Panicked she rose and held Eve’s hand as she stepped to Kei. “Don’t. Do. This,” she whispered.
Giovanni stood tall. Parting the folds of his trench coat he slid his hands down into his trouser pockets. His voice was smooth, overly calm. “Do what Bella? He’s your man isn’t he? He has a right to be heard. I’d love to hear what you two discussed about me.”
His tone made her flush with shame. But she had nothing to be ashamed about. None of this was Kei’s fault or hers. How dare he! “Giovanni I’d like to speak to you alone.”
Unfortunately her words had little effect. He returned his gaze to Kei and kept it leveled on him. There was something cold and dark in his stare, and it worried Mira. Worse yet was the unwavering glare Kei aimed his way. Neither man seemed the least bit intimidated. It was Mira who stood in fear. Caught between them both she had to defuse the situation quickly.
“Giovanni. Please, let me explain,” Mira began.
“Oh you will explain after you pack yours and Eve’s things. Kei and I will remain here and have a talk.”
“She isn’t going anywhere with you.” Kei smirked.
Mira shook her head. “Kei you promised. You promised you would let me handle this.”
“I’m sorry sweetheart. You aren’t handling it. I won’t allow him to hurt you again. They won’t leave this airspace with you and get away with it. You think I haven’t planned for this day?” Kei spat at Giovanni. “You have no idea how far I will go to protect her.”
Giovanni smirked. “I think I do. You’re the man that helped fake her death; that makes you resourceful.”
“Damn right.”
“Kei! Stop!”
“Quiet, Bella. This is between Kei and I.”
“No. I have Eve here. Look at her, the both of you! I don’t want this in front of her. So stop.”
Her words seemed to have a cooling affect. She felt the tension shift in the room. However, her heart hammered so hard and fast in her chest she was panting and breathing hard through her nose.
“You have Eve to think about.” Kei touched her shoulder. “You were standing here about to hand over your daughter to this… this man.”
Mira lowered Eve, who walked away bored with the scene. She turned to Kei and stepped in his face. “You’ve been a good friend to me. I love you for wanting to protect me, but you have to trust me to do what’s best for my daughter. I need to talk to Giovanni.”
“Why don’t the three of us have a fucking chat?” Giovanni interjected. “Since you two have had plenty of conversations without me.”
“Watch your mouth in front of my daughter.” Mira said.
“Watch your mouth in front of me.” Giovanni warned.
Mira seethed. “This is between you and me, leave Kei out of it.”
“Why? Why! You brought him into this!”
“I brought him into this? What about you? What about—.” Mira bit down on her lip. He would kill Kei if she didn’t appeal to his heart, and quick. Did she think he was a murderer? If you had asked her two years ago after he showed her his heart she would have said no. But now with the blood of her best friend between them she had no illusions over who he truly was. And there was something else. He felt different to her. Cold and indifferent. The act of communicating with Eve seemed to exhaust him. As if he hadn’t worked his heart muscle for love and compassion in quite some time. “I will go with you. Eve and I will leave right now if you let Kei go.”
“Mira no!” Kei grabbed her arm. “You don’t have to bargain for my life. I can handle him. He can’t force you to go.”
Giovanni smirked. “She’s coming with me regardless.”
Dominic and Lorenzo chuckled with their boss. The cold reality was certain. Not even the presence of their daughter would prevent him from having his way. And that scared her too. She had to protect Eve. Mira pulled her arm free of Kei’s hold. She approached Giovanni.
“You’re angry with me, Kei has done nothing to you. Please. Just let him go. Promise me,” she said.