I don’t look at him. “We’re already here. Stop.”
“We can't afford for anything to go wrong, Nico,” he mutters. “We’re too close to breaking the alliance. Don’t ruin it over her.”
“I won’t,” I reply coldly. “Now go find someone else to whine at.”
He sighs but walks off. Nikolai returns but I don’t follow the conversation. My eyes are fixed on Eleonora as she disappears into the powder room.
I can’t stay away. I excuse myself and signal my men to stay back and head after her. The moment I reach the door, I stop short when I hear her voice.
She’s talking to someone.
I press my ear to the door, listening. It’s her sister. Camilla.
Not only is she talking to her, she’s telling her everything. What the fuck is she doing?
She promised me she wouldn’t make contact. Barely one hour in, and she’s already broken it.
Fury surges through me… but it’s tangled with something warmer. I heard what she said about me. The way she told her sister I wasn’t hurting her. That she didn't want to ruin my plans.
She defended me.
I step back into the shadows just as Camilla exits the powder room, wiping her eyes quickly. She doesn’t see me.
I wait a few seconds, then push the door open and step inside.
Eleonora is standing there, mask still on, visibly shaken. She spins around when she hears me.
“I was just finishing up,” she says quickly. “Don’t tell me you got worried I’d make a run for it.”
“Nah, I’m not worried about you running.”
I glance back at the door I just came through. “Wasn’t that your sister who just left?”
Her eyes widen with shock. Her mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
She tries again. “Nico…”
“Don’t,” I say coldly. “Don’t lie to me. That was stupid, Eleonora. Really fucking stupid. What did you think you were doing?”
She swallows hard, panic flashing across her face. “It was just us. Camilla won’t say anything. I swear.”
“You promised you weren’t going to make contact,” I say, stepping closer. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
Her back hits the marble countertop as I crowd her. Her breathing quickens, chest rising and falling rapidly.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I just… I had to speak to her. I needed to know she was okay. I couldn’t help it.”
I lean in, bracing one hand on the counter beside her hip, caging her in. “You promised me you wouldn’t talk to her. You looked me in the eye and lied.”
“I’m sorry,” she repeats, softer this time. “She won't say anything, I promise.”
“You sure about that? Because she could be talking to your father right now and telling him I don't have Sienna and that you're here.”
She shakes her head frantically. “Camilla wouldn't do that, she knows it will put Sienna at risk. I know I broke my promise to you, I just couldn't stay away. I needed to make sure she's okay. She's not going to tell anyone. I'm so sorry.”
I tilt my head, studying her. “You lied to me Eleonora, and liars get punished.”
Her breath catches. “Are you… going to punish me?”
