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“What’s going to go wrong? Is he in trouble?” I start to panic. Neo is right. I’m being childish. I shouldn’t ever reject Theo’s calls. I pull the phone out of his hand and unmute it. “I want the cameras removed.”
“And I want you to go back into that bedroom and put something more appropriate on—something that actually covers your ass cheeks, Holly,” he growls.
I roll my eyes, running my palms down the back of my shorts. “My ass is covered just fine. I’m sorry for hanging up on you, but you pissed me off. Now, if you don’t need anything, I’m going shopping with my sister.”
“I love you, Holly. I want you to be safe and happy.Always. I need to know that you’ll be okay… always,” he says quietly.
“There is no way I will ever be okay without you. I’m not making you promises I can’t keep. I love you too, by the way. Even if I am really bloody mad at you right now.”
“Okay, go enjoy the day with your sister,afteryou change your outfit,” he adds.
“Bye, T.” I hang up and hand the phone back to Neo, who is staring at me, wide-mouthed.
“What?” I ask, feeling a sense of self-consciousness creep in.
“You just hung up on him,” he states.
“It wasn’t the first time, and it probably won’t be the last. Reilly is expecting me. I really do need to go.”
“Okay, let’s go.” Neo holds his arm out for me to walk past.
“It’s Sydney, Neo. Nothing is going to happen to me here. I don’t need you following me around all day.”
He ignores me and calls out through the house. “Sonnie, you’re with us.”
And the next thing I know, I’m in the back of a black SUV with Neo in the passenger seat and Sonnie at the wheel. “Where to, Mrs. Valentino?” Sonnie asks.
“It’s Holly, Sonnie. Call me Holly. We’re going to Reilly’s first. I’m sure the all-knowing man beside you can tell you where she lives.” I smirk. But the smile dies on my face when Neo does in fact punch Reilly’s address into the navigation system.
* * *
“I can’t wait to see Zac flip his lid,” Reilly says as the car pulls to a stop at the curb of Alyssa and Zac’s building.
She goes to open the door. “Don’t. You need to wait for one of us to make sure everything is clear first,” Sonnie says, pressing the lock function.
“Ah, no, I don’t. Open the fucking door, you buffoon!” Reilly yells.
“Rye, it’s okay. Just let Neo get the door.” I’ve gotten used to this routine, although I have no idea what kind of danger they think we could possibly be in here.
“You’re always too agreeable, Holly,” she groans.
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t very agreeable when I hung up on my husband this morning. Oh, he also demanded that I change out of these shorts before I left the house.” I smirk, knowing that’s one way to get my sister’s feathers ruffled.
“Hewhat? How did he even know what you were wearing?” she asks, confused.
“Cameras. They’re freaking everywhere in that house.”
“You can always come and stay with me,” she offers sincerely, with worry etched on her face.
“No, she can’t,” Sonnie replies. “The compound is the most secure place for Mrs. Valentino.”
Reilly looks at me, slack-jawed. “Is this guy for real?” she questions.
“Yep.” I pop the P right as Neo opens the door.
“Great, finally. What took so long? Couldn’t quite figure out how doors work?” Reilly glares at him.
“You know, most people wouldn’t dare speak to me like that. I’d have their tongues removed before they even finished their sentence,” Neo states calmly.
