I was warming up to him. Slightly. And now this?
I turn away from him and try to focus on talking with Bianca to get this idea that we’re all in danger out of my head. But that’s difficult to do—there’s so much tension in the room. Everyone can tell that something is up. Even the little kids are sitting next to their parents at tables, looking wide-eyed rather than running around like children typically do at weddings.
Max, Hailey, Nick, and Savannah are on the dance floor. The two men look almost comical as they gaze around the room like sentinels while also trying to look like they’re focused on dancing with their partners.
My parents sit at the table next to ours, looking equally tense as they sit there in silence. And my grandfather has literally hidden himself in the corner of some alcove in this courtyard, feigning that he was getting too much sun when I know that’s a strategic decision on his part. No one can snipe him there. I wish we would all just walk out of the castle right now and not look back. But can we? If plans are in place to kill some or all of us, then that would just speed up the inevitable. And what if there isn’t a conspiracy? That would only squash this new alliance.
It’s truly a horrible situation.
I hear the sound of a throat clearing behind me. Bianca gives me a look before I turn around, and I don’t even need to look to know that it’s Alessandro.
“What?” I snap.
He extends his hand out. “I wanted to ask if you’d like to share a dance with me.”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.” I turn back towards my sister, hoping he’ll go away. But I can still feel his presence behind me.
And because Alessandro strives to be even more annoying, he pulls out the chair next to me and takes a seat. Clearly not catching the hint that I don’t want to be near him for a number of reasons.
The three of us sit in silence. I glare straight ahead, not bothering to act polite. Whatever. If I survive this, and ifAlessandro and I even remotely get along later on in life, this will be something we can laugh at.
He taps his fingers on the table in a way that slowly gets under my skin. Bianca rests her chin on her hand, pretending that staring at the food on the buffet table is the most interesting thing in the world.
“Fine,” I snap. “I’ll dance with you. Once. If you agree to stop acting so weird today.”
He shrugs, standing up and extending his hand out to me.
I take it reluctantly as he leads me to the dance floor where my brother and cousin stop for a beat to look at him as threateningly as possible.
My heart flutters in my chest. Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to this. I’m certainly not safer being physically closer to him.
But my heart flutters for a different reason—I have to admit that he looks handsome today. His right hand grabs my waist as he takes the lead in the slow song that the band plays. I look up at him and notice that his eyes are scanning the room.
“You look distracted. I figured you’d give me your full attention seeing that you were desperate for this dance.”
His watch buzzes again, and he grips my waist harder as he looks at it.
“Ouch!”
“Sorry.” His eyes meet mine and he softens his grip. He mutters to himself, “Damn thing, where the fuck is Gio?”
“What’s with you?” I ask.
“What?”
“The watch? Anytime it buzzes, you look like you’re going to drop dead of a heart attack. Maybe if you hate technology that much, consider not wearing a smartwatch.” I look at the chunky thing against the rest of his sleek ensemble. “It looks tacky, too.”
“Thanks for the fashion advice.” He grinds his teeth, but his eyes aren’t on me, and he looks around the room again.
I try to follow what he’s looking at but can’t figure out what he’s focused on. People sitting at tables, others grabbing food at the buffet table, Bianca now sitting with my parents.
Max draws my attention next. He’s on the dance floor with Hailey. His attention is fixed on Alessandro as he absentmindedly rubs his thumb on Hailey’s arm. He’s barely even dancing anymore, and it’s rare that he’s ever this uneasy.
Nick notices Max staring and then freezes with his hands on Savannah, looking even more conspicuous than my brother.
A couple of men from Alessandro’s side meander towards my grandfather. Grandpa has a couple of guards stationed near him who stand up.
Max takes Hailey and puts her behind him protectively, then rubs his hand through his hair. He’s not bothering to hide his nervousness anymore.
