7. Gia

What did I just do?

So much for being a strong, independent woman. One kiss and I crumbled and succumbed to him.

If it's just sex at least it was good sex.

That's bullshit. I want more with him, but there can't be anymore with him.

I look in the mirror and shake my head at myself.

"Be stronger next time, Gia," I sigh. "But damn if that man can't eat pussy better than anyone I've ever met before."

I shiver at the thought, my pussy vibrating.

My vagina is such a traitor.

I wash my face and clean up. I remove the hoodie and look at the gunshot wound in my shoulder.

That explains why I don't remember getting washed up on shore, sort of. Did I pass out from the shot and just get lucky that I didn't drown? Or did I swim to shore and then pass out from blood loss and the exertion, and I've just repressed the memory of the pain? I got lucky, that's for sure.

I pull the hoodie back on, wrapping my arms around myself for a second and inhaling Ryder's scent.

Stop that.

I walk out of the bathroom and Ryder is standing there waiting for me with another change of clothes.

"Here's something to sleep in."

"I actually brought something when we went back to my place, but thanks."

"You can sleep with me tonight."

My heart melts at the offer, but I know that I can't do that. No matter how badly I want to.

Sleeping with him is way too intimate. I cannot get entangled with this man right now. He's too old and I could put him and Chloe in danger if Christoph ever finds out I'm still alive.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I smile.

"You look exhausted. Why don"t you take my bed tonight? I can crash in one of the spare bedrooms."

"I couldn"t possibly. A guest bedroom will be just fine."

"Are you sure? I promise I won"t mind."

"I"m sure," I insist, plastering a smile on my face. "Thank you, though."

With a nod, Ryder gestures towards the hallway. "Alright then, follow me. I"ll show you to one of the spare bedrooms."

I trail behind him, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Despite my exhaustion, sleep seems elusive tonight. As Ryder opens the door to a guest bedroom, I force myself to focus on the simple task of settling in for the night.

It's a large room with a king size bed in the middle of it. There's an adjoined bathroom.

"Thanks."

"Do you need anything? Extra pillows? Water? Whiskey?"

"No, I'm capable of finding those things myself."

"The bathroom should be stocked with whatever you might need."

"Thanks," I nod dismissively.

He takes the hint and leaves me alone, shutting the door behind him.

Hours pass, marked only by the soft ticking of the clock in the hallway. I toss and turn in the unfamiliar bed, the sheets feeling scratchy against my skin. Eventually, I give up on sleep altogether and slip out of bed, careful not to disturb the silence of the house.

Padding down the hallway, I find myself drawn to the living room, illuminated only by the dim glow of moonlight filtering through the windows. My footsteps echo softly on the hardwood floors as I move towards the large picture window, gazing out at the tranquil night sky.

Does Ryder know that Chloe's mom is a Mob Princess? Was he helping her hideout?

Does the Don, Vincenzo Carusso, know that he has a granddaughter?

Surely not.

Or are they just waiting for the perfect moment?

I pull out my phone and do a quick scan of the living room. I have an app downloaded on my phone to search for taps, hidden bugs, or cameras.

Bingo.

Hidden cameras.

Microphones.

My heart races as I dart from room to room, searching for any sign of surveillance equipment. Sure enough, I find tiny cameras nestled in the corners of the ceiling, their lenses pointed toward every corner of the house.

They're in every room that I could get to.

Is Ryder one of those paranoid celebrities?

Does he even know these are here?

If there were just cameras set up all over the house, I would think that it's a security thing, but the presence of the microphones suggests otherwise.

Did Don Vincenzo place these and Ryder is clueless?

Is Ryder also part of the Cosa Nostra?

I blow out a breath and shake my head.

What the fuck did I walk into?

***

"Josh has cleared me so I'm going to walk back to my home in the sea," I tell Chloe and Ryder the next morning.

"Are you sure?"

"Aww," Chloe pouts.

"Yeah, I don't want to impose any more than I already have."

"You're not imposing," Ryder says.

I shrug my shoulders.

"I like my space."

"Let us drive you back there in the side-by-side."

"I don't know what that is and I want no part of it."

"It's a golf cart meets four-wheeler," he laughs. "It's a lot of fun."

"I'll take your word for it. I can walk."

"I don't…"

I put my hand up to quiet him. "I'm fine to walk by myself, it's barely a mile."

He puts his hands up in surrender and nods. Chloe rushes to me and wraps her arms around my waist.

