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“Because I have.”
I stop and pull away from his arm, rubbing my own. He didn’t hurt me. His touch was gentle but firm. But it still felt like I was being branded by him.
“Who are you? Why are you following me?”
He moves closer to me and smirks, the flash of his white teeth and the street lights finally bringing him into focus. His dark hair sparkles with little speckles of silver but his dark eyes are surprisingly youthful and bright. His jaw is lean and covered with scruff. His skin is olive-toned and when he touches me again, I glance down and see the way his dark hand looks on my pale skin. My breath puffs out, shallow and fast.
“Does it matter what my name is?”
“Yes,” I whisper, still fixed on the way his hand looks on my arm. Confused at the heat burning under my skin and all the way to my belly.
He leans closer and his nose runs along my cheekbone. “It doesn’t matter who I am. All that matters is you. And that’s why I’m following you. I can’t stand to see you heading home all alone late at night. You don’t take good care of yourself, Red.”
I jerk and glare up at him, noting a car coming around the corner, its headlights outlining us on the sidewalk. “I take my safety very seriously.”
“Humph!” His dark eyes dart to the side, his brow scrunching up and then I see his eyes widen and he growls, “Get down!”
But before I can do a damn thing, his big body hits me and I fall to the ground, cringing when I realize I’m gonna get hurt. His big body covers me and he grunts as he turns so that he hits the ground on his back and I land on his broad chest, my fingers sinking into his shirt and feeling all those rows of muscles that hide under his clothes.
A pop, pop, pop rings out and then tires squeal as he sits up with a gun in his hand and swears under his breath.
“Dammit!” He slams his fist into the ground and growls.
I gasp for breath and sit up slowly, running my hands over my body and wincing when I run into a few scrapes and bruises.
But that’s not what I’m concerned about. “Who the hell are you?”
“Benito.”
My breath freezes in my throat. I only know one Benito and that one is a mob boss by the name of Bonetti.
I almost wish the guy in the alley had gotten me because I think I really did find the bigger danger right here. And he’s still looking at me like he’s not gonna let me get away.
CHAPTER 3
Benito
Anger sizzles along my nerves and I suck in a sharp breath to keep from completely losing my mind and shooting at the son of a bitch. My fingers clench so hard I hear them crack and I struggle to visibly relax.
I turn to my little Red and immediately step closer to her. Her silver eyes are sharp and yet muddled with fear.
“Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Benito.”
Her eyes widen and she tries to back away. I grasp her arm and she flinches when she spots the gun still in my hand.
“Oh my god!” She whimpers and then she struggles to pull away. “I need to get home.”
“I’m coming with you, sweetheart.”
“I can get home by myself.”
“Too damn bad. I’m not asking. I’m coming with you.”
Her back goes rigid and her narrow jaw clenches. “You’re not the boss of me! I don’t have to listen to you.”
I throw back my head and laugh. “Oh, baby. I’m not asking. I’m telling you that I’m coming home with you.”
