Red Handed(53)
“We all have choices, Danielle. And you’ve obviously made yours. I suppose this means you’ve also made your decision regarding us?”
Even if her feelings for Cole hadn’t developed, she’d never feel anything romantic toward Roman. “You know I love you, but as a friend. That’s never going to change.”
He sighed. “I understand. Truth be told, I feel the same.” A pregnant silence followed. “You said you’re in Michigan. Where are you staying?”
Damn the man for being so intuitive.
“I’m staying at Cole’s.”
“At a sex club, you mean. An innocent like you does not belong in a place like that. What are you thinking? Do you know what happens there?”
She almost laughed at his brotherly concern for her innocence. “Roman, I wish I could explain, but I can’t. This is something I need to do, and someday I’ll tell you why, but for now, you have to trust me.”
“Are you . . . ?”
“I’m learning about BDSM,” she admitted, flinching over the discussion of her sex life. “Pretend I’m going back to school.”
“Cole DeMarco is a dangerous man. There are things you don’t know about him.”
Shock coursed through her. “How would you know anything about him that I don’t?”
“After your father’s death, I had him investigated.” He waited a beat. “DeMarco’s got ties to the mafia.”
She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t believe it. “Just because he’s wealthy and partly from Italian descent doesn’t mean—”
“One of his club members, Anthony Rinaldi, is a notorious crime boss who’s under investigation for money laundering, prostitution, drugs, and murder.”
That she could believe. With only a look, Rinaldi had made her skin crawl. He was the only person she’d met at Benediction who didn’t seem as if he belonged. He clearly refused to follow the rules, and there was definitely animosity between him and Cole. As before, she questioned why Cole allowed him to remain a member. She knew there was a reason, but she’d never believe Cole would willingly have anything to do with the mafia.
“That’s horrible, but it has nothing to do with Cole,” she said, unable to prevent her voice from shaking.
“Rinaldi was one of your father’s clients. You don’t find that an awful coincidence? The man who turns over evidence to the feds just happens to be friendly with one of the people who your father allegedly stole from? All I’m saying is to be careful. I realize you’re a grown woman, but I think you’re in over your head. Why don’t you go home and, if it’s still important to you when I get back, we’ll talk about how to work together to bring down DeMarco. Sound good?”
She closed her eyes. “Sure.”
“Shit, I’ve known you long enough to know it means you’re not gonna listen. Just promise me you’ll stay safe, yeah?”
“I promise, Roman.”
Thank goodness he was in Russia. For some reason, the kidnappers had never mentioned him. They must have waited for him to go out of town as part of their plan. She was never as grateful as now for the job that took him away from her for weeks at a time.
“You call me if anything comes up you can’t handle, and I’ll fly back in a heartbeat,” he said. “And, Danielle, if you speak with Mom, tell her to pick up the damned phone and call me before I call the National Guard on her ass.”
A twinge of guilt panged in her chest. “You got it.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.” She disconnected the call and stared at the note on her lap.
“Not five minutes after we make love, and you’re sending your love to your fiancé,” Cole said from the doorway.
How long had he been listening, and how had she not heard him enter?
She crumbled the letter in her hand and shoved it under her pillow. “I’ve told you. He’s not my fiancé. And don’t ever come into my room again without knocking first.”
“It doesn’t matter what title you give him,” he said, ignoring her request. “You’re here for him. Because you love him.”
She got up from the bed. “I do. I’ve loved him for years. Roman is my stepbrother, or rather, he was before my father died.”
Cole appeared taken aback. “You’re in love with your stepbrother?”
“No.” She shrugged, moving closer to Cole but keeping enough distance to keep her feeling safe. “And he’s not in love with me either. Not really. It’s true he asked me to marry him, but our relationship is based on friendship, not passion. Honestly, I don’t know why he asked.”