No one was there when I opened it.
She went to walk past me, her heels making a crunching noise as she attempted to step over glass shards but couldn’t, but I stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Talk to me.”
She shook her head, her teeth sinking into her lip. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, then sighed, resigned. “I don't want you to have any part in whatever happens tonight.”
I expected her response would be in line with our earlier argument, but I realized that even though Winters had reminded her of our time apart, she was reminding me of what her life had been like without me.
It wasn't about that time at all, butthen—that second.
Usually, my feelings toward her were spot on, why she did things, but this? This took me by fucking surprise.
“What are you feeling?”
She shrugged. “It’s hard to tell, there are so many different…elements to tonight. A lot of feelings swirling around.”
“About me,” I said.
Her face paled, losing its flush, when I said those two words.
Leaving the door cracked, I led her back to the bed, set her down, and then took a knee in front of her.
She seized my hands, holding mine tight in hers.
“No,” she whispered. “I’m always solid when it comes to you, but I’m not always solid when it comes to other people and their intentions. That’s what worries me and makes me question myself. I’ve been worried more lately. I think it’s motherhood. I find myself worrying over the smallest details, trying to stop things before they happen. And—I’m worried, Brando, about you. Rainer made me think. Was his coming here tonight a sign? Are bad things going to happen? When I see him, I can’t help but feel what I did, when you sent me away.”
“Why did he come here, Scarlett?”
“He doesn’t love me. He came to find me because he’s in love with someone else, and maybe he needed someone to talk to. Someone who could understand. Whoever she is, she doesn’t want him.” She hesitated for a few beats, searching my eyes. “All of this is making me feel sick again. The very thought of—”
“Baby,” I said, squeezing her hands. “I can’t predict the future, but I know Lothario isn’t going to act tonight. That’s why Luca is. They don’t expect it. Not here. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lothario goes into the meeting alone, or maybe with one or two men. He’s too trusting that this party will stop Luca from challenging him.”
“Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t go.”
“I have to, or Luca will question my loyalty. Numerous people saw me talking to Lothario alone. If I don’t do as he says, he’ll assume my loyalties are with his brother.”
Another knock at the door, this one softer, and it came open without effort.
Romeo peeked his head in.
“You got into a fight with a rabid squirrel,” he said, looking around at the mess.
“A lioness,” I said, waving a hand.
A smile lit his face. Scarlett’s face flushed a deep crimson.
“It brings my hair great relief that you came out of the fight—” he scanned my face “—relatively unharmed, brother.” He stepped inside the room, crunching on glass. “Father is requesting your presence. We must go.”
Relatively unharmed.I touched the swollen meat of my lip with my tongue. “He sent you to look for me.”
“Men. Men are looking. I just happen to be the first to find you. This is where I would come, if I would have found it first.” He grinned.
Sighing, I stood, taking Scarlett’s hand, helping her from the bed. Running a quick hand through my hair to settle it, I left the red room with her by my side as we made our way to the heart of the party.
It was in full gear, the band long ago replaced with a DJ, and more than half the party so lit on alcohol they could have served as fire breathers.
Juliette sauntered up, drink in hand. Romeo took her by the waist, pulling her in, whispering something in her ear that made her cheeks redden.
