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“Yes.”
Matteo sighs, another round of gunshots ringing out. “Give me two weeks. I can’t get away before then, but as soon as I can, I’ll be on the first flight out. We can figure out what we’re going to do after that.”
He ends the call before I can say anything else. I toss the phone onto the counter and run my hands down my face. Calling in backup is the last thing I want to be doing, but it seems like the only option I have at this point. Something has to give, and if that means I have to ask Matteo for help, then that’s what I will do.
Brielle’s safety is worth far more than my pride.
* * *
“I can’t believeyou did all this,” Brielle says as she walks into my home a few minutes after I finish talking to Matteo. She stares at the twisted white and gold streamers draping along the ceilings. Balloons in the same colors litter the floors.
“Nobody should have to celebrate their birthday on their own. I got some of that disgusting grapefruit soda you like, and one of those cookies and cream cakes.”
A bright smile makes its way across her face, making the hours of balloon hell worth it. If there is one thing I hate more than anything else in this world, it’s blowing up balloons.
It’s worth it to see that smile on her face and the delight shining in her eyes.
She tucks her hands in the pockets of her pale green sundress and looks at the shrimp scampi cooking on the stove. It’s turned down low and nearly done, the delicious scent wafting through the house.
“Thank you for this,” Brielle says as she turns to look at me, tears welling in her eyes. “I didn’t know if I would do anything this year since Brennan is away. He normally tries to make it home for my birthday and his.”
“Well, he did send along a present. It’s in the gold paper. The one I got you is in the silver.”
Her eyes widen as she goes over to the presents and grabs the one I got her. “You didn’t have to do this, Salvatore. This is all too much.”
I shrug and head over to the stove, dishing out the food while she unwraps her present. As she rips the last layer of paper off, I turn around. Her mouth drops open as she stares at the box, looking down at it before beaming up at me.
“This is too much, Salvatore. Way too much.”
“Well, when it’s safe to start sneaking around illegal things and taking pictures again, you’ll have the lens you want.”
She sets the present to the side and rounds the kitchen island, pulling me into a tight hug. I hug her back, trying to ignore the way her body fits against mine and what it does to me.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
When she pulls away, I can see the tears shining in her eyes. For a moment, I worry that something is wrong, but when that smile stretches across her face again, I know everything is going to be alright.
Brielle unwraps Brennan’s gift while I pull the garlic bread out of the oven. She gasps at the pretty silver necklace, its dainty emerald pendent shining in the light.
“Will you put this on me before we eat?” she asks, holding out the necklace. “I don’t want to risk losing it. When Brennan first found me, I was wearing one just like it. It had been my mother’s. It broke one day when I was in some abandoned building and I couldn’t find it.”
“Why am I not surprised that you were in an abandoned building?”
I ask as I take the necklace from her. She lifts her hair away from her neck as I stand behind her. As I drape the chain around her neck, my fingers brush against her skin. Sparks ignite between us and her breath hitches.
I fight the urge to flinch away like I’ve been burned as I fasten the little clasp.
“Thank you,” she says as she lowers her hair. “Dinner smells delicious.”
As I grab the plates of food, she opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of her grapefruit soda and a bottle of white wine for me. I set the plates down on the table as she takes a seat.
“Do you want a glass?” I ask as I reach for the bottle of wine.
“I’m good with my nasty soda,” she says teasingly. “This is amazing, Salvatore, and so thoughtful. Honestly, this is the best birthday that I’ve ever had.”
“Just wait until you see the cake. I had them shape it like a giant dick. Cookies and cream icing does wonders for making it look like it’s cow print.”
She chuckles and shakes her head. “You know, if you pull that cake out of the fridge and it’s not shaped like a dick, I’m going to be disappointed.”
