Chapter 4 - Someone Inside the House
The explosion came from an empty vehicle near the estate's outer gate.
Nobody was injured.
That didn't make me feel better.
Massimo was moved to a secure room.
I was taken with him.
“I want to leave,” I said.
“You can't.”
I stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“Until Luca confirms the road is safe.”
“You don't get to imprison me.”
“I'm protecting you.”
“From something I never agreed to be involved in.”
His jaw tightened.
“I know.”
That answer deflated some of my anger.
Massimo looked toward the guards.
“Leave us.”
When they were gone, he said, “I'll pay the entire contract tonight.”
“What?”
“Fifty thousand. You can leave tomorrow.”
I stared at him.
“You're firing me?”
“I'm giving you a way out.”
“You finally stood today.”
“I'll find another therapist.”
“You drove three nurses away.”
“Then I'll find four.”
I almost laughed.
“You're impossible.”
“And you're in danger because of me.”
There it was.
Not the mob boss.
The man.
I walked closer.
“Do you want me to leave?”
He didn't answer.
“Massimo.”
“No.”
The word was quiet.
I sat opposite him.
“Then stop making decisions for me.”
His eyes met mine.
“You don't understand what staying could cost you.”
“And you don't understand what walking away would cost me.”
A knock interrupted us.
Luca entered.
“We found the leak.”
“Who?”
“Anthony.”
Massimo's expression hardened.
I recognized the name.
Anthony Pascale.
Massimo's cousin.
The man I'd seen twice at the estate.
“Bring him.”
Twenty minutes later, Anthony was escorted into the room.
He looked at Massimo and smiled.
“You finally figured it out.”
Massimo's voice was ice.
“Why?”
“You've controlled everything for nine years.”
Anthony glanced at the wheelchair.
“Then suddenly you couldn't even stand.”
Massimo said nothing.
“I thought the family needed someone stronger.”
“And you chose yourself.”
“Someone had to.”
Anthony looked at me.
“Though apparently the little therapist is fixing our problem.”
Massimo's voice changed.
“Don't look at her.”
Anthony smiled.
That smile told me more than anything else.
He knew I mattered.
Massimo knew it too.
“Luca,” he said.
“Take Tessa upstairs.”
“No,” I said.
Massimo looked at me.
“For once, don't argue.”
“Are you going to hurt him?”
Anthony laughed.
Massimo didn't.
I suddenly understood the boundary between Massimo Pascale the patient and Massimo Pascale the man feared throughout Boston.
I didn't want to cross it.
“Massimo.”
His eyes met mine.
“Go upstairs.”
I hesitated.
Then I left.
I never asked what happened to Anthony.
Massimo never told me.
But the police arrived before midnight, and Anthony left the estate alive and in custody.
That mattered.
Later, I found Massimo alone in the rehabilitation room.
He was staring at the parallel bars.
“You okay?” I asked.
“My cousin tried to kill me.”
“That's generally considered a bad day.”
He laughed quietly.
Then his expression broke.
Just slightly.
“I trusted him.”
I sat beside him.
“I'm sorry.”
He looked at me.
“You're the only person who says that without wanting something.”
“That's not true.”
“What do you want?”
I smiled.
“Ten steps.”
He shook his head.
“Impossible woman.”
“Ten steps.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Seven a.m.”
“Eight.”
“Seven.”
“Seven thirty.”
“Deal.”
I stood.
He caught my hand.
“Tessa.”
I looked down.
“Thank you for staying.”
May you like
This time, I didn't pull away.
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