But I wasn’t going to let her go.
Not now that I already had her.
“Very well then,” Don Leone said. He sounded amused and I slowly looked back over at him. “Keep the girl. I’ll have my men ask around about her and I will share what I find.”
“Thank you, Don,” I said, and inclined my head.
“You won’t find anything that Steven didn’t already tell you,” she said.
I glared at her but Don Leone only laughed. “So you do speak then,” he said. “Good. I was wondering if you would actually listen to Steven here.”
She glanced at me then took a breath. “Don Leone, I beg you to let me go,” she said. “I was caught in the crossfire last night, but I’m not a part of this war. I won’t tell anyone about what I saw or speak with anyone in the Celtic Club. Please, Don Leone, I’m not worth keeping.”
Don Leone chuckled and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Colleen. But it seems that Steven doesn’t agree with your assessment, and I am going to listen to my Capo instead of some little Irish girl with a wounded wing. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do.”
Luca stood first, inclined his head, and walked to the door. I stood next, inclined my head like Luca, then stared down at Colleen.
She didn’t move.
“Don Leone,” she said. “Please. I’m just a bystander. I’m just… I’m nothing. Don’t leave me with him.”
The Don looked up again and his eyes flashed annoyance. I could see that cold killer beneath his kindly exterior, and I quickly reached down to grab her arm. I pulled her to her feet, and fortunately it wasn’t her wounded shoulder, but she still winced from pain.
“Come,” I said. “I apologize for her outburst, Don.”
He merely grunted and looked back down at the papers in front of him. I pulled Colleen along and she glared up at me with hate.
But she has no clue how close she just came to getting hurt. I may not be the kind of man to hurt women, but Don Leone would not hesitate. Roberto would beat her within an inch of her life if Don Leone told him to, or do even worse. She was nothing to the Don, and he wouldn’t hesitate to swat her like a fly if she continued to bother him.
So I pulled her away, afraid for her safety. But I could tell she was angry and thought I was trying to silence her pleas for my own selfish reasons.
Roberto opened the door and Luca went first. We followed them and as the office door closed behind us, Colleen struggled and pulled her arm from my grip.
“Let go,” she said.
“Stop it,” I said, stepping close. “You need to understand where you are right now.”
“I’m a captive,” she said. “You’re a monster, you’re—”
I took her wrist and pulled her against me. Her eyes went wide in surprise as I brought up my other hand to cover her mouth. I pushed her back against the wall and rattled a painting of a horse jumping over a white fence.
“Be quiet,” I said, staring into her eyes. “Do you have any clue where you are?”
Her eyes went hard and she struggled, but I held her firm.
“If you open your mouth again, they will hurt you,” I said, whispering sharp words into her ear. My body pressed up against hers and I felt my heart hammering in my chest. “Don’t you get it? I might not hurt you, but Roberto will break your arm just for spite. You need to be quiet if you want to get out of here in one piece. You’re an enemy soldier as far as they’re concerned, and they won’t hesitate.”
I leaned back and she stared at me. I stared right back as Roberto took a step toward us.
“Capo,” he said. “Come along now. You can discipline your little toy back home.”
I continued to look at her. “Okay?” I asked, looking right into her eyes.
She nodded once.
I dropped my hand from her mouth. She took a deep breath but didn’t speak. Her pink lips were red and I could still feel her body as I stepped back and released her wrist.
“Sorry, Roberto,” I said with the best smile I could manage. “Just teaching her how things work around here.”
He grunted and shook his head. “Fucking Capos,” he grumbled and continued walking along.
Luca gave me a strange look then shook his head and followed after the guard. I looked at Colleen and held out my hand.
She stared at it with surprise. I nodded a little and she reached out. I took her hand in mine and pulled her along behind me. She walked close against my side, and I could tell she was confused, angry and confused, but she stayed close.