I followed Gia upstairs half an hour later and walked into Salvatore’s old bedroom. I had a shower then put on a fresh pair of briefs, opened the bedroom door a crack, pulled the cover off the bed, remade it with fresh sheets, and climbed in to wait. I hadn’t locked Gia’s door on purpose. I wanted to see what she’d do. She didn’t trust me, which was wise, but I still needed her, and letting her go out there on her own would only get her in trouble. She most likely didn’t believe that, but she didn’t know this world like I knew it. Victor wouldn’t just let her go. And if Roman was involved, he was not one to leave loose ends. Gia was most definitely a loose end.

I leaned my head back against the pillow and closed my eyes. I was tired and had just drifted off to sleep when I heard it: the whine of a door unused for too long opening. I blinked my eyes open and listened. She walked softly, but the house was old, and it creaked. A lot. I waited until she was on the stairs before throwing the covers back and getting out of bed. I didn’t bother pulling pants on and left the pistol on the bedside table. Instead, I crept out of the bedroom and watched her in the dark. She stumbled once, righted herself, and moved toward the front door. She picked up the keys to the SUV I’d stupidly left on the hallway table, and when I saw her punch in the code I’d used to get us inside—sneaky little thing; she’d been watching—I sprinted down the stairs.

Gia turned at the sudden noise, and that second was what I needed. I caught up to her by the time she’d stepped outside the door. Catching her around the middle, I almost fell on top of her as we stumbled forward.

“Never put anything past a woman with an agenda,” I said, hauling her back inside.

“Let me go!” she screamed. “You fucking asshole, let me go!”

She kicked and punched. I turned her, tossed her over my shoulder, and slapped her ass. The door banged shut behind us as I carried a fighting Gia up the stairs and into my bedroom, where I tossed her down on the bed. Looking at her flushed face, her hair splaying out on my pillow, her eyes wild with fury—wild like a feral cat—it made me fucking crazy.