Sofia squeals, “Adventure!”
Gia whistles. “Bold. Stupid, but bold.”
Isabella sets down her mug with a small, wicked smile. “I approve.”
I turn to Gia. “Can you get me there?”
Gia snorts. “Honey, I can barely get myself past Nico without Alessandro sending a SWAT team.”
My stomach drops. Right.
Nico.
Gia jerks her thumb toward the hallway.
“He’s outside right now. And he will absolutely narc on you to Alessandro the second you breathe near a door. Nico will never let you leave. Do you know what he’d do if I so much as breathe funny? He’d call Dante. Dante would call Alessandro. Alessandro would storm back here, tear the door off its hinges, and murder all of us.”
Sofia nods seriously. “Papa would be mad.”
I bite my lip, frustrated tears burning the back of my eyes. “I need to see him. He won’t listen unless I look him in the eyes.”
A beat of silence. Then Isabella stands. Slowly. With purpose.
“I can get her out,” she says softly.
Gia gapes. “Isa, Nico is trained to follow threats and beautiful women.”
Isabella’s smile is sweet and entirely predatory. “Which is why he’ll be very… occupied.”
Gia’s grin goes wicked. Sofia bounces excitedly.
“I help distract Zia Gia’s guard! I’m very cute. Papa says it’s dangerous.”
Gia takes Sofia by the hand and marches loudly toward the front hallway.
From the living room, we hear Sofia gasp, “Nico! Nico! I made brownies! But you can’t have any.”
Gia piles on, “She’s lying. They’re all for you. Come taste-test them, pretty boy.”
Nico’s suspicious voice floats out, “What are you two up to?”
Meanwhile Isabella grabs my wrist and whispers, “Come on.”
We slip down the side hallway—the one Nico can’t see from his post. Isabella opens the back door soundlessly.
Cool night air rushes in. I take one last breath. I’m going to Alessandro.
My husband.
My storm.
My sanity.
And I’m going to drag him home myself.
The warehouse looks like a steel giant against the night sky.
Isabella parks around the side, out of sight, and gives my hand one last squeeze. “Go,” she whispers. “He needs you.”
