There’s no kiss goodbye.
No exchange of phone numbers or pleasantries.
Aurielo strolls out, and the dark-haired Italian gentleman slaps him on the back, congratulating him.
“Look at you, my brother getting laid at Nico’s engagement party.”
I try to sneak out as best I can from the office, but I hear the two men conversing. As I pull the wooden door farther open, it squeaks on its hinges.
“Giovan, chill out.” Aurielo casts a glance at me. He gives me a half-cocked smile and nod before dragging his brother in the opposite direction.
I hurry down the hallway and back to the ballroom. It’s not a far distance, but my heels tap against the marble floor. There’s an elegance to the home that we’re in, the kind of place that’s rented out for weddings and special occasions. Except this isn’t a mansion that’s rented out.
It’s owned by someone wealthy. I’m just not sure who or what they do for a living.
Stepping into the ballroom, the music crescendos, and I glance through the throes of partygoers searching for my sister.
Ivy’s dark purple gown and yellow trim stand out amongst the crowd. While we are identical twins, we haven’t worn the same matching outfit since preschool, when mom dressed us alike.
I grab another drink from a waitress, bringing a round of champagne to the guests. Smoothing down my dress, I feel as though everyone in the room is watching me.
I’m probably overly concerned for no reason.
It’s not like they can see that I’m not wearing any panties.
“Ma’am,” a gentleman in a dark suit with an earpiece in his ear approaches me. He conveys the look of a guard, but he’s not the same gentleman who watched the front entrance.
I press my lips tight together and glance behind me at Ivy. She untangles from the man she’s dancing with, but she’s cautious about hurrying over toward me.
Does she know something that I don’t?
The guard grabs my arm, his grip strong and forceful. “Please, come with me,” he says, but his tone isn’t the least bit warm or friendly. He’s demanding I do what he wants.
I glance once more over my shoulder at Ivy, but she’s nowhere in sight.
Did she leave?
Flee?
Is she coming to help me?
“Let go of me,” I say and yank my arm from his grasp.
“What are you—”
Before he can finish his sentence, I untangle from his grip and rush through the crowd, back down the hallway that I came from just a few minutes earlier.
The guard’s footsteps are thick and heavy as he tromps through the hallway after me.
I should head for the exit, but I’m not sure which way leads out. I sprint down the corridor and whip around the corner to run straight into Aurielo’s chest.
Aurielo grabs my forearms to steady me. “Slow down there, Micetta,” he says.
I glance over my shoulder, gasping for breath. How do I explain that one of the guards is chasing me?
I suspect it’s because we snuck into the party, but I’m not entirely one hundred percent confident that’s the answer. He seems pissed, and I can’t believe it’s just because we crashed an engagement party.
“Hold up!” the guard warns as he manages to catch up with me.