Cami made her excuses and slipped into a cubicle to give us some privacy.
“Ari! You're here! What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” I scoffed, throwing my hands out to the sides. “I saw you. With Callum. Did you come here with him?”
She frowned. “Not exactly. He invited me as his plus-one at the last minute, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to get on the guest list for an event like this. I’ve already taken selfies with two senators, and my followers are going crazy. Wait... are you angry with me? Is this like a girl code thing? You said you never had any interest in Callum, and from the last few texts you sent me, you seemed to be giving things a go with your marriage, so I didn’t think it would be such a big deal to come along.”
“I am happily married, and I don’t like Callum,” I snapped, pacing a few steps. “That’s not what this is about. I need you to stay away from him, Ally. For your own good. Okay?”
“Why?” She folded her arms across her chest with a quizzical expression.
“He’s not a decent guy,” I said sharply, which caused her frown to deepen. “At least, we’re pretty sure he’s not. He could be dangerous, Ally.”
She tilted her head with a small smirk. “Like your husband is dangerous, you mean?”
“Maybe, but a different kind of dangerous.” I shook my head. “I don’t know. But please, just promise me you won’t let him manipulate you. I don’t trust his intentions.”
She stared at me, twisting her lips as I begged her with my eyes. “Fine. I’m not interested in him like that, anyway. If you want me to stay away, I will.”
I exhaled and grasped her shoulders. “Thank you!”
I pulled her into a hug because it felt like ages since I’d last seen her.
“I really only wanted to come and see you,” she chuckled. “Now tell me all the juicy details about being married to the sexiest man in Rome!”
“Well–”
The loudest boom thundered through the air, making us both scream. The mirrors rattled against the wall, and the ground vibrated like a small earthquake.
“What the fuck was that?” Ally gasped just as Max and Big-T threw themselves through the door. Cami quickly opened the cubicle, and Max grabbed her face to check she was unharmed, while Big-T gripped my arm and yanked me behind him.
“Are you okay,Signora?”
“Si.What was that? What happened?”
“It sounded like an explosion went off on the rooftop,” Max said, wrapping his arms around Cami and holding her close.
“What?” I gasped and immediately tried to dash past Big-T to reach the door. Santino and my father were up there. The ground swayed beneath my feet as my chest tightened and my pulse roared.
My bodyguard pulled me back, blocking my way. “I need to get you to safety,Signora. I’m under strict orders that if anything were to happen, I must take you back to the apartment.”
“No way!” I yelled, turning to Max with tears in my eyes. “Sani and my father are up there. I need to find them. I need to know they’re all right!”
“It’s too dangerous.” Max shook his head. “Our men will help them. If this was a planned attack, we need to get you two out of here right now.”
“No, not without them!” I shouted as Max nodded at Belio, who wrapped his bulky arm around my waist and literally lifted me off my feet. I kicked and tried to wriggle myself free, but the man was made of iron.
“Allegra, come with us,” Max said, grabbing her arm and hauling her out of the bathroom, too.
By the time I had been carried down the eight flights of stairs to the ground floor, emergency services were rushing in and storming towards the roof. Police sirens and ambulance alarms echoed through the air, and flashing blue lights flickered against the darkness as Belio placed me back on my feet on the crowded street. Many of the party guests were outside, and I started pushing through the crowds, calling Sani’s name, but I couldn’t find him. With my heart lodged in my throat, I was struggling to breathe. Where was he?
“Signora, the car. Let’s go,” Big-T ordered, pointing towards the black SUV full of Buccini soldiers that had just pulled up on the road. Reporters and paparazzi were already swarming, trying to get as close as possible and interviewing shaken guests in the street. I ripped my arm out of his grip and screamed no in his face. He paused, staring down at me, his nostrils flaring, torn between duty and howto stop my hysterical tantrum.
And then I saw him, stumbling out of the main entrance with his tuxedo jacket torn at the shoulder and debris in his hair.
“Sani!” I shouted, pushing people out of my way to reach him. His head snapped up when he heard my voice, and the moment our eyes locked, he was rushing towards me, reaching out.
I buried my face in his chest, wrapping my arms around his back as he held me close, nuzzling my hair. His hands wandered all over me, as if he were checking I was real. He held my face in his hands, gazing into my soul.
