any punches,” I warned.
“I’d listen to her, if I were you, man. I’ve seen her in trainin’ and I’m tellin’ ye, she could do ye some serious harm before ye get her back in that car,” Arran chuckled as he jogged over too.
“I’m not going to hurt you, but it’s not safe out here. Get back in the car,” Dante reiterated.
“Not if you’re going to be a stubborn arse, determined to send me home.
I’m the only person who can get answers here, Dante.
I know that scares you, and I appreciate that you care about me, but you’re underestimating me.
I can take care of myself if it comes to it, certainly long enough for you guys to realise something’s wrong and come swooping in. You have to have some faith in me.”
“I don’t want you taking care of yourself. I want to protect you. It’s my job and my responsibility too,” Dante argued, his annoyance and irritation with me, becoming obvious.
“Because I’m yours, you mean?”
“Yes! Why do you keep questioning that? You are mine!” he snapped as his glare turned to unmistakeable anger. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but I found myself pushing closer against Cal anyway, because Dante’s real anger was terrifying.
“Calm down, Dante! You’re acting like a mad man!” Cal barked as he wrapped both of his arms around me and pulled me close.
“How about we all just get back to the hotel? It’s too late to follow any more leads tonight anyway. We can start again come mornin’ Cara,” Arran suggested.
I glanced to Dante, but looked away just as quickly when he still appeared to be raging.
I didn’t want to see so much anger on his face.
It was too much to deal with after the strength I had just used to get through my encounter at the club.
I looked up at Cal instead and he studied my face, seeming to read every expression and thought that crossed it as I just stood there.
“What do you want to do?” he asked me.
“We should go to the hotel. I promised Rafe I’d call him and I’m tired anyway,” I gave in.
“The both of ye’s go get in the car. I just need a wee word wi’ Dante before we set off,” Arran said, then as we passed him he reached out and gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. When I looked up at him he gave me a tense half smile and I tried to return it.
As we headed back down the street to the car, I saw the additional security guys we brought with us.
They’d stayed in their rental car out front while we were in the club, but now they had gotten out and were both sat back against the bonnet, just seemingly keeping an eye on our surroundings. Cal gave them a nod as we passed them.
By the time Cal and I were back in the backseat I felt wrung out, all of my false bravado long gone, and exhaustion crashing over me.
“Don’t let Dante upset you. He says things without thinking. He wouldn’t hurt you.”
“I know,” I agreed. “I’m not upset. Just tired. It’s been a long day with the travelling and everything.”
“Why don’t you give Rafe a ring now, and then you can get some sleep as soon as we get back?” he suggested and I sat up, perked up by the idea of speaking to my brother. I knew it was silly, but I missed Rafe already.
“It’s really late in the UK,” I remembered.
“Rafe will be awake. He won’t sleep until he’s heard from you,” Cal assured me, and I nodded, knowing he was likely right.
I pulled my phone from the pocket of my jacket and hit Rafe’s contact. It only rang twice before he picked up, and I felt so much relief at hearing his voice.
“Hi sweetheart, I was waiting for your call.”
“Sorry. I should have called earlier. I didn’t think.”
“Not to worry. I never go to bed this early anyway,” he reminded me with a chuckle. “How are you? Is everything alright there?”
“I…I’ve been to Jewels. I spoke to a friend there,” I replied, my voice wavering slightly, emotion seeming to overwhelm me at the sound of Rafe’s voice. “I have a lead I want to follow, and there’s someone else I can speak to too.”
“Where are you now, Tesorino?”
“Still parked out front of the club. We’re heading back to the hotel soon.”
“You sound tired. It must have been very difficult to go back there again, after what happened.”
“It was,” I admitted. “And I am tired, but it’s done now.”
“You amaze me with your courage, Cara. How can you not see how strong you are?”
“I just did what I had to. That’s all I’ve ever done,” I sighed. “How was your day? How’s Dio?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.
“Busy. We’ve closed deals on two new locations for luxury resorts this week. One of them is in France, and I was thinking we could go there when the weather starts to cheer up. It’s in the mountains, near Nice. I think you’d love it.”
“That sounds lovely. I’ve never really been anywhere except here and London.”
“We’ll go. I have resorts all over the world. You can visit every one of them, as many times as you wish to, once things calm down.”
“That’s something to look forward to then.” I tried to inject some excitement into my voice, but I was too worn out and it fell flat.
“Is it too much for you?” Rafe asked after a brief pause. “Being back there? It’s okay to come home if that’s what you need. I don’t want you to push yourself beyond what you can handle right now. I hate that you’re back there.”
“Maybe it’s a little much, but I can handle it, Rafe.
I have to. I need to know just how much Mum was manipulating me.
I need to find out why she did it, and what she was up to.
I feel like such an idiot for not seeing through her lies, and I always will if I don’t get some answers.
Besides, I’m hoping I’ll get what I need tomorrow so that I can come home as soon as possible. ”
“What did you discover tonight? You said you got a lead?”
“An old friend has been looking for me at the club. Remember I told you about the bouncer here, who helped me? Hilton?”
“The guy you said went to prison for armed robbery?” Rafe recalled.
“Yeah. He must have been released and for some reason he’s been searching for me. He left a card at the club, so I know where to find him. I want to go there tomorrow.”
“Do you think that wise? I know this man helped you before, but he’s a criminal, Cara. What if he’s now working for whoever wants to get hands on you?” Rafe questioned.
“I know. I’ve already considered that,” I agreed. “But Hilton was protective of me before, in his own way. I find it hard to believe he would do anything to endanger me now.”
“Did you discuss it with the others?”
“Cal’s with me now, but…” I turned to look out of the back window and found Dante and Arran where we’d left them, stood close together and deep in an intense conversation. “…well, Dante and Arran are talking. We haven’t had chance to discuss this yet.”
“What do you mean they’re talking? They should be at your side!” Rafe growled.
“Jees Rafe, take a freaking breath,” I gasped, shocked at the fire in his voice. “They’re right outside the car. Dante got upset and Arran’s calming him down. Everything’s fine.” I looked to Cal and rolled my eyes, making him snuff out a laugh.
“I’m not happy that they haven’t kept you close, especially when you’re outside that God forsaken, shit hole of a club! I will be having words with them later.”
“Rafe…”