Mia opened up the web browser, watching Rev out of the corner of her eye. She had come early to set up her class, and there weren’t many people in the education wing of the community center on a Saturday morning.
“Now will have to be in two hours when I’m done.” When the web browser finally opened, she quickly logged in to her personal email, and then froze. What was she doing? Who was she planning to email? She’d been called to her father’s office dozens of times and never once had she asked for help. She had weathered all sorts of storms alone, suffered many beatings, and always managed to make it out alive.
“Now means now.”
But this was a different type of storm. First, Rev was here, and it was clear he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Second, she had still not been called to account for what happened with the Wolf. Third, she had been indiscreet last night going out in public with Nico. And fourth, well, if anyone had been watching when he dropped her off at home, there would be no doubt they were more than business acquaintances. At least he hadn’t accepted her invitation to come inside..
“What if I refuse?” Who could she email anyway? Jules wouldn’t be able to help her. What about Nico? She didn’t have any way to contact him except through the casino, although she was pretty sure he would jump in his car and race to the community center if he thought she was in danger. Even the thought that there was someone who had her back made her feel stronger inside. But asking him for help would just escalate the war between the families. There had been enough bloodshed already.
“Then I’ll get to put my hands all over that pretty curvy body when I carry you out.” He moved toward her at a slow, steady pace, as if he had no fear that she might escape.
“That might attract some unwanted attention. Especially if I scream.” She sent a quick email to Jules asking her to come down to the center ASAP to take over the class, and added a small note at the end about being dragged to her parents’ house. As an afterthought, she added a scared emoji, and hit send just before Rev’s meaty paw clamped down on her arm.
“You’re not gonna do that ’cause I don’t think you want Don Cordano to be any more pissed at you than he is now. He’s got Kat and Dante in his office, and he’s been raging at them for the last hour.” He yanked her out of his seat. “He’s using Kat as a substitute for you.”
Mia stared at him aghast. “He hurt Kat?”
Rev’s face turned hard. “Yeah. Wasn’t nice to see. Or hear. But it wasn’t my call.”
“I’m coming.” She grabbed her purse, but froze when she heard a knock at the door.
“Everything all right in here, ma’am?” Big Joe walked into the room.
Mia bit back a smile. Nico had meant what he said when he promised to keep her safe.
“Yes, thanks. I just … have to go home. There’s a … family emergency.”
Big Joe’s gaze flicked to Rev. His eyes widened for the briefest of seconds, and then his face smoothed to an expressionless mask.
“So what’s this?” Rev chuckled uneasily. “We got cops taking computer classes for little girls now?”
“Cops?” Mia looked from Big Joe to Rev and back to Big Joe. “He isn’t a cop. He’s…” She trailed off considering just how much worse the imminent beating would be if Rev told her father Nico had someone from his crew watching over her.
“A…” She frowned at Big Joe, willing him to fill in the blank.
“Dad looking to sign his girl up for the class,” Big Joe said quickly.
Okay. She could work with that, although the tension in the room was so thick she could cut it with a knife. Obviously they knew each other, but why did Rev think he was a cop?
“How old is your daughter?”
“Six.” Big Joe’s eyes didn’t leave Rev as he spoke, and she couldn’t decide if it was fear she saw in their blue depths or anger.
“This class is for girls nine to thirteen, but if you put your name down in reception, I’ll ask them to give you a call if I get enough interest in teaching something for younger kids.”
“Sure thing.” Big Joe jerked his chin at Rev. “So you know this guy?”
“He works for my father. He’s here to escort me home so I have to cancel today’s class, otherwise I would have signed you up myself.”
Big Joe frowned and she figured he was struggling to reconcile his instructions to keep her safe with the fact she’d pretty much told him she was being forced to leave.
“It’s okay,” she assured him, worried that Rev might start asking questions about their awkward conversation. “You can go … sign up your little girl.”
“Our little girl.” Rev smirked. “She’s got two daddies now.”
Mia could almost feel the waves of anger rolling off Big Joe. What the hell was going on? Rev clearly didn’t know Big Joe was on Nico’s crew because usually if two soldiers from feuding families bumped into each other, there would be some kind of fight. But they obviously had some kind of connection, and Rev’s cop comment niggled at her brain. Was Nico in danger?