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I sat up in bed, the silk sheets pooling in my lap. My moment of indecision cost me a chance to call anyone, because the curtain on my open balcony door moved.
Feeling the breeze and hearing the waves crashing usually guaranteed a good night’s sleep. Setting up everything like I usually did was my last attempt at clawing my way back to normality. Now I regretted allowing an intruder such easy access.
A large body stepped inside, and I scrambled off the bed, screaming.
Nope, definitely not hallucinating. Did they send someone to kill me after all? And did that mean Lucius was gone? Because he’d never let them send anyone after me as long as he was alive.
I couldn’t explain my unwavering trust in him. It just was.
“Everleigh, stop screaming. It’s me.”
My mouth snapped shut, cutting off my terrified scream. “Santino?”
“Mierda, your scream sounds like nails on a chalkboard.”
He stepped closer, the moonlight shining through the gaps in the curtains, giving him an otherworldly glow.
“Wh-What are you doing here?” I stuttered, my breathing slowly returning to normal.
For once, I was grateful for the size of the house. Thea slept in the opposite wing and rarely heard a sound. Not through her sleep mask and earplugs, and certainly not from that far away.
Santino’s impassive gaze swept over the luxurious room. “I need your help.”
“My help? With what?”
“Lucius.”
My heart went into a free fall, and I took an involuntary step closer. “Tell me.” My voice wavered, taking the sting out of the command.
“He’s back in Chicago and about to do something stupid.”
“He’s in the States?” And didn’t contact me. My unspoken words hung heavy in the air. But despite the betrayal and hurt I felt, if Santino sought me out to ask for my help, I’d give it.
“We got back yesterday. And he’s about to storm into the lion’s den with only me at his back.”
Without another thought, I went to my closet, pulling out jeans, a T-shirt, and a sweater. The last one was just in case, because in Chicago you never knew how cold it could get.
“Turn around. And then tell me why you think I can help.”
He turned around, and I pulled my clothes and shoes on. Santino talked while I braided my hair and looked for my new phone and wallet. “He’s going after Sam’s killer by himself. Because he thinks this is what it will take to earn forgiveness. Find the man who killed his team member. But all it will do is get him killed.”
I understood Lucius’s need to end this himself. But I also recognized the stupidity of it. If Santino was here, then that meant the chances of success were nonexistent. He’d never betray Lucius like this if there was any other choice.
“How did you find me?”
Santino scoffed, his face showing his disbelief. “We had eyes on you the whole time. You didn’t really think Lucius would let you ride off into the sunset and that was it, did you?”
Actually, that was exactly what I’d thought. And since my thoughts must have shown on my face, Santino rolled his eyes. “I don’t know how you could have missed how taken he is with you, but he’d step in front of a bullet for you. Now I’m asking you if you feel the same for him.”
I pointedly looked down at my body. “I’m dressed to go, aren’t I? That should be answer enough.”
He raised a brow and turned back to the balcony. I held up my hand. “No way am I going down that way. Besides, I have to tell my friend I’m leaving and call a doctor for the guy you took out. Meet me at the front gate.”
Santino hesitated. “I barely touched the guy.”
And with that, he was gone. I didn’t even hear him scale back down or drop to the ground.
Waking Thea took me a few minutes, and in the end, I had to trickle water over her face. She woke up with a splutter and groan. “Why is it raining?”
