Carmine quietly waited for her answer, as though asking a question whose answer he already knew, but he wanted to hear her say it herself, to see whether she would change her mind.
Ririko's mind raced.
She understood men all too well. He wouldn't kill her lightly now, because he hadn't had her yet.
All that remained was figuring out how to escape her current predicament.
She lightly bit her lower lip, her voice trembling just a little, as though she had finally cracked under the immense pressure.
"I'm just Sofia's assistant... just a woman with no power or influence. I'm scared right now. That's why I wanted to leave."
As she spoke, she wiped nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes.
Carmine hadn't expected her reason for leaving to be so simple.
She was simply afraid of him, afraid of getting caught in the Mob's maelstrom. Her pitiful, vulnerable appearance struck straight at the Mob godfather's protective instincts.
He spread his arms and pulled her into his embrace.
He wore a silk shirt and smelled of cigars and cologne. His body heat seeped through the thin silk onto her skin.
"Did I frighten you?"
Ririko buried her face in his chest and nodded.
Carmine lowered his head to look at Ririko in his arms, his fingers gently threading through her hair.
"Stay here at the estate. I'll make you very happy."
Ririko nodded again.
Carmine took her hand and led her to the stables, where he brought out an old black horse whose mane had begun to turn gray.
Carmine reached out to stroke the horse, as though greeting an old friend.
He helped Ririko onto the horse and settled her in front of him, holding the reins in both hands.
Her back rested against his chest, her