“He didn’t know I was there,” she continues, frowning. “That’s normal, by the way—they never know I’m there with them. That’s why I was so freaked out when you Called me that night and were able to speak to me and…”
“Gave you a mind-blowing orgasm?” I offer.
“Yeah, that.” She actually blushes, which is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I can forgive this woman anything, broken nose included.
“He was at an airport, Luca. And the boards behind him… They said Cairo! Fuck! He’s going for Paola.”
She leaps up and grabs one of the burner phones she left out before we went to bed. She frowns as she stabs out a number. “Donatella, is that you?” she says.
A female voice can be heard over the sounds of glasses clinking, people laughing, and loud dance music. “Rosa! What the hell’s going on with you? Tomasso told everyone you’ve been kidnapped and that Pietro is missing, presumed dead, and?—”
“Donna, shut the fuck up. We don’t have time for that. Are you still in Cairo? Are you at a party?”
“Yes, I’m still in Cairo, and yes, of course I’m at a party! Have you met me?”
Rosa rolls her eyes, and I get the impression that this is a lifelong ritual, a pattern that has developed over decades.
“Leave the party, Donatella. And go to Paola. She’s in danger. There’s a vamp headed her way. Name’s Kurt. He’s part of this—part of these Calls we’ve all been getting. There’s more to it, but I don’t have time to explain right now. You need to get to Paola and keep her safe.”
The background noise fades, and I imagine the Agostini Seer moving to a quiet space.
“Rosa, calm the fuck down—Paola is fine. She left for Cape Town this morning. Her parents decided she needed to be closer to home.”
“She’s not in Cairo?” Rosa echoes, her voice a combination of relief and confusion.
“No, like I just told you! She’s safe.” There’s a heavy pause. “But what about you? Tomasso said?—”
“Does he know?” Rosa snaps. “Does he know that she’s been moved?”
“No, they only decided today, and Tomasso seemed preoccupied. They didn’t want to bother him. Seriously though, Rosa. Have you been fucking kidnapped or what?”
“Yeah. I was kidnapped,” Rosa says, and sadness flickers across her face. She was, of course—grabbed, drugged, tossed into a van, held captive. Just not by me. “But it’s complicated. Look, Donna, I can’t talk now, but we should meet. Can you get to New York?”
I snatch the phone from her hand before she can say another word and crush it in my fist, then throw it to the floor and stamp on it for good measure.
“Luca, what the hell?” she demands, eyes blazing.
“You can’t trust her!” I snap right back, getting in her face, towering over her. Bullying her but not giving a shit because it needs to be done. “You don’t know what’s going on. Neither of us does. She could be part of this thing.”
Her chest rises and falls with each deep breath, and she forces her hands out of fists and flexes her fingers straight. She was ready to fight but is forcing herself down. Maybe I need to do the fucking same.
“What thing?” She snatches a pair of fresh panties from the table and hops from leg to leg as she puts them on. After she adds her sweatpants, she picks up the two halves of the tank top I destroyed and scowls.
“I’ll buy you a new one,” I mutter.
“Good. We can have a trip to the mall together, and you can get me a new fucking phone as well. Get dressed, will you? I can’t concentrate with your ass in my line of sight.”
I can’t keep the grin off my face. “Too distracting for you, bella?”
“Yeah, I’m not quite sure if I want to grab it or kick it. Look, before we go any further, we need to talk. And before that, could you go check on Pietro? I need to get some food, and I’ll see you back here in ten.”
The thought of her leaving this room, leaving my protection, makes all my instincts surge, and without noticing I’m doing it, I place myself between her and the door.
“Give it a rest, Luca,” she says, angry, but also… sad? Frustrated? She’s allowed to feel those things. Those things and more.
Her hand goes up to my chest, her fingers gentle on my skin. She looks up at me and smiles. Just a smile, but my heart shatters.
“I know you want to protect me and keep me safe. But I’m literally walking a hundred yards to the vending machine, and I don’t think the vending machine is part of an evil plot to kill me, okay? Plus, I need some air. I need a break. Don’t make me sneak out again.”
