Page 66 of Mafioso's Muse

He hated that he was having this conversation so early in their relationship. ‘There’s a possible threat.’

She blinked, visibly confused. ‘What do you mean? What threat?’

He would tell her only what he could. ‘We’re in the middle of a business dispute right now, and it seems the other party knows about you.’

Her blank expression spoke volumes. ‘So?’

‘They know you’re involved withme.’

She still looked confused.

Her naivety terrified him. She really had come into the relationship blind. ‘So that makes you a target.’

A nervous laugh came from her. ‘That’s ridiculous. I’ve got nothing to do with your business. Surely they know that.’

‘They don’t care. They use people like you to get at people like me.’

There was a beat of silence. ‘Okay.’

‘I need to take you somewhere safe,’ he told her. ‘Until we get this sorted.’

She pulled her hand from his. ‘I can’t just leave when you tell me to. I have a job too.’

The last thing he wanted was to impact her career in any negative way, but he was struggling to see past his concern. ‘Okay. I’ll stay here until you finish.’

Her eyebrows rose. ‘You’re going to stay here all day?’

‘Yes.’

‘What about your own work?’

He wet his lips. ‘It can wait. When you’re done for the day, you’ll leave with me.’

There was uncertainty in her eyes, but she nodded. ‘All right.’

Harrison opened the door and looked between them, nostrils flaring.

‘Sorry,’ Willow said as she slipped past him and returned inside.

Harrison remained there for a moment, his heated stare on Vaughn. ‘Don’t come inside my studio again. Understand?’

Vaughn slid his hands into his pockets, saying nothing. When Antonio began walking in their direction, Harrison looked at him pointedly, then closed the door.

‘He really doesn’t like you,’ Antonio said.

Vaughn turned to his brother. ‘Find Nigel, would you? Make sure he understands that I’ll be wherever Willow is today—and I won’t be taking questions.’

Nodding, Antonio headed off down the hallway.

Ignoring Harrison’s earlier comment, Vaughn quietly slipped back into the studio, remaining by the door so as not to disturb the dancers.

‘What did I just tell you?’ Harrison said the moment he noticed him there.

Vaughn leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. ‘You won’t even know I’m here.’

If looks could kill, he might have collapsed to the ground that very moment. Harrison turned his attention back to the dancers, his mouth locked in a thin, angry line.

Vaughn glanced at Willow, who avoided all eye contact with him, which was fair enough.