A girl can still dream though—until the moment that dream becomes a living nightmare.
“Does that mean you are going to let things progress with Leo?” Frankie asks as we round the end of the hallway, heading toward the library.
“Yes, but I might have to convince him.”
She barks out a laugh. “He’s a man. They have sex on the brain constantly. I don’t think it will take much persuasion.”
“He’s been so careful with me.”
Frankie stops and tugs on my arm. “Because he loves you and he knew you were grieving. He’s a good man, and I’m glad he was there for you, but you need to ride that stallion, girl, and get your fill before that fuckingstronzocomes calling. You will only regret it if you don’t.”
I’m still thinking about Frankie’s words twenty minutes later, instead of studying during my free period, wondering if I can reclaim my bravery and go after what I want.
What I have always wanted—Leo.
Desire laps at my skin, and I’m hot under my clothes. Liquid lust pools in my panties just imagining having sex with him. Giving Leo my virginity is something I have dreamed about for years, but now that it’s a distinct possibility, I’m nervous.
Leo has been with a lot of girls, and I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. Frankie is a great source of information, sharing her experiences and letting me know what guys want, but what if I’m no good at it? What if I can’t give him the kind of pleasure he is used to? What if it’s a big disappointment and he changes his mind about me?
I’m not sure I could cope if he turned his back on me.
Not that I truly think he would. He tells me daily he loves me, and he’s always showering me with little gifts and tons of affection. I know Leo knows what he’s doing and he’ll make it good for me. For us. He’ll show me how to please him, and the thought of learning all the ways I can turn him on helps to dispel my fears. I trust Leo. With my life. My body. My heart.
I have no need to be afraid. He will take care of me.
Just as I reach that life-changing affirmation, I’m called to the principal’s office.
“Want me to come with?” Frankie asks as I gather up my stuff.
“Nah. It’s probably just about NYU.” Principal Peters has been very encouraging. Even offering to speak to Papa about my place at NYU. I don’t know how much she knows about our rules and traditions, if anything. While it’s sweet she wants to step in and support me like this, there is no way she can interfere. It wouldn’t make the slightest difference.
My heart splutters in my chest when I open the principal’s office to find Carlo Greco waiting for me. All the blood drains from my face, and I’m sure I’m as white as a ghost.
“Oh, Natalia. There you are.” Mrs. Peters gets up out of her seat and rounds the desk, her brow puckering as she inspects my stricken face. “Are you feeling okay, Natalia? You look a little pale.”
Behind her back, Carlo points his gun at her skull as he shakes his head in warning.
“I’m fine. It’s just a headache. I’ve been studying a lot and not getting much fresh air,” I blurt, trying to sound plausible.
“Your cousin is here. Apparently, there’s a bit of a family emergency, and he needs to take you home.”
“What emergency?” I ask, looking at Carlo, instantly panicked.
“I will explain in the car,” he says, keeping his gun tucked behind his back as he stands.
I nod as rising panic crawls up my throat. Carlo grips my arm, pulling me in to his side, subtly digging the gun into my back. “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Peters. Natalia will be back at school tomorrow.”
“It was lovely to meet you, Carlo,” she says, a genuine smile on her face, and I guess she was taken in by his fake charm and his handsome features. “We will see you tomorrow, Natalia.”
I plaster a smile on my face, nodding as I let the monster escort me from her office.
He keeps the gun pressed to my side, hidden in between our bodies as we walk the empty corridor that leads to the back of the building. “Miss me,dolcezza?” he asks, nuzzling his nose into my neck, and I almost barf on the spot. “Or were you too busy fucking around with Messina to care?”
“What?” I shriek, attempting to wrangle my arm from his hold. “Are you for real right now?” I glare at him. “My mother died. I’ve been in mourning, and for the last time, Leo is my friend. My bodyguard. Nothing more,” I lie, hoping he doesn’t feel how badly I’m trembling. I should have told Leo or Mateo about Carlo’s threats last year because it’s clear we still have a mole. Someone has been spying on us, and I doubt Carlo will accept my protests.
Fear crawls up my spine as he drags me out the back door, ensuring my bodyguards aren’t aware I have left the building. Most days, only one of them sits guard in front of my school because it’s not considered a big threat. For someone to take me from school, in broad daylight, is risky as fuck. But my despicable fiancé is anything but predictable.
Carlo manhandles me into the back of a blacked-out SUV. The two goons who were with him the day he assaulted me in my house are in the front. Both men turn around, leering at me in a way that turns the blood in my veins to ice.
