“That’s what brought on the last couple of hoodie days,” Lil says. It’s a statement, not a question. Thankfully, she doesn’t bring up the nightmares. I can’t talk about those right now.
“What does it mean, Ariana?” Luca asks, his voice thick with worry.
“It means someone’s out there, and she’s not safe.” Lil answers before I can, her voice deadly. It softens a little when she says, “And you have to tell Dad, Ari. You should have told him already. You should have told me.”
“I know,” I say softly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to be real.” Imeet Luca’s concerned gaze in the rearview mirror but quickly look away.
As soon as I step out of the car at home, Luca’s there. He grabs me in a fierce hug that has me fighting back tears because it’s like he somehow pours all his love, strength, and support into that hug. I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
“I’m not letting anything happen to you.” His voice is muffled by my hair.
“I know.” My voice is muffled by his chest.
“Okay, my turn. You’re hogging Ariana, and I’m not used to sharing.” Luca releases me, and I’m instantly in Lil’s arms. She and I walk hand in hand into the house so I can tell Dad someone is watching me. Again.
But Dad isn’t home. He and Mom are having a night away, staying at a hotel somewhere, even though date night was the night before. I promise to tell him tomorrow because there’s no way I’m ruining their good time tonight.
I spend the evening curled up on the couch, wedged between Luca and Lil.
Chapter 47
I was still wrong—this fucking blows
Luca
Ilie in bed for a long time, thinking about the past day.
We had a perfect day. I mean, as perfect of a day a guy can have when his girlfriend and his cousin are actively trying to annoy him. But honestly, I don’t care what we do as long as I get to spend my time with Ariana.
Girlfriend. That word isn’t strong enough for what she means to me. But I’ll worry about that later.
I know Marco really just has me doing the security detail thing to learn, not because he was greatly concerned about anything happening to the girls. I might not be set on a career in security detail, but I’m sure as hell set on Ariana. I found a decent balance of bodyguard and boyfriend while she and Lil dragged me from one end of the market and back again. The gyros were great, the boba tea was fucking weird, and watching Ariana eat that ice cream cone made me so hard I was afraid I would come in my pants in public. Dancing while waiting for her coffee was like the cherry on top.
But I never want to see her stiffen in fear the way she did onthe way back to the car again. I didn’t see anyone who seemed to be focused on her, but that doesn’t mean shit. I don’t know the whole story, but if she feels threatened, then I’m going to do everything in my power to eliminate that threat. I know she’s safest in this house, even with Marco gone. There are over twenty men stationed around the property at all times. There are guns and safe rooms and cameras. But it doesn’t feel like enough.
I hate that we’re waiting to tell Marco. But Ariana promised to talk to him in the morning.
And I hate that she didn’t mention this ice neck thing already. The fact that it’s happened more than once recently makes me anxious as fuck. I’m not mad at her, but I’m fucking frustrated. And scared, if I’m being honest with myself. My nerves are shot.
I held and touched her as much as I could while we watched movies for hours after dinner. It really does make us both feel better.
Lil suggested we each pick a movie and we all had to watch it with no objections. Which we knew was bullshit because we’re a mouthy, bitchy group. I picked the originalJurassic Parkbecause it’s my favorite movie. Ariana grinned at me, and she might know more lines than I do. I fell more in love with her while watching it, sitting by her side, her hand in mine.
Ariana pickedRobin Hood: Men in Tights. I had never seen it before, but I laughed my ass off. I was sure Lil would pick a horror movie or some over-the-top comedy, but she pickedEver After. She told me while Ariana was in the bathroom that she thought it might help calm Ariana before bed. She said something likeBeauty and the Beastmight work better, but she was saving it in case they had trouble sleeping tonight.
I’m having trouble sleeping now, but I don’t think an old movie is going to help. Holding my girl would, though.
Fuck. I need to know who is out there, who is scaring Ariana.
I finally drift off to sleep.
When I wake up to screams, my feet are moving before my brain can catch up. I’m out of my room and across the hall in seconds, slamming Lil’s door open.
Ariana is sitting up, screaming at… nothing. Lil’s a few feet away from her, calling her name. My cousin looks at me, her eyes wide.
“What the fuck is happening?” I yell, dropping to my knees on the mattress in front of Ariana. Her eyes are open but unfocused.
“She’s not really awake, Luca. She has nightmares. Well it’s a memory and it’s just the one over and over. It used to be a lot but wasn’t anymore, but now ice neck is happening. Sometimes, she wakes up fine, but sometimes this happens.” Lil talks fast without taking a breath, in panic mode. I can barely hear her over Ari’s heart-wrenching screams.
