“I know.” She whispers.
“It’s only for a couple of months. And until I leave, we can spend every second together.” I’m going into older sister mode. The protective one that sets my emotions aside to make sure Olive doesn’t see the worst of everything. To make sure she is safe and happy. She watches me in silence as I pat my face dry, and then I turn to her. She’s taller than me, only by about an inch, but she still seems so small as I pull her into a hug.
“Girls.” Vince’s voice startles us both, and we shift our focus to him hovering in the doorway.
“Whaddaya want?” Olive squares up, and I place a hand on her arm, but she doesn’t back down. Vince only looks at her for a moment, an expression I can’t decipher across his face, and then he looks back at me.
“I’m sorry about all of this. But we still have a plan to end this.” I say nothing, letting him squirm under mine and Olive’s glares.
Realizing I have nothing to chide back, he continues. “You leave in the morning.”
“What?” Olive and I practically yell at the same time.
“Girls, this is necessary. This is how the real world works. I’m sorry. I’ve told you I’m sorry a million times, haven’t I?” I blink at him, and he lets out a heavy breath.
“So, what, she’s just supposed to live in some random shack with him in the middle of nowhere?” Olive is speaking with her hands. She only does that when she’s furious.
“I highly doubt one of the most prominent mafia families in the world would own a shack as a safe-house.” He shakes his head at her.
“Hm.” Olive crosses her arms over her chest and Vince rolls his eyes.
“Look, this is only for a little while until we work everything out the way we’ve been planning.”
“Which is…?” I arch a brow.
“I think it’s safest if I don’t tell you.”
“For real?” Olive pushes and Vince flicks warning eyes to her before looking back at me.
“I need you both to be ready before dawn.”
“Both?” I ask, confused for a moment before I realize he means Olive and I.
“You girls will need each other.”
“I get to go?” Olive softens a littler, her voice going a bit higher with hope. Vince gently nods.
“The only thing I ask is that you play the role of chaperone very seriously.”
“Olive is my chaperone?”
“Yes.”
“For why?”
“Because that man is not going to stop until he seduces you.”
I burst out into a bitter laugh.
“She hates Adrik! Why the hell would she sleep with him?” Olive snorts, narrowing her eyes.
“Because he is a notorious assassin and playboy and he doubtless will try to seduce her. If she gives up her virginity, we can't help her get out of the marriage.”
“Why’s that?” Olive tenses, but I know the answer— know far too well the consequences of sleeping with someone in my position. Vince looks over at me again, and I shake my head.
“I’m to be pure, untouched by any man, if I hope to be given away to a mafia heir. Being a virgin is the only way to ensure I am still able to marry into another prominent family.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Olive objects.