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“I have to be. Everything is…” I trail off as the memories of last night come back to me and clench my jaw. “Fuck. I wish I’d never met Ocean. I had a fucking plan, Dante. She is ruining everything. I should have left her alone. Never touched her.” I know I don’t mean what I am saying. I’m just frustrated with all that has happened in the last twenty-four hours.
“You don’t mean that,” Dante calls me on my shit.
I shake my head. “If Leo had never…” I can’t even finish the sentence because had Leo never taken a chance on Ocean, we would never have met. And I never want to imagine a life where she doesn’t exist. I eye my friend, my face serious. “It’s fuckedman. But I have a duty. The family above all else. You took the same damn oath.”
His jaw clenches as do his fists. “I would give it all up forher.”He doesn’t have to say the name of the ‘her’ he is talking about because I know full well that he means my sister. “Look where being loyal has gotten us. I can’t even be with the woman I love.” My brows shoot up at his admission and he shakes his head. “And you? Well, you know what is expected of you, Nic.”
“You love Allegra?” I ask, slightly shocked. I knew he had feelings for her. But love?
He huffs a humorless laugh, running a hand over his face. “More than anything. And your fucking papà is selling her off to the highest bidder. I will kill Romano before she ever becomes his wife.” He vows and I believe him. He would. Not only did my life come crumbling down last night but so did Dante’s. He finally found out about the arrangement my father has made for my sister.
I nod. “Agreed. The marriage to Romano will not happen.”
Dante eyes me. “And what about you?”
“I will do what’s expected of me. That doesn’t mean I will let Ocean go. I can’t. I just need to make sure she stays in the dark abouteverything.”
Chapter 34
Ocean
There is an ominous feeling in the air.
Like something big is about to happen. I just don’t know what.
Maybe it’s because of the way it started?
I told Nico that I loved him.
He didn’t return the sentiment.
Stupid, naïve me, I thought he might feel the same.
But how could he? He is rich, successful, powerful and I’m just… me. Running from something, I can’t ever tell Nico about and just trying to survive day to day.
I groan in embarrassment. I’m still that same little girl from years ago, begging for attention and wanting to be seen, and loved, but instead of craving it from my parents, I want it from Nico. I shake my head. Why the hell did I say those three little words?
Yes, I meant them. I do love Nico. But I was so caught up in my post-orgasmic bliss, that it made me say things that I would have usually kept to myself.
I slap a palm to my forehead, whispering under my breath. “I’m such an idiot.”
“Everything okay?” Macy’s soft voice has my head snapping up. She smiles and I return it. Though I try to keep to myself, Macy has become a mother figure of sorts. She is always watching out for me.
“Yeah. I’m just being stupid.”
She eyes me. “I know that I’ve said it before, but if you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
My chest tightens and I shoot her a grateful look “Thanks Macy. You’ve been a great boss. From the moment that I stepped foot in here you have looked after me.”
She chuckles. “And you’ve been the perfect employee.” Her face turns serious. “Now, I mean it. You need anything you know where my office is.”
“Thank you,” I say around the lump in my throat. Macy doesn’t have to be nice to me. In fact, she should hate me for all the special treatment I get because of mysituationshipwith Nico but, ever the nice person she is, she doesn’t penalize me for it. She nods before sashaying away and back down the hall that leads to her office.
Blowing out a breath, I focus on the laptop in front of me and the clients that we are expecting. The next booking is not due in for another forty minutes which gives me time to go grab a sandwich from the deli across the street. I’m just about to step away from the front desk to tell Macy my plan when the door dings, announcing someone’s arrival.
Glancing up with a smile, I say. “Welcome to–” I trail off, swallowing as I spot the threatening presence entering with a sardonic smile on his face. He is surrounded by two other men, and I know that whoever this man is, he is not someone to be messed with. Clearing my throat, I plaster on a fake smile. “Welcome toBellissima. How can we help you today?”
He grins, taking a step toward me. “You must be the lovely Ocean.” It’s not a question but a statement. By the devilish gleamin his eyes and the way they rake over my body, he knows exactly who I am.
