I look at her then and smile. “I think that’s why we get on so well.” The conversation with Adrianna comes back to me. “I’m so glad you are my sister,” I say, seriously.
Her brow furrows. “Me too, but why so serious?”
I shake my head. “Just lots of people don’t get on so well with their family. You are my best friend.” I reach for her hand and squeeze. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She squeezes my hand back. “Me neither.”
Just at that moment, a sense of unease twists my gut, drawing my attention out the window.
Mia notices my sudden unease. “What’s wrong?”
I search the street outside. “I don’t know.” I shake my head. “I just keep getting this feeling that I’m being watched.”
“Watched?”
“Yeah, it sounds crazy, right?”
“You mean other than Sandro?” She nods toward our bodyguard, who is sitting another booth watching us like a hawk.
“Yes, other than Sandro.” I shake my head. “I’m going mad.”
“No, I mean, the city isn’t exactly safe.” Her throat bobs as she swallows. “But Sandro will make sure nothing happens to us.”
I nod in response, but I can’t shake that chill that has settled in my bones. After another good sweep up and down the street, I’m confident there’s no one there.
“Maybe I’m just paranoid,” I say, as Vincenzo and a waiter approaches with our pizzas and cokes.
“One Neapolitan and one pepperoni,” he announces, placing my Neapolitan down in front of me. “Buon appetito.”
“Grazie, Vincenzo,” I reply, knowing he likes it when we speak Italian.
He gives me a warm smile before leaving us to devour our food.
I dig in to the pizza, but still can’t shake the feeling of being watched. It makes me feel like I’m going insane, as I struggle to enjoy my favorite meal in the world.
And I can’t understand why at that moment, my mind goes to Gavril, wondering what he’s doing right now. A part of me wishes he was here by my side, as I feel safest when I’m with him, no matter how crazy that may be, considering the things he likes to do to me. He should be the last person who makes me feel safe.
* * *
Mia elbowsme as I am drifting off while watching our favorite movie, When Harry Met Sally. “Wake up.”
It’s been a tough first week of Spring Break, finding out our father has stage four cancer, on top of me waiting and hoping that Gavril might break his own stupid rules and text me. I’ve not been sleeping very well at all.
It all started okay until Massimo broke the news the evening we returned from our shopping trip.
“Sorry, I’m exhausted.”
Mia shakes her head. “It’s only nine o’clock. What’s up with you?”
I shrug. “I’ve not been sleeping very well after finding out about Father.”
Mia’s expression softens. “Right, sorry. I always sleep like the dead, no matter what’s going on in my life.”
I snort. “I know you’re ridiculously lucky.”
“Is that all that’s bothering you?”
I nod in response, as I have no intention of talking about Gavril with her again. It was awkward enough when I told her, but the fact she’s fallen for Killian Callaghan, an enemy of our family, gave me the guts to tell her. I regretted it immediately, as she judged me for getting involved with a man like him. And I underestimated just how well known his tastes in sex are.