“Then let’s go for another!” Matteo said, already waving to the bartender. Before I could think about it, another shot appeared in my hand, and the three of us were clinking glasses again. By the time I took that third shot, a buzzing warmth had settled in, spreading through me like confidence.
Someone pulled Matteo onto the dance floor, and I was left with Alexander, who watched me with that steady gaze, his smile softening as he took in my slightly tipsy grin. “Having fun?” he asked, leaning in close to be heard over the music.
“Yeah,” I admitted, feeling the words slip out without hesitation. “A lot more than I thought I would.”
“Well, let’s keep it that way,” he said, holding his hand out to me. “What do you say? Dance with me again?”
I took his hand without thinking twice, letting him guide me into the crowd, the bass thumping, the lights flashing all around us. And for the first time in as long as I could remember, I didn’t feel the need to look over my shoulder or worry about what anyone else thought. I was just…here. With him, in the middle of it all, and for once, I felt like I belonged in this moment.
10
ALEXANDER
Istopped drinking about four hours ago, but the DeLuca siblings were still going strong. To put it mildly, they were absolutely trashed. Matteo, I was used to. The guy’s always a friendly idiot when he’s had a drink—or three—but Lucia? Drunk Lucia? That was a whole new ball game.
She was a slippery little troublemaker when she was drunk, darting in and out of sight faster than I could keep up. I’d just turned my attention to Matteo for a second, trying to stop him from ordering yet another drink. Instead, I slipped some water into his glass, convincing him it was a vodka soda, a little tactic I had perfected over the years. That’s when I was going to do the same with Lucia.
But when I turned around, she was gone. My heart dropped, a dull thud in my chest. The music felt too loud all of a sudden, the bass like it was pulsing straight through my ribs. Every neon light seemed too bright. My senses were overloaded, and in the chaos of the club, all I could think was:Where the hell is she? And why the hell was she so damn small?
I shook it off, trying to focus, but Matteo’s voice broke through the fog, still going on and on about the time he’d jumped off a double-decker yacht in his birthday suit. He was laughing, recounting every embarrassing detail, and of course, he failed to remember that I was the one who’d dared him to do it in the first place.
“Mate, I need you to stay here, okay? I have to find your sister.” I grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to focus.
Drunk Matteo went completely still. Too still.
“Oh fuck, did we lose her? She doesn’t do well alone, or drunk, or drunk and alone. This is bad. This is really bad,” he started rambling, the panic creeping into his words.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm him down. “It’s okay, mate. Stay here. I’ll find her, and then we’ll head to the hotel. Sound good?”
Matteo blinked at me like I had just spoken a different language. Then, in true Matteo fashion, he grinned like a fool and changed the subject. “There were these cheesy chips in the minibar area. I’m gonna fuck those up when we get there.”
I rolled my eyes, running my hand through my hair. Drunk, idiotic, rambling best friend. I pointed at him. “Stay. I’m going to find your sister.”
Then I was off, weaving through the crowd.
Lucia was small, and this club? It was huge. The dark lights and thick haze of smoke didn’t help either. Everything felt like it was closing in. The floor seemed sticky, the music louder than ever.Had it always been this dark in here? Where the hell was she?
My heart was hammering now, and I tried to stay calm. But the whole night felt like it was slipping through my fingers, and I wasn’t going to let anything—anyone—slip away tonight.
I pushed through the crowd, my eyes scanning every corner, every face. My heart was racing, like I was on a clock, and time was slipping faster than I could catch it. The club was a mess of flashing lights, pounding beats, and the chaos of bodies moving, grinding, lost in the night. But there was no sign of her. No small blonde head bobbing in the sea of people. I could feel the tension building in my chest, that gnawing sense of worry I tried to ignore, but it was clawing at me now.
I turned, my gaze darting between faces, hoping I’d catch a glimpse of Lucia’s sharp, searching eyes, her laughter in the mix.Nothing.
And then, just as I was about to give in to the panic creeping up on me, I saw her.
She was standing near the back of the club, by the exit, looking like she was trying to slip past unnoticed. She had her arms crossed tightly, like she was hiding from something—or someone. She hadn’t seen me yet, but I could see the way her eyes flicked nervously around, like she was too aware of everything around her but not enough to be fully present.
Lucia.
I moved toward her in a flash, dodging people, my legs pushing faster as my pulse thudded in my ears. When I finally reached her, I grabbed her arm gently but firmly.
“Hey,” I said, my voice a little rougher than I meant it to be. “What the hell are you doing?”
Her eyes met mine, and there was this instant recognition, followed by a flash of irritation. She gave me a lazy half smile, but it was more mischievous than anything else. “Trying to find you,” she said, her words slurring just a little. “Too many tall people.”
I sighed, relief mixed with annoyance. “Well, I’m right here now.”
She gave me a wobbly shrug, but her face softened, the edge of her defiance flickering out, replaced with that vulnerable look I hated seeing on her. “I wanted to dance, but then it was like the people swallowed me up and I couldn’t find you or Matteo.” Her voice was quieter now, almost lost in the thrum of the club.
