I hung up the phone, that last part a lie. If my suspicions were correct, I couldn’t go to my father with the details. My father did not need any more ammunition against Luke DeMarco, and something about what Lucia had said, asking me not to take them away, I felt it.

Luke was collecting supporters, that I knew, but was Lucia’s sister involved? If so, how deeply? Just how close were she and Luke? And what would I need to do if I what I believed was confirmed?

On top of everything else, I needed to gain Lucia’s trust. I needed to be sure she’d do as I said and not act out during the birthday dinner. I needed to make sure my father knew I had control of her.

The next afternoon, I pulled into Nordstrom’s parking lot.

“I don’t want to go to your father’s party.”

We climbed out of the car and went into the department store. She sounded defiant, but I heard the panic behind her words.

“I’m not going.”

I touched her back to lead her inside. “Yes, you are. And you’re going to behave while you’re there.”

“Why? Why can’t you just go on your own?”

“Because he’s expecting both of us.” We stepped onto the escalator, Marco and another man following nearby. A piano played on the second floor. Before we reached it, I saw the salesgirl waiting for us.

“Why?” Lucia asked again.

Once off the escalator, I took her arms, rubbed them, and turned her toward me. There would be no discussion. She would go. Period. Even if it was the last place I wanted to take Lucia, we would both go. “Because I said so. Now be good.” I leaned in, and to anyone who watched, it looked like I was planting a kiss on her temple, but instead, I whispered in her ear. “Or else I’ll have to get creative again.”

Her eyes searched mine when I pulled back, questioning, perhaps trying to gauge how far I’d go. Honestly, I didn’t mind if she did push me.

“Mr. Benedetti,” the salesgirl said, her high heels clicking toward us.

I turned to her. She couldn’t be more than twenty.

“I’m Carla, and I’ll help your…” She searched our ring fingers and modified, “I understand you’re looking for an evening dress.”

I chuckled and kept one hand at Lucia’s back. “For Lucia. I’d look rather silly in an evening dress.”

The girl laughed nervously and looked Lucia over. “Size four?”

Lucia nodded.

“Any preference as to length or cut?” We followed her as she led the way to the designer dresses.

My phone rang. When I saw Natalie’s name displayed on the screen, I excused myself. Lucia raised her eyebrows but didn’t question. Marco followed me, and the other guard kept close to Lucia.

“Hello?”