“Yeah, we had an unexpected visitor.”
“I noticed.” Dante’s voice is tense. “Luca, I need you and Ashton to return to the house this afternoon.”
I bite down on my tongue. I knew he would call us again and want us to return to working for him, I was just hoping he’d push it back a little longer. Like next semester, or maybe the following one.
But the appearance of Roberto Gianni showing up also tells me that trouble is brewing, and I don’t like trouble showing up at my front door.
“What time?” I glance at Ashton and mouth “Dante” to him.
“The sooner, the better. I need to get you caught up to speed on Massimo. He’s been spotted in town, and we think we have the location of his next shipment.”
Exhaling a sigh, I don’t exactly have another choice.
I despise the work my father does, but Massimo is far worse. The things he’s doing to those women and possibly children, it burns me up inside.
“We’ll be there,” I grunt before ending the call. I need to tell him what happened with Harper. I’ve been delaying the inevitable, trying to deal with it ourselves.
“What’s going on?” Harper asks, catching the tail end of the conversation.
“Dante called. He wants Ashton and me back at the house this afternoon. As soon as possible.”
She purses her lips together, her mind reeling. “It sounded urgent. Everything okay?”
I don’t dare tell her about Massimo and the work that we suspect he’s involved in. She saw the bruises, but I never told her the specifics.
There was no reason to worry her.
The less she knows, the better.
“Dante has something he needs us to help him with.”
Leaving her is wrong. There’s a lead ball in the pit of my stomach, making me anxious and nauseous, and the pain in my chest returns. Except it’s not from the broken ribs or bruises, it’s worry.
With the threats and now two men having shown up on campus, I can’t take any chances with my wife or son. Especially when Ashton and I won’t be here to protect her.
“Pack a bag for us and Zeke. You’re coming with us.” It’s not a question.
She stares at me, and I try to alleviate some of her concern. “Mom would love to help with Zeke, and we’ll all be home in a couple of days.”
Harper watches me, like she senses something is off. Probably from the sweat on my forehead and my voice not quite its usual tone.
“A couple of days with your family,” Harper repeats.
She’s clearly thinking it over, but if she says no, I’ll have to find another way to convince her, because her staying here without me isn’t an option.
“It’s Sunday. I thought you only worked with him on the weekends.” Harper’s brow is pinched, and she rubs at her forehead. She’s on the verge of something, like she’s trying to piece it all together, but I don’t think whatever she’s thinking is anything close to the truth.
“It’s also summer,” I remind her. “He’s given me the past several months off?—”
“Because you were nearly beaten to death.” Her hands are on my arm, pulling me toward her. “What’s going on, Luca?”
“Babe, I’ve got to finish cooking on the stove.” I force a smile, but when that isn’t enough, I hand Ashton the fork to pull the bacon off the pan when it’s ready.
I wrap my arms around Harper, pulling her tight against me. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
“You don’t know that,” she whispers, staring up at me, worry etched all over her beautiful face. “Your parents scare me, and then that incident at the store?—"
I lean in, brushing my lips hungrily against hers, taking a taste, trying to convince her that I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. “Come with me.”