"Will you be back soon, Mermaid?"

"I'll see you around, I'm sure."

"Okay," she sighs. She puts up a tiny finger and runs to a toy box in the corner of the room. She comes back with a walkie-talkie. "Here, take this. If Ursula comes in the middle of the night, just push this button and I'll tell Daddy."

I giggle and smile back at her.

Why does she have to be so adorable and sweet? Am I missing out on something by not wanting kids?

"Okay, you'll be the first to know."

"And you can call me on it, anytime."

"And you can call me," I smile as I hug her back.

Chloe grins widely before she goes to sit on the couch and pet her albino squirrel.

That's an odd sight.

I wave as I walk out the door and start down the path that leads to the beach and my temporary home. When I finally reach the sanctuary of my cottage, I waste no time and conduct another sweep for surveillance devices.

My heart sinks as I uncover hidden cameras and bugs here as well, meticulously concealed in every nook and cranny. It"s as if Ryder"s prying eyes have infiltrated every aspect of my life, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Could he really be spying on me?

Is he some sort of sicko? A pervert that has all of his cottages bugged?

Thethought sends a shiver down my spine, a betrayal that cuts deeper than I ever imagined.

I tap into the surveillance system, manipulating the cameras and bugs to feed false information. It will buy me some time, but I know it"s only a temporary solution. Eventually, whoever is watching will catch on, and then I"ll be right back where I started.

But for now, I need to focus on regaining control of the situation. With a deep breath, I step outside onto the beach, letting the soothing rhythm of the waves wash away some of the tension that has settled in my bones.

***

The next day, I"m lost in thought, the gentle lullaby of the ocean offering solace amidst the chaos, when a voice breaks through the silence.

"Gia!"

I turn to see Chloe bounding towards me, her laughter echoing across the sand. "Chloe," I greet her with a smile, bending down to scoop her up in a tight hug.

"You"re here!" she exclaims, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too," I chuckle, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Chloe beams up at me, her enthusiasm infectious. "Can you come for dinner, Mermaid Gia? Or wait, should I call you Gia so no one else knows you're a mermaid? Daddy"s making spaghetti!"

My heart twinges at the invitation, a bittersweet reminder of the family I"ve never had.

"Thank you, Chloe, but I have some things to take care of tonight. How about we plan for another dinner together soon? And yes, you can call me Gia, you're the only one I trust with my secret."

"Okay, but you have to promise to come next time!"

"I promise," I assure her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "I wouldn"t miss it for the world."

Chloe and her Labrador mix dog race off toward the water and Ryder sidles up next to me.

"Hey. Sorry about the impromptu invitation. Chloe can be quite persuasive."

I shake my head, a fond smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "It"s no problem, Ryder. She's a charmer."

"I tried to text you earlier, but then I realized I don"t have your phone number. Mind giving it to me?"

I hesitate for a moment, a flicker of suspicion dancing in the back of my mind. But then I push it aside, forcing a smile as I recite my number to him.

As Ryder enters my number into his phone, I can"t shake the feeling that there"s more to his request than meets the eye.

Stop being so paranoid.

"I'm going to Josh's house in a bit."

"Oh yeah, we'll be there too. Landon's birthday party. Chloe probably doesn't realize that you're Layla's aunt."

"Probably not."

"I should get back to the cottage and get ready."

Ryder nods. I wave to Chloe who is preoccupied with finding seashells and gives me a quick wave. I disappear into the cottage.

An hour later, I arrive at Josh"s house for Landon"s birthday party. The backyard is transformed into a wonderland of balloons, streamers, and laughter. There's a course set up away from the food and festivities with hay bales, targets, and other things.

"What's that?"

"A laser tag course," Josh answers. "He's obsessed."

"Oh, that's super cool. Can anyone play?"

"Absolutely, I'd love to see you out there with your Marine Corps moves."

"I think I still got them," I laugh.

As the afternoon wears on, I find myself drawn to Ryder, watching as he effortlessly navigates the chaos of the party with a grace and ease that leaves me in awe. Chloe clings to him like a magnet, her laughter echoing his own as they chase each other through the maze of balloons and streamers.

Layla and Landon are equally enamored, their eyes shining with adoration as they look up to Ryder with a mixture of awe and reverence. All the kids seem to love and adore him.

Ryder is a good man, kind and caring in a way that I never would have expected. It's not possible that he put those cameras up in my cabin, right?

"He is so hot," a woman with long blonde hair gushes to her other blonde friend.

