SOPHIA
After breakfast, I’m nervous to leave. Not that I want to tell the guys. I know they want to protect me and make me feel comfortable here, and since it’s a want they have, I don’t want to deny them, but I really want them to enjoy their time. Which means I want Nick to get some paints and to spend time encouraging him to be behind the finished project instead of being front and center as a model.
I want Holden to be unafraid of the world, to recognize that he’s all man and more. I want Roman to open up, so I know what he’s thinking instead of just throwing out guesses, and I want Gunner … well I’d like him to be sober for at least an entire conversation so I can get behind all that humor.
Even if it is gold.
I put on a long airy skirt so my knees aren’t on display and grab a shawl to cover my arms. I don’t know what we have planned today, but I’m sure it will involve going out and about. If I know Roman and Gunner at all, they don’t back away from a challenge.
And I don’t know if a more obvious challenge to their ability to protect me exists. Plus, I need some souvenirs—one for myself, at least one for dad. I check my phone and see a missed call from him.
The guys didn’t tell him about last night, did they? It’s one thing for all of them to know; it’s another thing to put it on Dad’s shoulders while he’s trying to get better. I call back and have to leave a message.
Worry churns in my stomach, but my door is knocked on, and Roman comes in. He offers me his hand. “Holden is getting some rest. Let’s go for a walk.”
“Are you going to lecture me?”
He arches an eyebrow. I sigh, slip my phone into my purse and take his hand. His thumb rubs over the back of mine. As we leave the villa, I glance over at the alley that nearly swallowed me up and pull myself closer to Roman.
“You’re safe with me.” He convinces me, wrapping his arm tighter around my waist and pulling me closer.
I nod. I just need to distract myself. What better way to do that than with Roman? “Are you happy to see your family?” I ask, looking up at him.
“Very. It’s been a while.” He rubs his thumb over the back of my hand. “Work.”
“Well, what’s the point of being rich if you can’t make it work for you?” I tease. “They really love having you here. Especially your grandmother.”
“If you think I’m protective …” He chuckles, glances at me, then at the sidewalk in front of us. “She’s going to tear the town apart looking for the asshole who attacked you. People like him don’t stop until they’re stopped.”
Well, that’s dark. I swallow and wrap Roman’s arm around my shoulders. He relaxes and shakes his head. “You’re safe with us; you know that, right? We won’t let anything happen to you. You mean too much.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Holden already made a lot clear last night.”
Roman kisses my temple. “He’s better at roping in his anger.”
“That’s a terrifying prospect,” I whisper.
He chuckles and pulls me to a huge building. It’s gorgeous, just looking at it, all the stained glass, the arches, the everything. I blink at it, and Roman continues up the stairs before sitting with me behind one of the massive pillars.
“I used to come here when I was young to think.” He says. “It was a theater for a while, but no business seems able to last.”
I scoot closer to him and rub his knee. He chuckles. “I can’t give you shit about running off. I loved going off on my own when I was young. Just a kid running through the city … I didn’t think about all the shit that could happen.”
“I just wanted snacks.”
“You don’t have to defend yourself, Sophie. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He kisses my temple. “Just scared Holden.”
“Sometimes, you scare me.”
“I scare you?” He shakes his head, his jaw tightening. “I’ve been told I’m … intimidating.”
“You can be, but I was referring to … to something else.”
Like how afraid I am to navigate this, I’ve been with all four of them. Sure Gunner and Roman have shared me, and they also shared me with Holden, but I keep waiting for shit to hit the fan. I feel like we only have a little bit of time before the shit hits the fan and the guys lose their friendship because of me.
Even though they’ve never shown any signs of jealousy with each other, I pull my legs up and rub my shins. I can feel Roman’s eyes on me, and normally that would be enough to get me to talk, but not this time. These are my own thoughts.
He clears his throat. “Bambina, I don’t just want to keep you safe. I want you to feel free, happy, supported. Do you not feel that?”
“I do!” It’s almost out of my mouth before he can ask. I face his churning eyes and am struck again by how beautiful he is. His lush hair, his tan skin, the muscle, the intensity that seems to hang around him like an aura. “Of course, I’m happy with you.”