“They don’t know, and that’s exactly what we want.” I peered up at them. “Your death glares will scare them off soon enough.”
He chuckled. “I have to do what Luca would do.”
My chest tightened. I sometimes wondered how it would be if Luca wasn’t who he was and if I wasn’t who I was. If we were normal people, if we could stroll these halls together like a normal couple. Tears prickled my eyes because that was never going to happen. Luca had never had the choice to go to college. From the day of his birth, his path had been determined, a path of darkness, full of enemies even among our own.
“Are you okay?” Romero asked, stopping a few steps from our class, letting go of my hand.
I shook my head. “I wish Luca could be here.”
“We are all bound to the path we were destined for.”
A group of boys my age walked past, and one of them turned and grinned at me. Surprise shot through me at his obvious flirting.
“Okay. I don’t like this,” Romero growled.
“Then show them that I’m your girlfriend. Trust me, they will back off if you give them that look. They are full of themselves, but anyone with eyes in their heads can tell that you aren’t a man to be messed with.”
Romero hesitated.
“How would you treat me if I were your girlfriend?”
He frowned.
“Without kissing,” I added quickly, flushing.
“Trust me, Aria, I would never dream of kissing you. You are like my little sister.”
I smiled, because Romero was like a big brother I’d never had.
He moved closer and circled my waist with his arm, his palm resting lightly on my hip. I tensed at the unfamiliar closeness.
Romero regarded me, murmuring, “Is this okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just not used to being this close with anyone but Luca,” I admitted, embarrassed.
He nodded. “I know. Are you ready to go in?”
I took a deep breath and together we strolled into my first class as a college student, and like I’d predicted the guys backed off the moment they saw me with Romero.I was giddy when we were on our way back home. I couldn’t wait to tell Luca about my day. For the first time I had more to tell him than just about my shopping adventures or the book I’d been reading.
Romero’s phone rang and he picked up after a glance at the screen. “Luca,” he said.
I turned, curious.
Romero nodded. “Will do. Yes, everything went well.”
“What did he want?”
“He is still in the Sphere. He wants me to take you there because he wants to take you to our dojo for training when he’s done.”
My eyes widened. It had been a long time since Luca and I had practiced, but me going to college obviously made him reconsider. It was unusual that Luca had told Romero to take me to the Sphere. I pulled off my wig and smoothed down my hair. It was wilder than usual.
After picking up gym clothes, we headed for the Sphere and Romero parked the car right in front of the entrance. This time he was quick enough to open my door, and I gave him a look before I headed for the entrance. It was only late afternoon so the club wasn’t open yet, but Jorge guarded the door nevertheless. His dark face registered surprise when he saw me, especially dressed in jeans and sneakers. That wasn’t my usual outfit. He didn’t comment though.
We entered the club, went past the cloakroom, then into the main area. Blue and white and black were the dominating colors. The bar counter looked like it had been carved from frozen water, a pale fluorescent blue. “That’s new,” I said, surprised.
“Luca had it renovated recently. To stay at the top, we need to keep our clubs up to date.” My eyes were drawn toward the platforms with poles in the middle. “And pole dancers are a must for that?”
Romero shrugged. “They send the crowd into rapture.”
Luca hadn’t mentioned that he’d renovated his club. I wished he’d share more of his daily life with me. I’d have to talk to him about it, make him see that for us to be partners all the way he had to involve me more, and not shield me from everything Famiglia related. Perhaps him inviting me over was a start.
Romero led me to the back of the Sphere where several private rooms were located and then into a sort of office. I remembered it dimly from the roofie incident. Luca and Matteo both perched on the edge of the desk, deep in conversation. Luca looked my way when I stepped in, his eyes lingering on my hair, and a pleased look passed his face.
“Gianna has been asking about you,” Matteo said by way of greeting. Guilt tightened my stomach over keeping my going to college a secret, but Luca had insisted we involve as few people as possible for as long as possible. She would find out soon, of course, because we usually spent every day together.