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My heart leaps in my chest. I take a deep breath and continue to run my fingers through her hair. “I don’t have an answer for that. I want to say that we are going to make this work, but you and I both know that being attracted to each other isn’t enough.”
“Don’t fucking sell this down to just a physical attraction,” Aria says as she sits up and pulls away from me. “Don’t you fucking dare pretend that I’m just another person you’re sleeping with when we both know it’s more than that.”
She’s right. There is much more between us than just physical attraction. I can’t admit to that right now, though. Not until all of this is over and I know that she isn’t in danger anymore.
Right now, keeping a level of distance between us – even though we both know it’s useless – is the only thing we have to hold on to.
“Why do you smell like smoke?” she asks.
I sigh. “I can’t tell you that. Everything is going to be okay, though. It will all be over soon.”
“It won’t ever be over and okay if you continue to keep secrets from me.”
And I know she is right, but I know what my choice is between keeping the two of them safe or happy. What my choice will always be. Has to be.
23
ARIA
“Well, it’s only taken you a week, but we’re finally here,” I say as Tyson and I walk into a steakhouse.
He looks around, constantly scanning the room and checking for a threat. I sigh and try to relax. For one night, I want to pretend that we are living a normal life. That we’re just two people who like each other out on a date.
“Are you okay?” he asks as we take a seat at a booth in the back.
“Are you even going to enjoy this?” I slide into the rounded seat beside him, glancing up to see the small smile on his face.
“Yes. Of course, I am. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had an expensive steak?”
I roll my eyes but I can’t help the smile that slowly spreads across my face. “The steak is what you’re excited about?”
“And the sex later tonight,” he says, his voice dropping low as he leans closer to me. His teeth graze my ear and I clench my thighs. Heat pools in my core as his hand lands on my thigh beneath the table.
“Don’t you eventhinkabout starting something.”
After he snuck out last week, we had a frank conversation with each other. I wasn’t going to keep dancing around, pretending there was nothing between us. He had a choice to make.
He chose me.
I grin as he slips his hand into the slit of my dress, his fingers climbing higher up my inner thigh. I shift around slightly in my seat, excited for what comes next.
Before he can do anything else, the sound of gunfire fills the restaurant. Tyson and I slide under the table, but we aren’t quick enough.
“Fuck,” Tyson says, glancing at his arm beneath the table. Blood pools on the sleeve of his shirt. I glance at the ripped fabric, breathing a sigh of relief when I don’t seen an entry hole.
“You’re okay.”
“I’m okay.”
People start screaming and running as more gunfire breaks out. Glass is shattering all around us as Tyson scrambles out from beneath the table and reaches down to help me out. He untucks his shirt and pulls a gun out of his waistband, flicking the safety off.
As I reach beneath my dress and pull my gun out of my thigh holster, people bump into me. I stumble on my heels, nearly falling.
“Fuck.” Kicking off the heels, I look around.
My father’s men are flooding into the restaurant through the kitchen. More are coming in the front door. I grab Tyson’s hand and start pulling him toward the fire exit. He shoots at some of the men coming our way as I pull him toward the people escaping.
When I look back at our table, my dad is there staring at us. My heart stops in my chest when I see Gio and Salvatore flanking him. Rage floods through me as I stare at my brothers. Salvatore meets my gaze with a cold smile, raising his gun and pointing it at my head.
