Page 3 of Daddy's Mad Love

“Who is that?” I asked, keeping my voice as low as I could and nodding my head toward the man in the suit. His back was to us, and it looked as though he was receiving some kind of tour from the chief near the interrogation rooms.

Turning toward me, Bruce leaned against the desk behind him, crossing his arms over his chest, his easy-going smile still on his lips. His expression helped me relax. My instincts must be off or paranoid.

“One of our big donors, at least the son of, very rich. Why? Are you looking for a date tonight?” The question was asked with all the cocksure attitude of a man who wasn’t worried about the competition, which was part of why I was attracted to him.

Initially, I’d wanted a man completely different from the ones I’d grown up around, but I’d had to accept I was attracted to confident, self-assured men, so I reassessed my thinking. Still, Bruce was a good guy. Honorable. A protector. Sure, there were cases he hadn’t been able to help me with because his hands were tied by the law—many of which were extremely unfair to the women and children who needed my help—but he tried and often succeeded. Despite his confidence, he was nothing like the men I’d grown up with.

“Not with him.” I laughed, my arms relaxing around the folders. Bruce’s easy charm was a balm to my anxiety, soothing the paranoia I’d lived with for so long. I felt safe with him, and for me, that was really saying something.

“What about with me?”

The butterflies were back, warmth rushing through me. Finally! A blush rose up my cheeks, but before I could answer, the chief interrupted us.

“Ah, Officer Ward, Miss McQueen. Have you met Mr. DiNardo?” Chief Barnes’ voice was as cheerful as ever, but the question sent a wave of cold fear blasting through me, eradicating the butterflies in my stomach and turning them into ice. All the soothing warmth from Bruce’s flirting vanished.

“It’s an honor,” Bruce said immediately, straightening and holding out his hand. “Officer Bruce Ward, Mr. DiNardo, a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for the contributions your family has made to the department.”

The word ‘Family’ hit me like a punch to the gut.

DiNardo.

The name didn’t have to mean anything. It was a common enough Italian name, but deep in my gut, I knew that wasn’t the case. I couldn’t flee. If I did, I’d make him curious, and if he found out who I really was… All the warnings about danger my grandfather had hammered into me after my parents’ deaths rushed through my head.

I’d changed my name and hadn’t been in touch with my family in years. As long as I acted normally, Mr. DiNardo would never know I was connected to the mafia in any way. I was just one woman, no real threat.

“Miss McQueen.” Mr. DiNardo held out his hand, his gaze piercing mine as if he could see all the secrets of my past in my eyes.

Gulping, I put my hand in his, trying not to tremble. His fingers were warm, his grip strong.

“Mr. DiNardo, thank you for your contributions,” I parroted Bruce’s words, unable to come up with my own. Not with Mr. DiNardo looking at me like that.

“Please, call me Jack.” He didn’t let go of my hand, and I felt Bruce stiffen beside me, but he didn’t say anything. The very Americanized name made me relax.

“Jack?” I didn’t mean to ask the question or even say his name; it just came out. Some part of me needed to know if his last name was a coincidence or if…

“Giacomo, but I prefer Jack. For now.”

Run!

“I see.” I choked out the words because a response seemed somewhat necessary.

“You’re a social worker?” His thumb swept against the side of my hand, reminding me he hadn’t let go of it. When I tried to tug my fingers away, he tightened his grip, and a sweat broke out on my forehead. Bruce stirred again but said nothing. Chief Barnes stood, quietly smiling, as though nothing odd was happening at all.

“Yes.” My voice was tight, strained.

Somehow, he knew. He knew who I really was. Why else would he be showing me marked attention?

Was I in danger? Should I run? No, I was in a police station. I was safe. I should be safe, but he was a large donor. Chief Barnes, Bruce, neither of them was doing anything about the son of the DiNardo’s Don walking around their station. Bruce, who was confident and had just asked me to dinner, wasn’t stepping in, even though DiNardo hadn’t let go of my hand.

None of this made sense, and I didn’t know what to think. All I could do was stand there, my hand in Jack DiNardo’s, wait for the hammer to fall, and hope Bruce would protect me when it did.

My grandfather’s voice whispered through my mind again.

You know nothing of the real world, Hailey. The police are my pawns. There are no good people.

Jack

Such a pretty little wide-eyed bird, frantically trying to plan her escape. I could see it in her eyes. She knew who I was, and she was frightened. I could have reassured her I meant her no harm, but I doubted she would believe me. She also likely wouldn’t agree with my definition of ‘harm.’ Because what I was going to do would hurt more than her pride, but she would be better off in the long run.