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“I was so scared you were dead,” I murmured. “When you and Ellie never caught up, I went back to the wall… There was so much blood,” I whisper, my voice breaking.
“I’m fine, Bianka,” he assures me. “Nothing that won’t heal. The blood’s not mine–well, except for my cheek.”
“What happened?” I ask, peering up at his face and examining the cut more closely. It’s long and bloody, marring his perfect skin and bringing to life a fierce, protective anger inside me.
A cold voice interrupts from several yards away before Cassio can answer. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
Cassio and I turn in sync as the world suddenly returns around us, and I realize all eyes are on the blood-soaked man with his arm around my waist and me. Ilya’s face is freshly irate, his jaw muscles popping dangerously beneath his skin.
I’d been so lost in the moment, so concerned for Cassio, and so desperate to confirm he was alive and okay that I didn’t even think about how kissing him might escalate my already precarious standing with my brother and the Marchetti family.
Nicolo stands with his arms crossed, his expression every bit as frosty as the tone of his voice. “Seriously, you two have us running around, crossing state lines to shoot things up, and flying all over the northeastern corner of the United States to track you down–knowing perfectly well you shouldn’t be seen in each other’s company–and now you’re just going to stand there making out in front of us while we wait?”
“I–” Cassio starts, pulling me close to his side.
“I don’t want fucking excuses,” Nicolo snaps. “We’ll talk more once we get on the plane.”
A debate immediately ensues about who’s going in which car, seeing as Cassio refuses to let me out of his sight, and I won’t argue. The thought of being separated from him, even for the short drive to the private airfield where Ilya and Nicolo landed their planes.
Then, once again, the issue resumes when it comes to who’s flying home on which plane. Finally, it’s sorted, with several of Nicolo’s men riding on Ilya’s plane so that Ilya, Erik, Yefim, and I can join the Marchetti brothers on their plane.
I can tell that neither of our older brothers is particularly happy with Cassio’s overly protective display. They share the same irritated expression of an older sibling having to concede to a ridiculous argument simply to get where they need to be.
If I had any doubts about my expulsion from Rosehill College before, I’m confident I will no longer be allowed in Marchetti territory after today. Not that I think Ilya ever plans on letting me leave the house again.
From the little I can gather of the confrontation they had while extracting Cassio and Ellie from the house, it sounds like the Matron isn’t nearly done yet. She’s a formidable force to be reckoned with.
But my more immediate concern as we settle into the plush dark-leather seats of the Marchettis’ private plane is the cold glare Ilya and Nicolo have leveled at Cassio and me.
“Now that we’re all here–and alive–I want a full explanation as to why Lucca called me in the middle of the night to demand I come rescue you and his girlfriend from a Bratva in Upstate New York,” Nicolo says flatly.
I’m struck by the realization that Nicolo’s statement indicates he flew all the way to New York without needing any further information. I’d assumed Lucca had filled him in on everything, but it seemed all Nicolo needed to hear was that Cassio was in danger. That, more than anything, makes me appreciate the oldest Marchetti son. Even if he might come across as rather abrasive, he still came when his brothers asked.
“I’m the one they were after,” I confess uncomfortably. “They took Ellie and me from the masquerade because they couldn’t tell which one was me….”
“Yes, why are you both wearing the same outfit?” Ilya asks. “And why is her hair styled like yours? Ellie’s hair isn’t normally curly,” he adds suspiciously.
Cassio glances at me nervously, knowing I’ll only be digging myself further into a hole if I answer Ilya. But as far as I’m concerned, our whole plan for secrecy until I graduate has been blown wide open in the last twenty-four hours. There’s no point in lying anymore.
“She was pretending to be me so Cassio and I could be her and Lucca and spend some time together at the dance,” I confess.
“So, after all my warnings to stay away from the Marchettis, you decided that you knew better, that you would just pretend to be someone else for the night and everything would be okay?” my brother demands gruffly.
“Hey, it’s not like ignoring your stupid rule had anything to do with me getting kidnapped,” I snap, crossing my arms defensively. “That was clearly the Matron’s plan either way. Honestly, the only reason Ellie wound up in danger is becauseyoucan’t be reasonable and just let me date like a normal girl my age.”
“So, how did you get caught up in the kidnapping?” Nicolo demands of Cassio, drawing everyone’s eyes his way.
“I heard the commotion and followed them. I couldn’t just let the girls be taken, so I… stole a car and snuck onto the kidnappers’ plane.” Cassio hesitates before confessing to taking the car, and I find it ridiculously sweet that he would feel guilty for taking someone’s vehicle to rescue me.
“He got captured when I fell behind while we were trying to escape,” Ellie adds quietly.
“This is a good example of why you should have stayed away from each other,” Nicolo states firmly, his eyes flashing between Cassio and me. “If you hadn’t disobeyed Father’s orders, neither you nor Lucca’s girlfriend would have gotten wrapped up in this whole thing.”
My brother nods from his seat across the aisle. “I can only be grateful that you rescued my sister,” he says, observing Cassio gravely. “But, Bianka, you’ve proven childish in your disregard for my warnings. The only reason I let you attend Rosehill was because you said you understood the dangers and would take no unnecessary risks. I have to respect the Marchetti territory lines, which means you were supposed to be taking every precaution since I have no men to protect you.”
“Ihavebeen careful,” I insist. “How was I supposed to know your supposedly dead enemies would rise from the grave to kidnap me?”
“Dating Cassio Marchetti when I explicitly told you not to is not being careful. Dating him knowing that Lorenzo Marchetti had already threatened to kick you out of Rosehill for it is downright foolhardy. He’s dangerous and unpredictable. Who’s to say he wouldn’t kill you if it suited him better?” Ilya rages.
