“But why are they tracking me? Why Lily?”

“Moretti doesn’t care about innocent bystanders,” Dante said.

“He wants James, and James has gone into hiding.”

“Moretti’s people are looking for anyone connected to him to use as leverage to pull him out.”

“They think he’ll come back for us,” I whispered, the room spinning slightly.

“They think he cares enough to save you,” Dante said, his mouth tightening into a hard, cynical line.

“But we both know he doesn’t.”

“Then why protect me?” I asked, looking up into his dark, unreadable eyes.

“Because I don’t let Moretti take what is in my territory,” he said.

He reached out, his thumb lightly brushing a stray tear from my cheek.

“And because you don’t deserve to pay for his cowardice, Sophia.”

His fingers lingered on my face for a moment before he pulled his hand back.

“You can’t go back to your apartment,” he said.

“It is not safe for you or the child.”

“My daughter is at Mrs. Patel’s,” I said, panic rising in my chest.

“She’s already safe,” Dante said.