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I choke on an ugly sob as tremors rock through me. I can’t compete with her. She’s beautiful with movie star good looks. She’s a former runway model, svelte perfection where I’m curvy and awkward. She likely falls in line with his every command, where I question his every motive. I can almost guarantee she doesn’t have to deal with anxiety or panic.
What could Niko ever see in me besides furthering my father and DeLuca’s acceptance and moving up the ladder? Seriously, the only thing about Katherine and I that is even remotely similar is that we are both female. That’s it. A man’s taste doesn’t alter that drastically—or at least I don’t think it does.
I wish I had never seen that damn contract. I angrily wipe the tears from my face. I’m mad, but it’s so much more than that.I’m devastated.I let myself fall for him. I’m not going to marry him. I’ll talk to my father. He won’t enforce any of this, not when I explain what has happened. I was even looking forward to being Niko’s wife, but that’s over. I don’t need him. I don’t need anyone.
I want to call Niko back and scream at him, but I heard him when Katherine first answered the phone.“Let it ring.”I can’t believe Niko would be so callous with me—not after what we shared. Pain washes through me and it feels like my heart might actually be breaking as it steals the breath from my lungs.He might as well have said to ignore me.
Jealousy rolls through me asI try to shake the image of them showering together from my mind. He’s probably taking her to dinner and then having her for dessert.That seems to be his major play, but I bet he doesn’t stop with her like he did me.Did he not want me at all? Was I just a game?
I slip deeper into self-doubt, and farther into all the what ifs bombarding my mind. I find myself picking apart every encounter. The signs are all there. He wanted the marriage because of what it does for him. It was never about being married to me for him. I’m the only one that fell into that particular black hole.Like an idiot.
I can’t stay here. My aunts and everyone are coming here today. In fact, they will be here late tonight or first thing in the morning. I don’t think I can bring myself to act okay in front of them—especially Dante. He’d love for this all to come crashing down. I have no doubt about that at all. I need to talk to my father, but not while Niko is with him. I need a break and the only one I trust to help me is Zoe.
I pick up my phone, clicking through my recent calls. I can barely see her name through my tears as I call her.Zoe.She will know what to do.She has always had my back. She will be my rock until I get past this—if I ever do. I rub my hand against my chest, there’s a physical aching over my heart that I can’t seem to get rid of. When Zoe answers I hear her hiccup. Is she crying? I try to shift my focus to my best friend, needing something else to concentrate on.
“Zoe, what’s wrong?” I ask, taking a breath as I wipe hot tears from my face. I really wish I could get them to stop. My shirt is wet, and my nose is starting to run, but I do my best to sound normal.
“I was so wrong about Callan,” she confesses, choking on a sob. “He has another woman.”
“I know how that feels,” I mutter.
“Did something happen with Niko?” Zoe asks, her voice filled with concern.
“It’s not important. I will tell you later.” And I will, I just can’t go into it right now.It’s too fresh.“My aunt and the others are coming today, and I need to get out of here. I just can’t deal with them. I was wondering if you would be willing to go to St. Augustine for a week or so. We can sunbathe our troubles away and it will keep me away from Niko until I figure things out.”
“Yes! I’m in,” Zoe says, sounding as desperate as I am to be anywhere but here. “I’ll call and make the reservations.”
It’s a place Zoe and I go to get away. It’s beautiful and completely different from Miami. It’s our secret place. My bodyguards, Niko, no one knows about it. It’s exactly what we both need.
“Don’t use our names. I plan on using cash. We won’t use cards or anything that will link back to us. I want to stay under the radar. That way Callan and Niko can’t find us.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“I just need to figure out a way to escape my security guards.”
“That won’t be easy,” Zoe sighs.
“Yeah, but Vic not being here makes it easier. The others aren’t as attentive. The night shift crew will be coming in at seven. I’m pretty sure I can slip away during the chaos.”
“I’ll go to the bank and grab some money out so I can help pay for everything. I’ll park down the block from your house around that time so you can get away quietly.”
“I’ll be there.”
I hang up with a goal in mind. It helps divert me away from the pain. I’ll pack a small bag and then I’m getting the hell out of here. If Niko thinks I’m going to wait around for him, he can think again. I’m done believing in him.
I’m done loving him…
CHAPTER27
Niko
I take the quickest shower I’ve ever taken in my life. The entire time I’m calling myself a fool a million times over. I should have just gotten dressed and made sure Katherine was nowhere near this hotel—let alone my room. There’s something going on with her. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like the feeling she’s giving me. I have made it to where I am by listening to my gut and right now, I truly don’t like what it’s saying. I need to get her out of here and wipe my hands—just like I intended when I gave her the check and said goodbye.
I’ve never known complete panic before but when I hear my cell ring, I certainly do. I’m toweling dry, but I drop it immediately and grab my slacks. My body is still wet but fuck it. I hobble, one-legged to the door and yell outside. “Let it ring, Katherine! I’m almost dressed.”
I slam the door and grab a pullover shirt. I run my fingers through my hair. It’s not like I’m concerned. I just need to get control of this situation and call Emilia. Once that’s done this bitterness in my gut will feel better.
When I walk into the main room, Katherine is standing there nursing her drink. My gaze moves to where I left my phone earlier and it doesn’t look like it has been moved. Until that moment, I didn’t realize that I was barely breathing.Christ.Having Emilia in my life is twisting me up in knots.
