Her green eyes are wide on me, her little mouth slightly open. She has an angular jaw and high cheekbones, and a natural golden glow to her skin. Her usual siren-shaped eyes look wider than usual, worry etched into her features.

“Whatever it is, I can handle it!”

I drive us onto the highway that takes us to the outskirts of Chicago. I need to be off this motorway if I want to go the speeds I need to go to get to Poppy in time.

“We’re not who you think we are.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I want to snatch them back. “Poppy and I?” I squeeze the leather steering wheel. “We are not who you think we are.”

“And who are you?” Ruby asks, her tone gentle.

“You’re about to find out.” I reach for my phone, hitting call on the number that was texting me.

Three rings and the phone clicks over. “One can hope you have made the right decision.”

I place my phone in my lap, ignoring Ruby. “Things have changed.”

Silence, and I know that these are dangerous words to speak while he has Poppy. “Mmhmm, I figured so. Which is why I have my security sitting all safe here.”

I watch as the little hand on the speedometer falls over to one hundred. “You didn’t tell me I was Italian.”

“Well, you were raised here, but yes, your biological father was Italian.” My eyes slam closed. “And yes, you are from a line of very powerful men in the Cosa Nostra. I’m guessing La Rosa made you? Smart motherfucker that one is.”

I clear my throat.

“What the fuck is going on?” Ruby’s tone drops. “You piece of shit. I swear to fuck if you’re working with the cops, I’ll kill you myself!”

Just when I think she’s nothing like her father and all her mother, she says some gang shit like that.

I turn to face her, my lip curled. “First of all, shut the fuck up. The day I walk on that side of the law is the day you can take my nuts—”

She raises a perfectly arched brow. “I would take more than that.” And there it is. The little mafia princess finally looking more like what she should.

I smirk at her but go back to the road. “Not just that.”

“The girl?” he adds, and before I can say anything, I feel the temperature in the car drop. Her fear is intoxicating. It’s like she left a trail of it wherever she ran, but only I could sense it.

“Yeah—she’s hot.” My smirk deepens, and I see her head whip toward me in the corner of my eye. “And she’s got a tight little pussy.”

“Fuck you!” she screams, and I choke on a laugh as I move the phone away from her.