“Take your time.” Malcolm leaned against the wall, his eyes scanning the hallway.
The sweet smell of cleaner greeted me as I moved toward the sinks. The lighting was dim, setting the gold fixtures aglow. Marble surrounded me on the floors, walls,and countertops. The sheer opulence of the bathroom was ridiculous. Rich people were a trip.
Setting my clutch down on a dry spot on the counter, I stood staring in the mirror, taking deep breaths. What a mind fuck. Apparently,the crime lords were going to be besties.
I was safe. I was fucking safe. Probably. There was no way that either side would have time for a small fish like me now that they were at peace.But now I got to have a front-row seat to further heartbreak. Luca was with a mafia princess. What a fucking joke.
Shaking out my limbs, I growled out my frustrations. I was being a big baby. It was time to suck it up, get drunk, and, well, I didn’t have anand, but I sure as hell was going to find one.
When I went to open the door, in waltzed the tall, blond Chronis.
“Ope. Sorry!” She laughed and gave me a perfect smile. It took everything in me not to gag at her stupid, beautiful face.
“No worries.” I hurried past her and out to the hallway, where Luca and Malcolm were in a tense standoff.
“Am I interrupting?”
Luca immediately moved toward me, his hands reaching for me.
I took an exaggerated step around him to stand next to Malcolm. “I think we should head back in there. Those shrimps won’t eat themselves.”I trembled while trying to stay calm, cool,and collected. Malcolm noticed my distress, looped his arm through mine, and started to walk away from Luca, but of course,it wasn’t going to be that easy.
“Sasha, wait.”
I dropped my chin to my chest, blowing out a breath. Without turning around, I asked, “What, Luca?”
“We need to talk.”
I shook my head and glanced over my shoulder.
Damn,he’s sexy.
“About?” My voice was sharp, but my ankles wobbled. Malcolm pressed into me, giving me his strength.
Leveling me with a look of disbelief, Luca gestured toward the ballroom. “Why are you here?”
“You know Dimitri’s my friend. Better question, why are you here?”
Luca’s eyes rolled over me, his jaw tensing when they landed on my neck.Iliftedmy hand to my throat, my fingers pressing into the largest stone.
I shouldn’t have worn the damn thing.
With a heavy swallow, his focus rested on my bodyguard for the night. “Business. Can we just—” The bathroom door opening cut him off.
“You waited! What a gentleman.” Zoe Chronis floated toward Luca,claiming her spot next to him. They made a striking couple. Her lightness complemented his darkness in every feature.
When Luca didn’t respond to her, she followed his line of vision to me. I hadn’t turned completely to face him. Instead, I pressed my front into Malcolm’s as we stood ready to leave the hallway.
No one spoke. We all just stood there, staring. Awkward doesn’t even begin to explain it.
Finally, Zoe regained the function of her mouth. A charming smile replaced her confused frown. “Well, we should probably get back in there before the toasts start.”
She tugged Luca along as he begged me with his eyes to talk to him. A tether pulled at me to follow, but I held onto Malcolm tighter. His hands gripped me as if he could feel the tug of war.
We watched them disappear behind the doors and relaxed a fraction.
“Jesus. That was intense.” Malcolm snorted and let go of his grip on my arm. “I thought he was about to throw you over his shoulder and run away.”
I laughed and nodded, still staring at the heavy doors.