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A chill rolls up my spine and I tighten my grip on Nero’s hand.
He doesn’t outwardly react, except to squeeze my fingers back. But it’s enough to remind me that I’m safe, that Nero can protect me.
He made it look so easy earlier when he pulled that gun out of nowhere and walked me out of my building like a soldier on a rescue mission.
He slipped into the role like it was nothing out of the ordinary. And looking at the men he’s talking to––with their not-very-concealed guns, alert body language, and eyes that seem to be purposefully avoiding me––I realize that this is normal. For them. For Nero.
I don’t hear what Nero says, but I know he’s done talking because he’s leading me across the sidewalk and to the front door while I’m back to gaping.
The door gets opened by someone on the inside, and I nearly gasp.
My movie star comparison was right. I feel like I’m on a set.
The ceilings goallthe way up, making room for a giant chandelier. The glow of a thousand sparkling crystals bouncing off the grand stairway straight ahead of us.
“Wow.” It’s a dumb thing to say, but it’s the best I can come up with.
My head turns on a swivel as he leads me through the house.
“I’ll give you a proper tour later,” Nero tells me, as we enter a gleaming kitchen.
I think he’s gonna set the food down, but instead he goes to the refrigerator and takes out two tall bottles of water.
“We’ll eat in our room, then you can go to bed,” he explains.
“Just me?” I try not to pout.
“Unfortunately. I’ll need to stay up while we sort this out.” He hands me the waters, then holds his hand out for me again. Shifting the bottles, so I’m hugging them to my body with one arm, I slip my palm against his.
I look up at him. “I like this.”
He glances around. “The kitchen?”
A smile tugs at my lips. “That’s nice too, but I was talking about holding hands.”
“I’m glad,” Nero says it so seriously that I snicker.
He glances at me, as he leads us to another, more hidden stairway behind the kitchen. “What?”
“It’s just funny, how you said it.”
“How I saidI’m glad?”
He’s truly confused, and that only makes it funnier. “Yeah, because you sounded like the least glad person ever.”
The edge of his mouth lifts into a smirk. “You’re kind of a smart ass, aren’t you?”
I narrow my eyes, choosing not to answer, and Nero lets go of my hand to swat me on the ass.
“Get upstairs.”
CHAPTER64
Nero
Payton continuedto take everything in as we made our way to our room––no questions, no stopping to look at anything, just silently observing. And it’s starting to stress me out.
When I open the door to our bedroom, and she steps inside ahead of me, still not speaking, I finally break. “Do you like it?”
