Slipping out of my suite like a shadow. Leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and terror.
I couldn't sleep. Didn't even try. Just paced my room for hours while my mind spun through every possible disaster scenario.
What if the Council didn't act fast enough? What if Salvatore found out before they could intervene? What if Kai got hurt trying to protect me? What if I lost him before we ever had a real chance?
By the time dawn broke, I was exhausted and wired simultaneously. Every nerve on edge. Every sound making me jump.
A soft knock on my door at 7am nearly gave me a heart attack.
"Miss Aria? It's Mrs. Rossi. May I come in?"
I opened the door. Mrs. Rossi stood there, her face grave. Worried.
"Don Salvatore has summoned you to his study. Immediately."
My heart plummeted into my stomach. Crashed through the floor. Kept falling.
"Why? Did he say why?"
"No, child. Just that you're to come right away." She touched my arm gently. "Whatever happens in there, keep your composure."
So she knew. Or suspected. Of course she did. Mrs. Rossi knew everything that happened in this house.
"Is Kai...?"
"Already there. Along with Luca." Her expression softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry, dear. I wish there was something I could do."
There wasn't. We both knew it.
I tried to think positively as I walked through the hallways. Maybe this was about something else. Maybe Luca hadn't reported anything. Maybe Salvatore just wanted to discuss wedding details.
But the sick feeling in my stomach told me I was lying to myself.
The door to Salvatore's study was open. I walked in and my heart stopped.
Luca stood near the window, arms crossed, expression smug. Victorious. Like he'd been waiting for this moment for weeks.
In the far corner, Kai stood with his arms folded across his chest. His face was completely blank. Deadpan. Giving nothing away.
But when his eyes met mine for just a fraction of asecond, I saw everything. Love. Determination. A silent promise that he'd protect me no matter what.
He was trying to tell me he had this. That I should trust him.
I wanted to. Desperately wanted to believe we'd walk out of this room alive.
Salvatore sat behind his massive desk. Cold fury radiated from him in waves. The temperature in the room felt like it had dropped ten degrees.
"Sit." His voice was flat. Emotionless. Terrifying.
I sat in one of the chairs facing his desk. Kai remained standing in the corner.
Salvatore's eyes moved from me to Kai and back. Assessing. Cataloging. Like we were specimens under a microscope.
"Luca has reported something very interesting to me this morning. Would either of you care to explain before I share his observations?"
"No? Very well." Salvatore leaned back in his chair. "Luca has been noticing things for several weeks now. My son spending an excessive amount of time with my future bride. Closed door meetings that seem to go on longer than necessary. Missing hours where neither of you can account for your whereabouts. And last night, he found Kai in your sitting room, Aria. In my wing. After midnight."
My hands clenched in my lap. I tried to keep my face neutral. Failed miserably.
