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I’ve bared more of myself in these last fifteen minutes than I have in a long time—maybe ever. It feels uncomfortable, and I straighten up stiffly in my chair, my voice cooling and turning more formal as I continue.
“Yes. That’s what I hope. But to make this work, I need something from you, Sofia.”
She blinks at me. “From me?”
“Yes. If Viktor catches wind that Franco and I are away—and I can hardly keep him from finding out if he’s intent on it—then he’ll likely see it as an opportune time to strike. If I’m trying to protect both you and Caterina separately, it spreads the resources thinner. So what I want is for Caterina to stay here while we’re gone. And I need you to not fight me on this. I need you to be a gracious host and have her here for the weekend, and I’ll double the security here. I’m also going to have a personal bodyguard here for each of you.”
“Oh.” Sofia laughs suddenly, and it strikes me how rarely I’ve heard that sound from her. “That’s all. Of course, Luca. You do realize Caterina and I are—well, we’re basically friends at this point. I’ll make it into a bachelorette party for her. It won’t be as exciting as we would do if we could go out, but I’ll do my best.”
The ease of it catches me off guard. “You don’t want anything in return?”
Sofia hesitates. “Well—”
Of course.“What? What can I do that you don’t already have?”
Sofia stiffens, and I can tell that I’ve hit a nerve. “I was just going to ask if Ana can come, too. It’s not a party if there are only two people,” she adds hurriedly. “I can’t see how it would hurt anything to have her here.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say no. Although she’s proved herself to be a good friend so far, I don't entirely trust Anastasia. And I can’t help but think that it’s almost a taunt in Viktor’s direction to have Sofia’s Russian friend here.
Thinking of it like that, though, makes me want to agree. And Sofia’s right that it probably won’t hurt. As far as I know, no one is after Anastasia. And I don’t think she has any real value to Viktor, beyond the ordinary value of a beautiful girl to him.
“Fine,” I concede. “Anastasia can stay as well.”
Sofia’s eyes widen. “I didn’t expect you to say yes! Thank you, Luca.”
I can hear the sincerity in her voice, and it warms me a little. I’m hesitant to trust the thaw between us, though.
“Is there anything else?”
“No,” she says quickly. “Of course not. I’m just happy to see Ana again. I haven’t seen her since the wedding—I don’t even know if she knows I’m okay.”
“Of course she does. I reached out and let her know you were safe.” I look at Sofia quizzically. “You don’t think I would really have let your friend wonder if you were alive or dead?”
“I—”
“I can be cold, Sofia, but I’m not a monster.” I let out a long sigh, rubbing a hand across my forehead. “And I know there’s something else you want. So just tell me.”
She’s quiet for a long moment, and I’m not entirely sure that she’s actually going to tell me. I’m on the verge of letting it go and just returning to our food when she finally looks up and blurts out:
“I want to go back to sleeping in my own room.”
The immediacy with which I want to say no startles me. Not because I want to refuse—but because my first unconscious thought is that the bed would feel empty without her.
When did I get used to having someone next to me?
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea—”
“It’s been a week, Luca. Nothing has happened. You’re doubling the security and giving us personal guards. You just said that yourself. Do you really think that me sleeping in your room versus my own is going to change anything?”
“If someone comes after you, I’ll be there.”
“How would they even get in? I can’t getout; there’s so much security.” She looks at me, and I can see how much she wants me to agree. For once, we’re having a normal argument, not a blistering fight. Though my instinct is to tell her no, of course not, she’ll continue to do as I’ve said and stay where I’ve told her to. I know that there’s no real reason beyond my own stubbornness.
And the fact that apparently, I like having her in my bed even if it’s only to sleep.
I don’t want to relent. But I find myself nodding anyway. “Alright. But if there’s the slightest hint of danger, we’ll return to the arrangement we have now.”
A smile spreads across Sofia’s face, and I don’t think she could look any happier if I’d told her she could move out entirely. She looks thrilled. And of course, if she’s happy, that’s one less burden for me to deal with.
So why does the thought of spending tonight without her sleeping next to me make me feel as if I’ve lost something?
