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I stepped out of the shower carefully, avoiding the bathmat and bypassing my towel. When I swung the door open, a blast of cold air chilled my wet skin. “What’s up?”

Luca’s eyes trailed down my body, and he licked his lip. “Where’s your towel?”

“On the rod?”

He glanced behind me at the trail of water from the shower and my balled-up clothes on the floor. “Let me just—”

“I’ll clean it up.” My nipples pebbled under the cold air. Goosebumps prickled my skin, and a shiver ran down my spine. “I’d like to get back in the shower, so what’s going on?”

“I need to leave a little earlier than I thought. Something came up, and Mickey needs me down at Red. Apparently, Marco isn’t picking up.” Luca frowned, shaking his head. My heart raced, but I kept my face neutral. “You’re on your own for dinner.”

I smiled and leaned in to kiss him, keeping my wet body from touching his pristine clothes. “Sushi it is.”

“You’re a cruel woman. Now finish your shower. I’ll call if I’m going to be late.”

“Love you. Be safe.” I took a step toward the shower, and Luca landed a firm slap on my ass. Scowling, I rubbed the sting away.

“Love you too.” He sauntered out of the room, all sexy and in charge, while I wilted against the door frame.

As I took a shower and finished my beauty routine, I finally relaxed. If something was wrong, I wasn’t the person who needed to handle it. It was a reality I needed to come to grips with before I pissed off the wrong guy.

An hour later, I was cuddling with Ryan on the couch, reading a book, when my phone vibrated. Tootsie flashed on the screen, and I shot up, snatching it off the table.

“Hello?”

“Whoa.” Tootsie chuckled. “No need to rupture my eardrum.”

“Not the time for jokes. What’s going on?”

“We had some company and slipped out the back,” Zoe mumbled in the background. “Zoe says thank you.”

I sagged in relief. “Nothing to be thankful for.”

“All the same. Look, I have to go. It’s probably best if you don’t reach out again. I’ve got it from here.”

“Makes sense. Be safe.”

“Will do.”

The line went silent.

I looked around the living room, unsure of what to do with myself. Zoe and Tootsie were safe, and now I needed to tell Luca that Zoe was gone. I sent him a text telling him to call me and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

The news played in the background, but I didn’t hear any of it. Dinner was tasteless as I zoned out. My mom texted to confirm the big dress trip, and all I managed was a thumbs-up emoji. All I wanted to do was get this info off my chest and onto Luca’s big, capable shoulders.

Sometime after four a.m., Luca and Marco bust through the front door, slamming it behind them.

“I don’t know why you’re so upset!” Marco yelled.

I peeked over the back of the couch.

“Are you serious? Not only did I just drive for seven hours, but those assholes burned my cabin to the ground, and they found puddles of blood! What happens when they find bodies?”

Confused, I sat up, hoping they would notice me.


Tags: Stephanie Kazowz Romance