“You misunderstood, little flower,” I whisper into her ear.“I trust you not to tell anyone about what you just saw.”Her eyes fly open, and time stops when our gazes collide.Her green eyes are huge as they look up at me, confusion and distrust clearly written all over her face.But there is also something else.We are lost in each other’s gaze, our faces mere inches apart.
Moments—or is it years?—later, I register a shuffle from behind her and drop my hand, taking a quick step back.For fuck’s sake, I need to get a grip.
I clear my throat and gruffly add, “We don’t want anything to happen to your family, do we?”
She frantically shakes her head and when I nod toward the door, she all but pushes Luc to the side and bolts out of the room.
We both look at the door, wondering what the fuck just happened.I turn to my underboss.“Have Teo send me all the information he can find on her.”
Chapter Three
Lily
My heart is going to leap out of my throat.I am suffocating.But I still run as fast as I can in my heels with my dress bunched up in my fists.When I barge into the ballroom, no one even looks my way as I try to recover my bearings.
Breathe… In…out…in…
I need to get out, get away.
Is he really letting me go after what I saw tonight?Or is he just toying with me, letting me believe I have a chance to get away before he descends on me and tears my throat out with his teeth… Fangs?
Okay, Lily, enough of the paranormal romance you inhale like candy.
I sweep my gaze around, trying to find Father.When I find him and Daria in conversation with another family head, I walk up to him and try to sound inconspicuous.“Father, I am feeling unwell.I will take an Uber home and rest.”
Daria sneers.“Again?How will you ever find a suitable husband if you keep running from all the biggest events?”I refrain from telling her that a husband is the last thing I need, so I shrug and fish my phone out from my purse.Somehow it is still clutched in my hand and hasn’t fallen during my flight.Daria might think that getting married and popping out kids is the ultimate goal in a woman’s life, but it is not what I have in mind for myself.
While I turn away, Chiara walks towards us and gives me a questioning look.I subtly shake my head and try to pull up the Uber app with trembling fingers.Chiara trails behind me while I all but run out of the ballroom and down the stairs.Once we are standing outside, I gulp in a lungful of fresh air, trying to gather my wits and ground myself so I don’t fall apart.
While we wait, Chiara takes my hand with concern and asks, “What happened, Lee?You look like you saw a ghost.”
A nervous laugh-sob escapes my lips.If only she knew!
I squeeze her hand.“I am just feeling unwell.Don’t worry, sis.You go enjoy yourself.”
She snorts.“If you mean me parading around and demonstrating commands like sit and jump, then yeah, I am having a marvelous time.”
She rolls her eyes.I wince.Her mother is hellbent on finding her daughter the perfect husband, and I would find the situation hilarious if Chiara wasn’t suffering so much from her scheming.
“Can I go home with you?”she whines.
“You know you can’t, sis.Your mother will make you pay.”
She sighs in defeat and returns inside with hunched shoulders as my ride pulls up.I want to call her back and take her home with me, but it would only get us both in trouble, so I leave without her.As soon as I am seated in the car, the events of the evening come crashing down on me.My hands start to shake and I can feel my heart rate pick up.
Shit, I am going into shock.
Breathe, just breathe…
After a few breaths, I am feeling better.I need to get a grip.I need to get away.Away from this life, away from this world.Away from my father’s house and the families.
I need to run.
‘Run, Lily.’I hear my mother’s voice.
‘The mafia only brings death and heartbreak.If you see them, run the other way!’
I want to, Mom.I want to, so much, but I can’t escape.Not yet.A quiet sob escapes my lips.
