I grabbed her by the shoulders. Hard. “This is serious. Do as I say,” I ordered through clenched teeth.
Her eyes went wide. “What’s going on?”
“Just stay in your room.”
“OK. But hurry, all right?” She bit her lip and left the room without further protest, and I heard her bedroom door close.
I looked in the mirror. Swallowed. Maybe he just wants to see me again. Maybe he’s returning my purse. Maybe he even brought the car.
But somehow I knew better.
I walked out of my room and descended the stairs slowly, one hand on the banister for support. First I saw his polished black shoes. Then his legs in dark gray trousers. Then his torso, which had been naked before me last night, but was now buttoned up in a shirt, vest, and coat. His white collar was snug, his blood-red tie knotted as tightly as my stomach. Finally, I saw his chiseled face, shadowed by a gray fedora.
Reaching the bottom, I looked into his eyes, which betrayed nothing.
He put his hand on my arm. “Let’s go for a ride.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Now isn’t really the best time,” I said, my heart thudding in my throat.
“Now. And bring the key to the boathouse.” He reached into his coat and pulled out my small purse from last night, tossing it on the hall table next to the phone.
I looked at it sideways. “Gee, thanks. But my sister is here, and I—”
His grip tightened on my forearm. Threading his other hand into my hair, he made a fist at the base of my skull and tipped my head back. “I don’t think you’ll want your sister to hear the conversation we’re going to have.” He spoke softly, venom oozing between his words. My scalp stung as he tightened his fingers.
You asshole, I gave you my virginity last night! I wanted to shout. But I had no idea what he knew about my role in the heist and thought I’d better play nice. “All right,” I said, my legs wobbling. “Can I at least tell her I’m leaving?”
He released me. Straightened his coat. “Yell up to her.”
I paused a second as we eyed each other, distrust thickening the tension between us. He doesn’t want me to leave his sight. Suddenly I was irritated. He had my father held hostage, and I was the untrustworthy one? Would he really stop me from going up the stairs? “Her door is closed. She won’t hear me.” I tried to move past him, but he blocked me.
“I said yell.” His eyes snapped with anger, and the stubborn set of his jaw made me hesitate.
But not for long. “No. If you want to come with me, fine. But I’m going up those stairs.”
We remained in a silent standoff for a moment, and then he jerked me by my elbow up the steps. I scrambled ahead so I’d be first, but he wouldn’t let go of me. When we reached the top, I glared at him. “Let go,” I whispered through gritted teeth.
“No.” He walked us toward the closed bedroom door and put me in front of him, circling both elbows with his fingers. “Tell her you’re leaving.” His tone was dead calm in my ear.
“Molly? I’ll be right back. Just stay in your room, OK?” My voice sounded unnaturally high-pitched, and I prayed she wouldn’t open the door to see why.
“OK,” came her muffled reply. My throat tightened as I imagined her curled up in her bedclothes, hugging the pillow in fear. I looked at Enzo over my shoulder, raising my eyebrows, and he let my arms go.
He followed me down the stairs and watched me grab my key ring from inside the purse he’d returned, although I couldn’t imagine what he wanted in the boathouse. We went out the front door, and I saw his white Cadillac parked at the curb. “No driver today?”
“No.”
No witness then. The words popped into my brain, unwelcome as a swarm of mosquitoes. He opened the passenger door for me, and I climbed in, letting him close it. I looked out the window, half tempted to make a run for it. Enzo slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“What is this about?” I asked.
He didn’t answer. When I looked over at him, his profile was expressionless. Goddamn your handsome face and your silent games. If you’re angry about something, just yell it like I would! As crazy as Joey made me, at least I always knew where we stood.
At the end of my street, Enzo turned into the alley and slowed down. My back stiffened when he put the car in park directly behind the store. “My family owns a construction company,” he said, putting his arm across the back of my seat.