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The doors open once the elevator reaches the top floor. I step out and am instantly pulled into a hug. Portia and Nell’s arms tighten around me.
“You’re okay,” Nell breathes. “God, you’re okay.”
“I am. I'm so glad that you both are too,” I cry, so happy to finally see them.
They pull me toward the couch. “Tell us everything,” Portia demands.
I do. I tell them about everything that’s happened since I saw them at the reception. I explain about the poison, and how Elio has kept me locked in the house since the wedding. I even open up about the two men in the diner who are still on my mind, and what I overheard. Everything pours out of me, and I’m unable to stop it.
“We stayed,” Portia says. “Your husband shielded you from the truth. He was the intended target for the champagne. He was the one who was supposed to die. But Ros took the drink instead.”
Oh my god. Why did he keep it a secret?
“He kept speaking in Italian so that you wouldn’t hear what was being said. But we learned everything. This isn’t the first time one of their men has died. One of Elio’s closest men was killed a few weeks ago.” Portia shakes her head. “This is crazy. We don’t want you to be caught in the crossfire.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assure them. “Elio’s going to try and keep me locked up.” The mere thought alone has my body breaking out in cold sweats. God, I can’t bear to be kept in a cage again.
“Promise me,” Portia urges. “If something happens, you’ll let us know. We need to keep you safe, Tee. You’re our sister.” Nell nods in agreement. “We love you and we’re not losing you.”
I hate that they’re so worried. “I promise,” I tell them. “I love you both too. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Meeting you was the greatest blessing of my life.” My eyes well with tears. It’s taking everything I have not to cry.
“Let’s watch a movie,” Nell says, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m thinking of a romantic comedy.”
I despise those movies. I know that true love doesn’t exist. Not for everyone at least. But I watch them because Nell truly believes, and I’m not going to break her heart or crush her dreams of finding her Mr. Perfect.
* * *
“Hey,”I hear whispered as I’m slowly shaken awake.
I sit up, confused and drowsy. It takes me a while to realize what’s happened and where I am. Darkness has fallen, and I’m in the apartment still. Oh crap. I fell asleep while watching the movie.
“You should have woken me,” I tell Nell, who's sitting beside me, watching me with tenderness. “What time is it?”
“It’s about six,” she says. “You needed sleep, Teagan. The second the movie started, you were out like a light. Portia and I left you to sleep because you haven’t been doing much of that, have you?”
I shake my head. “No. The second he returns home, I’m wide awake. I can’t go back to sleep.”
She sighs. “You can’t live on no sleep.”
She’s right, I can’t. I need to figure out a way to function properly, find a way to sleep without having to do so with Elio beside me. “Where’s Portia?”
She grins. “She’s gone to get us some food. The gorgeous man who brought you here told her she wasn’t to go alone. He sent someone with her.”
I raise a brow. Surely she wouldn’t have gone with him alone. Portia despises people at the best of times. Being told that she’ll have to have a minder will make her spitting mad, will grate against her. She hates being told what to do, and knowing Elio’s man, he’ll do exactly that.
Nell giggles. “Yeah, she wasn’t happy, not in the slightest.”
The elevator doors open and Nell frowns. “They shouldn’t be back yet,” she says.
I glance at the doors, and my heart jumps into my throat at the sight of a man in a mask walking toward us, a gun in his hands. And it’s pointed at me. It’s as though time stands still, and everything happens in slow motion. I rise from the couch, pulling Nell with me. Her scream rents the air, and there’s no mistaking the fear in it. It’s such a horrific sound, chills me to the bone.
I push her to the ground, needing to get her out of harm's way. The man continues to move forward, his entire face covered with the mask. Only the whites of his eyes, his lips, and nostrils are uncovered. The darkness in his eyes has me shuddering with fear, but I don’t stop. I need Nell to be safe.
He fires a shot, and thankfully it misses. I push Nell away even further, glad that she wasn’t hit, but knowing the man has a mission and there’s no one here to save us but ourselves.
My heart is pounding. I feel as though it’s going to burst from my chest. He’s going to kill us.
He advances on us, the gun pointed at me. He fires a shot yet again. Burning hot pain burns through my arm as the bullet sinks into the flesh. I cry out as I sink to the floor. The pain is severe, so much so that I’m seeing stars.
