“Jesus Christ. Romeo and Juliet who?”
She laughs. “I’m really sorry, Amber. For keeping you in the dark. I didn’t want you pulled into it.”
I shake my head. “I was ready to whoop Matteo’s ass.”
She laughs at that, a real laugh this time, and winces immediately after. “I don’t doubt it.”
We talk a little more. She’s still weakened from the poison, so I don’t want to bring her mood further down. I’ll tell her about Coral another time. About the horrible message I found on her door. I still have no idea who wrote it, but I know they’ve been watching me, and if Rose taught me anything, it’s that you do what you have to do to protect your friends.
Even if it means ghosting them for a few weeks.
Which I still plan to whoop her ass for, by the way.
When I leave the room, my chest still feels tight, but it’s a survivable kind of tight now. The kind that comes from shock instead of dread.
Outside, I turn to Giovanni.
“Thank you,” I say.
He nods casually, like it’s every day he plays the role of the knight in shining armor.
“Can you drop me off at work?” I add.
He stops short. “No.”
I sigh. “Giovanni.”
“You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
“I won’t be,” I say. “Izzy’s there. And she has a kid at home. I can’t leave her hanging.”
He studies me for a long moment, jaw tight, weighing risks I can’t see.
Finally, he exhales. “I have somewhere else I need to be.”
I don’t ask where.
“I’ll pick you up at closing,” he continues. “You don’t leave before then.”
“Deal.”
He walks me to the front of the restaurant later that night, and waits while I unlock the door. Before I can overthink it, I turn back to him.
We kiss.
It’s brief. Public. Charged anyway.
“Be careful,” I tell him.
He smiles, slow and dangerous. “Always.”
I watch him walk away, then step inside and lock the door behind me. Inside, I breathe a sight of relief.
20
GIOVANNI
The docks are quieter tonight.