"And still single. He is the total package."

"Billionaire hottie and a present father. Yes please," a brunette giggles. "I would eat him for breakfast."

"I doubt he's interested in a woman who's been married five times."

Five times? Yikes.

"He was raving about my apple pie the other day."

"I'm going to go over and talk to him," one of the blondes says as she walks directly over to him.

I roll my eyes as I watch her throw herself at him. His eyes keep flitting to mine and the little bit of jealousy I had is instantly gone.

They start allowing people into the laser tag course and I notice a lone figure lurking in the shadows near the edge of the backyard. Something about him seems out of place, his demeanor is tense and watchful as he scans the crowd with a predatory gaze.

I recognize him instantly, his face etched into my memory like a scar that refuses to fade. He"s one of Don Vincenzo's henchmen, a dangerous man with a penchant for violence and cruelty.

My heart pounds in my chest as I discreetly activate my recognition software, scanning his face for any sign of confirmation. And when the results come back positive, a cold knot forms in the pit of my stomach.

The Sicilian Mafia is following Ryder.

With Chloe"s penchant for running off at the most inopportune moments, the threat suddenly feels all too real.

Damn it.

I keep a watchful eye on Chloe, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger. I hover nearby as she plays with Layla, joining in their games to keep a discreet watch over them.

Despite my best efforts to remain inconspicuous, I can feel the weight of Ryder"s gaze on me. Our eyes lock a few times as he smiles at me. Chloe and Layla have kidnapped me in the best way though, I don't mind being led around everywhere.

As the laser tag company begins to pack up their equipment, I can"t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me as I realize the man has left with them. The tension in the air dissipates with their departure.

"Hey, Ryder," I say casually as we step into Josh's kitchen and away from the crowd. "I was thinking about Chloe's offer for dinner earlier. Is it still on the table?"

Ryder"s eyes light up with genuine warmth, his smile reaching all the way to his eyes. "Absolutely, but Chloe is staying the night here. I"d love to take you out though, if that's an option."

"I'm not really in the mood to be around any more people," I laugh. "Can we just maybe relax with a glass of wine or something?"

"I'd like that. I'm not going to turn down getting to spend quality alone time with you and a bottle of wine in my house. I'm getting ready to head out now."

"Me too, I'll make my rounds and say my goodbyes."

He nods, grinning as he goes to find Chloe. Ten minutes later, we're walking to our cars.

As I drive back to Ryder"s house, I notice that I'm being followed. I feel that Ryder is being followed but since I'm following him the black sedan has no choice but to follow me.

Is it one of Don Vincenzo's mobsters?

We pull into Ryder's driveway and the sedan continues driving. It turns a corner and disappears, but I don't feel that it's that easy. They'll be back and I'll be keeping an eye out for them.

Ryder hurriedly gets out of his car and runs over to open my door for me.

Gah, he's so sweet.

He kisses me softly the second that I'm out of the car. He then laces his fingers through mine and leads me inside the house and to the kitchen. He pours us two glasses of wine, handing me the first.

"You really hit it off with Layla and Chloe," Ryder teases.

"They're adorable. Adult women aren't really my scene, they're too catty."

"Especially those women. It's like Real Housewives of Ash Cove around here."

"I noticed. Can we talk about something?"

"Of course, what's on your mind."

I take a deep breath, the weight of my lie bearing down on me like a leaden burden. "I"m having problems with an ex-boyfriend," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "He"s been harassing me, and I"m afraid he might show up here. I didn't want to mention anything in front of Josh and…"

Ryder"s expression darkens with concern, his features etched with determination. "You don"t have to worry, Gia. I won"t let anything happen to you. Is that… is that the Christoph you mentioned when you were on the beach?"

I nod as another thought occurs to me, a desperate plea born of desperation and fear. "In the past, he would leave me alone if I was with someone. Ryder, would you... would you be willing to pretend to be my boyfriend? Just to keep him away?"

For a moment, Ryder is silent, his gaze locked with mine in a silent exchange of understanding. And then, without hesitation, he nods. "Of course, Gia. I"ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

I don't like lying to him. It feels disgusting actually, but it's the only way.

If Ryder is clueless that he's on the Mafia's watch list, then he and Chloe are in danger. I can protect the two of them from Don Vincenzo Carusso and whoever else may come for them.

And if in the meantime I bag the CIA's most wanted criminal they'll have no choice but to reinstate me and believe that I had nothing to do with Allison's treachery.