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After the call was disconnected, I continued to watch them on my screen. The light was gone from Nova’s eyes now, her smile forced and not coming close to reaching her eyes when Brent spoke animatedly, his grin so big, it was a wonder his face didn’t split. The phone on my desk rang, but I ignored it, not wanting to be distracted for even a minute in case the bastard tried to touch my angel.
No sooner had the phone shut up than my office door opened, Eduard sticking his head inside. My gaze flickered to him impatiently. “What?”
“Miss Ciana to see you, sir,” he replied without so much as a flinch in the wake of my cold reception.
I returned my eyes to my phone. “Send her in.”
In the two seconds I’d looked away from the screen, Nova had scooted her chair a few inches away from Brent’s. The distance wasn’t something that would have been noticeable to anyone who wasn’t paying as close attention as I was, but seeing it eased my tension ever so slightly. She was pointing to something on the notebook page, her mouth moving slowly, as if she were explaining a concept to someone who struggled to understand simple English.
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh at the annoyance that filled her green eyes when the guy said something. I could tell she was fighting hard to stay patient, and she started to explain again.
“I take the afternoon off to spend with my favorite cousin, and you’re too entertained by some movie on your phone to even give me a hug?” Ciana dropped down into one of the two chairs in front of my desk, huffing dramatically.
“I’m debating if this fucker should live or not,” I told her honestly, barely looking at her out of the side of my eyes.
She jumped up and came around the desk to watch the live feed over my shoulder. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “When did you plant cameras on Nova? Does she know?”
“Recently,” I told her honestly. “And, no. So, keep your mouth shut.”
She huffed again but nudged me aside so she could sit on the arm of my chair while she continued to watch with me. “This loser is boring,” she said with a yawn after several minutes passed. “And obviously dumber than a rock. Can we go to lunch already? Eduard said you haven’t eaten yet. Which is bad, Ryan. Here it is after two in the afternoon, and you probably didn’t even have a good breakfast. I’m starving, and I did have a nice healthy breakfast with our moms this morning. Come on. I promise not to complain while you virtually stalk Nova.”
The bell must have rung, ending the lunch period. The library suddenly had other teenagers walking hurriedly through it to reach their classes, and Nova was packing up her things. Her lips moved as she spoke to Brent, but her gaze was on her phone as she typed rapidly. Without sparing him another glance, she waved over her shoulder as she walked toward her next class.
My phone dinged with a text just as I lost sight of her.
My Heart: I miss you so much.
Tracing the words with my thumb, I stood and finally gave Ciana a full look. Dressed in baby-blue scrubs with little kittens on them, her hair pulled up in a tight ponytail on top of her head, and minimal makeup, she looked adorable. “Where would you like to eat?”
Her brown eyes, the same shade as my own, brightened. “I don’t care,” she said as she linked her arm through mine. “I just want to spend a little time with you.”
“Give me two seconds, and I’ll give you my undivided attention,” I promised. I shot Nova a reply, telling her I missed her more, and then pocketed my phone. “How about that deli on the corner?”
“Oh yes, please. I like their salads.” As we passed Eduard, she gave him a little wave. Pietro was waiting by the elevator, along with Ciana’s own guard. “So…I was wondering…”
I groaned as we stepped into the elevator with the two other men. “I should have known you wanted something.”
She slapped me across the chest with her free hand. “No, I really do want to spend some time with you. But you’re right. I do want something.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I’m so tired, Ryan. With work and everything else that’s been going on.” Her shoulders dropped slightly, and I took a closer look at her. She had dark circles under her eyes that not even her makeup skills could fully hide. “I just want a vacation. Somewhere with warm beaches and lots of sun. I’ll take as many guards as Papa says I have to, and I promise not to sneak away from them. I will be on my best behavior. I just want some peace and quiet. Away from the city and work…and being me.”
I considered it as the elevator descended, bypassing every other floor along the way. If she was promising not to evade her security, then I knew she was serious. Ciana didn’t make promises she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—keep. Plus, her disappearing for a week or so could be a good thing. If someone within the O’Brion or O’Farrell families was trying to get to her, then they would be pissed if she was nowhere to be found, even for a short period of time.
The elevator doors opened, and Pietro stepped off, his eyes scanning the lobby before he nodded for us to step out, Ciana’s guard following.
“Okay,” I told her as we left the building. “I will discuss it with Zio and let him know I think it is a good idea.”
“Really?” She gave a happy squeal and started bouncing up and down when I nodded. “Thank you, Ryan!” she cried excitedly, kissing my cheek. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Laughing, I guided her out of the path of a small group and toward the deli. “Don’t get so carried away. Just because I talk to him doesn’t mean he will agree.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, puh-lease. You’re going to be the head of the family all too soon. If you tell Papa you give your permission for anything, then he will definitely take that into consideration and be more likely to agree. A simple yes or no from you goes a long way, Ryan.”
“Where do you want to g
o for this beach and sun-filled vacation?” I asked as we entered the deli.
