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She’s so… unique. And I feel like I’m way out of my depth here.
***
Fifteen minutes later, Lana walks into my penthouse. She’s not alone though…
“What’d you bring him for?” I ask, nodding my head towards Neo.
“So someone could stop your crazy ass—you know, if my untimely death is your solution to this fucked-up marriage,” Lana replies.
Holly, who is sitting next to me, stiffens and tries to shift farther away. I take hold of her hand to keep her where she should be—right fucking next to me.
“I’m honored you think I could stop him if he wanted you dead.” Neo laughs before taking a seat on the sofa opposite us. “Hi, I’m Neo, and you are absolutely fucking stunning, obviously.” He reaches out a hand to Holly.
She tentatively returns the gesture. “I’m Holly. Nice to meet you.” I snatch her arm back before Neo can grab hold of her open palm.
“You, I wouldn’t think twice about shooting,” I warn my cousin, who just laughs in response.
“Well, Holly, it seems you have our boy all twisted up here. What’s going on?” Neo directs his question to me.
“I need Lana to explain to Holly that there is no way in hell we’re actually getting married.”
“Oh, don’t worry, babe, I’d slit my own wrists before I’d allow myself to be any part of that hellish union. Trust me when I say: I have absolutely no intention of marrying him, now or ever.” Lana visibly shudders as she sits next to Neo.
“I don’t understand… Why are you engaged if neither of you intend on getting married?”
“It’s a family thing. An arranged marriage, organized by our idiot fathers,” Lana answers.
“Well, can’t you just tell them no?” Neo and Lana chuckle at Holly’s question. She doesn’t understand how our world works.
“Nobody tells the bossno,” Neo says. Fuck, I don’t want to have to explain the whole mafia thing to Holly right now… on top of this marriage bullshit.
“Ah, it’s a little more complicated than that. I’m working on a way out. I just need you to give me some time.”
“Okay.”
“Okay? You’ll give me time to fix this.”
Holly stands. “Take all the time you need, Theo. While you’re doing that, I’ll be living mynewlife in mynewapartment. Who knows? I might even run into some dashing young stranger—who’s not already engaged to someone else.” My blood boils at her words. Like fuck is she going to date some other guy. “It was nice meeting you both. I’m sorry if I seem rude or whatever, but I really do need to get home.”
“Wait.” Shit, I can’t let her leave. I can’t. I jump to my feet and take her hand, dragging her down the hallway to my bedroom before slamming the door shut behind us. “Don’t go. Please, just stay.” I press my body against hers, leaning into the wall.
“Theo, I need space. I need to go home.” Her hands land on my chest, pushing slightly.
“Okay, I’ll let you go home. But, Holly, Ineedyou to know that you’re mine. There will be no other man.”
“That’s what you’re worried about? Theo, you have a fucking fiancée.”
“Not in the typical sense. I’ve never so much as touched Lana, and I don’t ever intend to.”
“Why not? She’s beautiful.”
“She’s like a fucking sister. I’ve known her since we were toddlers. It’s not happening. You and me, that’s what’s happening.”
“I need to go home,” she repeats.
I take a breath in. Against all my instincts, I know I have to let her leave. I can’t start our life together by locking her in my penthouse as a prisoner. “Let me get Loui to bring the car around. I’ll drop you off.”
“No need. I’ll get an Uber.”
