Chapter 68: Chapter 68

C H A P T E R - - - - T W E N T Y - - - - N I N E

I took a deep breath, opened my phone, went to the contact list, scrolled down, and clicked go in the early afternoon.

When Falcone's voice demanded the caller to speak, I began to respond. However, after hearing a beep, I understood that Falcone had left a voicemail message asking the caller to speak.

I had spent the entire day on the verge of frenzy. The only reason I didn't bake four batches of cookie dough and eat through them all was that I ran out of butter when faced with my selfish bitchiness in the face of who I wanted to be my man's attempt to let go of a terrible past and move on with me.

I was so upset by his voicemail greeting that I lost it.

Even though it was improper given that he left me with a parting shot that essentially amounted to goodbye, I still began laughing.

I managed to squeal "Baby" through my laughter. Your voicemail message is "talk," I said as I muttered as my laughter suddenly stopped.

I said, "Please call me so I can say I'm sorry," while tightly closing my eyes since it was so him, which I adored.

I then closed the phone, set it on the kitchen counter, raised both of my hands, and rubbed my fingers on my cheeks.

I then shut my eyes once again and wished to Yago Cabrera that he would give me a call.

I then went to the front door to my car, which was still parked at the curb where I had left it before the drive-by, and collected my phone, pocketbook, and net bags. For more than a week, it hadn't moved. Detective Connor Magtanggol came up and parked behind my Hyundai as I was about halfway down my stroll.

I kept looking at him as he drove.

Why?

Why me?

His presence could only indicate one of two things: either something was wrong with Isabelle and/or I was in danger, or perhaps he had heard Falcone and I were parting ways and was moving in. I was down the mountain from Finn.

Why… me?

I suppressed this feeling and approached him on the sidewalk, hoping he weren't so incredibly attractive.

"Hello, Mitch," I said.

He grinned, "Giabella."

I fixed my gaze on his smile.

Why, I'll say it again: me?

I boasted, "I've avoided being shot at or abducted for an entire week."

He smiled, "Good for you."

Tell me you're not here to tell me my winning streak is over and another event is about to happen, please.

He gave a headshake. "Sweetheart, I'm not here for that."

I cocked my head sideways. "So what brings you here? ”

"Because Ryan invited me unexpectedly to a girls' night in with cosmopolitans when he spoke to me this morning."

I was fixated on him.

I wanted to kill Mic.

I muttered, "Mitch."

He softly answered, "Honey, I said no."

I experienced both relief and loss, the first more so than the latter, but I still felt loss mostly due to his attractiveness, his gentleness, and the fact that I adored his eyes.

He drew nearer, and I stood my ground as his deep eyes—which I loved—met mine.

"Every instinct I have is telling me to step in and protect you from everything that's happening with your sister as well as from two men I'm not sure are healthy for you," he said.

I bit my lips and sucked them in.

"I'm sensing that you need room to accomplish whatever you're going to do," he continued.

I drew back my lips and nodded.

"That being said, I'd be a fool if I didn't let you know where I stood."

Uh-oh.

"If I were a different kind of man, as they are, I wouldn't think twice about entering and confusing you with my play."

I felt like I needed to step in at that time.

I weakly defended him, saying, "Falcone is... well, Falcone." Finn is giving me some room, too.

"You cannot be installed in his home, love."

That was somewhat of accurate.

“But –”

Magtanggol declared emphatically, "He's making his play."

He would know since he was a male, but I obviously wasn't, so I said, "Uh... alright." But I'm currently at home.

Magtanggol nodded, "Yeah." You live in a house where you'll be reminded of Finn's play each time you go up your walk or into your living room.

Hmm. It was accurate. I had not considered that.

However, Finn did a wonderful thing.

"Mitch -"

He interrupted me. "Keep in mind what I told you, Giabella. Be joyful, I'll say, and keep your head up and your eyes open. I'll sum up by saying that if you want to give me a chance to make you happy, phone me because I'm willing to take that chance."

Wow.

I said, "Please don't kiss me," as his hand moved to cup my jaw after I said, "Mitch. I enjoy kissing, so if you can give me a decent kiss, I'll be confused. The truth. And, by God, I don't need it at the moment."

I braced myself as his head dropped in my face, but his face halted an inch away.

"I won't kiss you, okay, honey, but just so you know, I haven't had any complaints."

He hadn't, I wager.

I said, "Great.  I'm intrigued now,"

His thumb stroked across my cheek as he smirked. "If you ever want to ease that curiosity, come see me. Yeah? ”

I cautioned, "You're messing with my brain."

His grin widened, and I could see he was aware of it as well as his intention to do so, so I realized the entire spiel about not getting my thoughts mixed up was a huge, tired act.

I said, "You look soulful, but you're actually dangerous. "

“A man can be both,” he replied, his fingers slid back into my hair, he tipped my head down, kissed my hair at the top, let me go and, when I looked up at him, he winked at me and walked away.

I watched him drive away and then I wondered about the angles of Falcone’s cameras and then I worried that he’d seen that or it would be reported and then I got in my car and checked my phone.

Nothing.

Then I drove to the grocery store and, considering my recent past, I did this vigilant so it wasn’t lost on me that the minute I pulled my Hyundai away from the curb, a shiny, black SUV pulled out with me and followed me to the store and in the driver’s seat was Mo.

Shit. Even if the cameras hadn’t seen me, Mo had and Falcone would get a report.

Shit!

Well, the silver lining was, Falcone had sent Mo to have my back which didn’t exactly equal good-bye forever and ever you thoughtless, selfish cow.

But it didn’t say I forgive you either.