Page 62 of Taking His Heart

I look out to the street. There is no fucking protection here. Anyone could walk up to this house. Fucking hell, why the hell would her brother let her come home here? Unless he doesn’t know.

“Why the fuck are they after her?”

“One of the sons wanted to take her. Marry her. They tried to make a deal with Gio. He told them to fuck off not so politely. And now, they’re out for blood.”

“What? That doesn’t make any sense. How the fuck did Daniella get on their radar in the first place?”

Dad huffs. “He saw her with you. Years ago. Since then, the Hernández heir has been watching her. There have been threats: If he can’t have her, no one can.”

My blood goes cold. Watching her? Someone has been fucking watching her? “Fucking hell.”

My eyes spot a black SUV parked just down the road. “Did her father organize security?” I walk back inside the house.

“Yes, but I also have Elias and Aiden. And Aunt Lailani is landing in about two hours.”

Shit, he’s sending my aunt here? Clearly they don’t have a fucking handle on the problem if they’re flying in their best fucking asset.

Elias and Aiden went to the De Bellis estate with Aurelio and Rosie. Which is exactly where I’m about to take Daniella.

“I gotta go. Keep me updated,” I tell my dad before cutting the call. I then walk into the bedroom. “Dani, wake up. We need to go.” I lean down and pepper her face with gentle kisses.

“Mmm, where are we going?” she asks in a sleepy voice.

“It’s not safe here. We need to get to your parents, now,” I tell her. Standing, I send a text to Aiden.

Me:

Did you know? The fucking Hernández Cartel?

Aiden:

What? No.

Aiden:

I just asked Elias. The shifty fucker didn’t even blink.

I knew there was a reason Elias Lopez jumped on that flight with us. What do you fight a Mexican cartel with? An even larger, stronger Mexican cartel. And the Lopez family is the biggest and most-lethal crime family in that country. They also just so happen to be family, Daniella’s family.

I’m going to skin this Hernández fucker alive. Who the fuck does he think he is, making a claim on my fucking wife?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Something is really wrong. I can tell by how anxious CJ is right now. He wouldn’t even give me time to pack a bag for me to take to my parents’ place before leading me out of the house, his hand firmly holding mine. He put me in the car and then I watched him look up and down the street before getting in on the driver’s side.

“Do you even know where you’re going or how to drive here?” I ask him. “Maybe I should drive.”

CJ frowns at me. “You just enjoy being a passenger princess because you will never drive if I’m around,” he says.

“That’s stupid. I know how to drive, CJ. This is my car,” I tell him. Because, well, it is.

“I’m aware, but you don’t need to.” He starts the engine and then puts my parents’ address into the car’s satnav system.

“Fine. I’ll just sit back and watch you learn to drive in Melbourne.”

“I’m from Vegas, babe. I’m sure I can drive in your little city.” He pulls away from the curb.

“Why the rush? What changed when I was asleep?” I press him.