I poke his chest with my index finger. "To vacation?"
"To do nothing." His eyebrows lift. "You seem like an expert."
I bite my lower lip, fighting a smile. "Was that a JOKE? At my expense?"
"Maybe." He tilts his head, eyes narrowing slightly as his mouth twitches at the corner.
I'm delighted. He's learning banter. I'm corrupting him with my chaos.
We end up tangled on the couch, some terrible action movie playing that neither of us watches. My head rests on his chest, his heartbeat steady under my ear. His hand plays with my hair absently, fingers catching in the tangles from last night. Through the open window, I can hear boats on the bay, the distant thrum of South Beach already starting its party at noon.
This is nice. Better than nice. This is everything I didn't know I wanted.
I trace lazy patterns on his skin, following scars and ink, learning the geography of him. He lets me explore without flinching, without pulling away. Just existing together in this bubble where nothing bad can reach us.
"I thought I hated being still," I murmur.
"What changed?"
"Maybe I just hated being still alone."
His lips press against the top of my head, and something shifts in my chest. A recognition. A certainty.
I don't say it. Keep it silent, precious, held close like my mother's watch. But it's there, growing with each breath we share.
He kisses my temple, and I could stay here forever. In this moment. In this stillness that doesn't feel empty anymore because we're still together.
Then my phone starts to buzz.
I ignore it at first. Whatever it is can wait. But it keeps going. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Insistent and angry.
"Popular this morning," Nico says, but his hand is already moving toward where his gun sits on the side table. Always ready.
"Probably nothing."
But it won't stop. I finally grab it, ready to silence it completely, and freeze.
Nineteen missed calls. Texts from Logan, my lawyer, Carmen who handles my PR disasters, plus some numbers I don't recognize.
"What's wrong?" Nico sits up, already shifting into tactical mode, that soldier emerging from beneath the gentle morning.
"I don't know."
Logan's text just says:Call me. NOW.
My stomach drops.
Before I can call Logan back, I see why everyone's trying to reach me. It's everywhere. Trending on every platform, picked up by legitimate news outlets, spreading like wildfire.
DELGADO HEIRESS EMBEZZLING FROM FAMILY BUSINESS: Sources Reveal Shocking Financial Misconduct
My phone buzzes again. One more text in the flood. I almost ignore it, can't handle one more person asking if the allegations are true.
Then I see the name.
Gabriel.
My brother who fled to God eight years ago. My brother who left me alone with our secret. My brother who hasn't sent anything more substantial than hollow holiday greetings since he put on that collar.
