Only With Me (With Me #2)(70)

Horror spread over my face. "What?"

"He loves you, Gabi. He'll do whatever he can to protect you."

My body started to tremble. "I have to leave."

"No, Gabi please don't leave," Charity begged.

"Gabi, wait," Cole said with a panicked look on his face.

If he sent Nic a text, that was another life in danger because of me.

Pushing past both of them, I rushed to the door. "Please let me go! You have to for your own safety," I cried out as I threw the door open and rushed into the hall with the small bag I had packed. "It's for the best that I leave now."

The air surrounding me suddenly changed. I came to a stop when I saw him standing there.

I dropped everything and covered my mouth with my hands.

He stood there looking directly into my eyes. All I could see in them was love. How could I have ever doubted him? Not trusted him? Before I had a chance to move, he was in front of me, pulling me into his arms.

"You're not going anywhere, Gabi."

Hope fluttered inside of me. Burying my face into his chest, I sobbed uncontrollably as Nic's love covered me in a protective blanket.





MOMENTS EARLIER . . .



MY MOTHER WALKED silently next to me after I told her about me and Gabi.

"I thought you would be happy," I mumbled.

"What! Why would you think I would be happy, Nicholaus?"

I laughed. "Oh, let me see what reasons I can come up with. One, she isn't Greek."

My mother held up her hand. "That's not true. She is three percent Greek."

"What? How do you know that?"

She grinned. "Don't be mad, but I had a DNA test done."

Narrowing my eyes at her, I asked, "How in the hell did you get her DNA?"

"I have my ways."

"Who did the test for you?"

Her brow lifted. "You're not the only cop I know, son."



       
         
       
        

My head cocked to the side. "Who are you and where has my mama gone?"

"What happened?"

"I opened my heart up like a fool." Her smile dropped.

Wrapping her arm in mine, we walked down the street toward my house I had closed on recently. Gabi had been so excited I would be living so close to her. Now, I hated being so close to Gabi's bakery. The idea that she was so near to me tormented my mind.

"Opening your heart to someone doesn't make you a fool, Nicholaus."

I inhaled a deep breath. "I did something I regret."

My mother stopped walking and turned to me. "Am I going to be smacking you after you tell me?"

A light rumble came from my chest. "Probably."

She motioned for me to talk.

"I purposely hurt Gabi because she hurt me."

Glaring at me, she drew her hand back and punched me square in the chest, causing me to stumble back.

"What the hell?"

Her hand came up and slapped me on the back of the head.

"Jesus Chr-"

Her eyes went dark.

"Why are you hitting me?"

"Because you're stupid."

Dropping my mouth open, I stared at her. "How do you know Gabi wasn't being the stupid one?"

"Because she is a tormented soul. You can see it in her eyes. She harbors a secret, Nicholaus."

I laughed while rubbing my chest. "Yeah. Her lover in Italy."

"I don't believe that for one second. I've seen the way that girl looks at you."

Before I had a chance to say anything else, my phone rang. I narrowed my eyes at the number.

"Hello?"

"Nic, it's Jim Linde, FBI in Italy."

"Yeah, right of course."

He sighed, "Listen, do you have a minute?"

Glancing over to my mother, I motioned for her to head up the steps to the house. "I'll be right in, Mama. I need to take this call."

She nodded her head and entered the house.

"Is the FBI that hard up for guys you're cold calling now?"

He laughed. "No, I wish it was that, but this is more important. It's about Gabi."

My heart dropped. I knew she was safe, I'd seen her arrive home today.

"What about her?"

"Are you sitting?"

Fuck.

"Do I need to be?"

"Probably."

I sat on the steps of my house. "All right. Go."

I heard a door shut and footsteps before hearing another door shut.

"Listen, what I'm about to tell you is highly classified. I'm actually putting your life and your family's life in danger if I keep talking. Do you want me to continue?" 

What in the fuck?

"And this had to do with Gabi? Gabi Mandola?"

"Yes."

Rubbing the back of my neck, I looked around. "Tell me."