"This is not why I came here," I say, after clearing my throat a few times. "I cannot bring myself to regret the wasted time, even though we have very little to spare. I am here with you now because you are in imminent danger. My enemies—ourenemies—are coming here, now, to harm you, in an attempt to bait your men."
"What do we need to do?" Naomi asks, her voice soft but steady.
"Wait a second, though," Terra interrupts. "Can we talk about Lorenzo, though? Just for a second. Because girl, he…is…fine.”
I cannot help a small smile from stealing across my face. "Lorenzo is…" I blink hard, and dammit, Ihatefeeling so emotional. "He's…"
"You're still figuring it out, huh?" Annika asks. "We get that, for sure."
I frown. "I'm not sure that's it, exactly. I've known him most of my life—since I was sixteen. He…" I lick my lips and look at the ceiling. "He was my first everything. And the last. Not counting…you know…what happened. And Rafael. I don't count that because I didn't choose it."
Naomi's silver gaze searches me. "But you aren't ready, are you?"
I shake my head. "No. And I'm afraid I never will be. I am afraid that I can never give him that part of me."
"Which part, Inez?" This is Tatiana. "Sometimes we have to name our deepest fears out loud before we can fight them."
"My body," I answer in a whisper.
"Does he love you?" she asks.
"Yes."
She holds me by the arms. "Then it'll work out. It may not be easy, but it will."
Naomi, soft and sweet and shy but with a core of pure titanium, kisses me on the cheek—I'm so stunned by the unexpected affection that my cheeks flush hot. "It really will." She cups my cheek. "You know what I endured. It isn't…" She trails off with a huff. "I'm not comparing. When I went there with Silas, it was frightening, at first, but it was worth it, Inez. So worth it to find something as beautiful as my relationship with Silas. You are strong. And Lorenzo seems very kind. Be honest with him. Be brave. If he loves you and you love him, you will find your way together."
"You make it sound so simple," I say.
The door leading up to the club opens and Lorenzo appears in a rush. "They're here. They're coming."
Instantly, everything vanishes—all that's left is the icy calm that is my customary emotional armor. I glance at Lorenzo, and I can tell something has happened—I can see it written in his features.
I lean close. "Are you alright?" I ask in Portuguese.
He smiles down at me, touching a soft, delicate kiss to my forehead. "Yes."
"Something happened, though."
He puts his lips to my ear, whispering. "I met Jakob."
My world rocks on its axis. "You…what?"
"Up there. We had a glass of scotch and talked for a moment. He's gone now, I think."
“Yousawhim? You spoke to him?"
He nods. "It was dark. I couldn't pick him out of a line-up, certainly. He has a very recognizable voice."
"And he told you his name?"
He frowns. "You seem shocked."
"I am. My employer is the most secretive man I've ever known, and I include Rafael." Of everyone in my life, Lorenzo would be the last person I'd think Jakob would show himself to. "What…what did you talk about?"
He juts his chin at the hallway and the exit sign at the end. "Talk later. Pugli's thugs are approaching and I've got…" he produces his pistol from the back of his jeans, ejects the mag, counts rounds. "Eleven rounds left."
"Come." I lead him at a run back up the stairs through the dark, empty club—I catch of whiff of the cologne Jakob wears.
