Page 83 of The Price of Power

“Not exactly,” I said. “I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than that.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but the second the words were out of my mouth the whole mood on the pier grew even more intense.

I felt the sting of a dozen pairs of eyes zeroing in on me and piercing me with their stare.

Caught between the feds, the mob, and my faithless brother, I did my best to hold my head high.

“Come on, Liv,” Theo pleaded from a few feet away. “Back me up here. Tell Agent Thompson what you’ve been dealing with the last few months, and this will be over. We can both go home, and things can go back to normal.”

Normal.

I knew what Theo meant when he said the word.

He wanted to say sorry the whole flight home and then slowly forget all about it the second the wheels were on the ground. He wanted to go back to using the family business as his piggy bank. Our parents there to catch his fall in Chicago and me back in Milwaukee, where I was easy to find when the real consequences came calling.

That was Theo’s normal.

And a few months ago, it had been mine, too.

But not anymore.

I turned my head and looked over at Gabriel. Unlike my brother, he was standing tall. Even with the threat of a lifetime in prison hanging over his head, there was no desperation in his eyes as he met my gaze.

And even more remarkably, no threat either.

While I could feel the tension radiating off his men, Gabriel’s energy was completely different. There was understanding in those gorgeous, dark eyes. I could practically hear his voice in my head as a trace of a smile lifted his lips.

It’s okay, dolcezza. Do whatever you think is right.

So, I did.

Turning back to Agent Thompson, I said, “It sounds like we need to clear up a few misunderstandings.”

“Is that right?” The agent lifted his chin. “Well, why don’t you come with us back to the office? We can have a nice long conversation there.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “We can talk right here. This won’t take much time.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Positive. Because unfortunately, Agent Thompson, my brother has been lying to you.”

“What?” Theo’s howl echoed off the brick and steel buildings at our backs. “Liv, what are you doing?”

“Making things right.” I went over and took Gabriel’s hand in front of everyone. “As you can see, Agent Thompson, no one kidnapped me. I’m with Gabriel D’Angelo of my own free will.”

The agent’s composure finally cracked, and he pulled off his glasses. “You’re saying you two are a couple?”

“Exactly,” I told him. “Ask around. We’ve been going out every night for the last month. Honestly, I’m surprised you don’t already know this, given the way the Bureau likes to stalk him.”

“So why did your brother tell us you were in danger?”

“Because he hates that I’ve fallen in love with someone he considers dangerous,” I said. It wasn’t a complete lie. Large parts of that statement were true.

“Mr. D’Angelo is dangerous,” Agent Thompson said.

But I just shook my head.

“You sound just like my family,” I said. “They couldn’t stand the fact that I decided to move in with him so quickly, especially Theo. He’s always been an overly protective older brother. When he couldn’t convince me to come home of my own free will, he started making up stories to force me, saying I was kidnapped and held hostage. I never expected him to go so far as to involve the FBI, though.”