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“Yes, well, let’s not jump the gun in trying to get anything on her at the moment. She might’ve been the one who had me thrown in jail, but she’s also the one who got the charges dropped against me,” Rafe said grimly. “Looks like we don’t need the lawyer at this moment, but later, I’m sure.”
“Fine, I’ll make a call and let him know what’s going on. But I think you need to explain what’s going on here—and quick. Before she gets anxious.” Matteo flicked his head in Annalisa’s direction.
Rafe gave him the quick rundown, explaining everything Annalisa had told him. He had no idea what was true, what wasn’t, but he knew he needed to get to Cat. Her own sister had drugged Cat to keep her from being with him. He wanted to make sure she was okay.
The thought alone made him sick. If something happened to her because of him, he didn’t know what he’d do. Or how he’d ever forgive himself.
“I need to go with Annalisa back to her house so I can make sure Cat is all right,” Rafe said after he finished filling Matteo in. “She admitted she drugged Cat to keep her from me. Annalisa will do whatever it takes to keep us apart. She doesn’t care if she hurts her sister or not.”
Matteo briefly glanced in Annalisa’s direction before returning his gaze to Rafe. “You’re serious.”
“As a heart attack.” How he wished he wasn’t.
“Sounds like Annalisa has some issues when it comes to her sister.”
Rafe snorted. “That’s an understatement. She has major issues. And I don’t think they all revolve around her sister.”
“So what are we going to do about her? Clearly she’s unstable if she’s willing to harm her own sister in order to get at you.” Matteo shook his head. “I hadn’t a clue she was interested in you. Her behavior is shocking.”
“Tell me all about it,” Rafe muttered.
“I’ll help you, Rafe. We’ll get Cat out of that house and take care of her. She’ll be a Renaldi now. We protect what’s ours,” Matteo said firmly.
Relief flooded Rafe at Matteo’s speech. He knew his brother would be on board in helping him out. It just felt good to actually receive confirmation. “I need you to find a facility nearby. I plan on checking her in. And while you’re researching that on your cell, I need you to follow us back to the Campioni house. That’s where Cat is. And that’s where we’re headed. But keep a certain amount of distance, you know? I don’t want her to realize you’re following us.”
Matteo didn’t even flinch at what Rafe asked him to do. “Then what?”
“I’ll let Cat know you’re outside waiting for her and I’ll send her to your car. You can keep her safe.” Rafe breathed deep, letting out a ragged breath. “I’ll try and calm Annalisa down, then tell her to come out for a drive with me. You text me the address to the facility and you can meet me there. How does that sound?”
“She has to check herself in you know. She’s an adult. We can’t force her to stay there,” Matteo pointed out.
“What if she’s in a wrecked state? Completely unhinged? What then? Think we could get them to take her if she’s acting like a crazy woman?”
Matteo shrugged. “I suppose so. But do you want to push her to those limits?”
“I’m not sure if we’ll have a choice. I think we have to push her to those limits.”
Matteo whistled low. “That’s incredibly risky, especially dealing with someone who is clearly on the edge.”
“I have to do it.” It was Rafe’s turn to look over where Annalisa stood. She watched him, her gaze never straying, a funny little smile on her face. He smiled in return, hoping it didn’t look like a grimace before he turned to his brother once more. “She’s crazy, Matteo. I’m scared of what she might do to Cat.”
“I understand. We’ll take care of this, Rafe. Together.”
The weather matched Rafe’s mood, gray and drizzly, dark and foreboding. He’d convinced Annalisa to let him drive her car and she’d agreed freely, looking like a lovesick teenager, literally batting her eyelashes at him while he drove, clinging to his arm with every chance she got.
Until he finally had to tell her the weather was too sketchy and he needed both arms free to drive for fear they’d end up in a wreck. Thank God he had that excuse. He could hardly stand having her touch him, let alone cling to him like another appendage.
“So you’ll talk to Cat when we get to the house and break off the engagement?” she asked.
He sent Annalisa a quick glance, his stomach turning when he saw the bright smile on her face. She would probably want to be in the room with him when he supposedly split with Cat. Hell, if Annalisa had her way, she’d probably beg him to be the one who did the breaking up for him.
“I will, just as you asked. Hopefully she’s coherent when we get there,” he said carefully, trying to dig for more information.
Trying to get her to say something incriminating since he’d clicked on the recorder on his cell phone, which sat in the cup holder in the center console.
