“Tilly,” she yells into the phone. “We just got here. Oh my God, you're not going to believe this place. You’ll never guess whose shoulder brushed mine literally two seconds ago.”
“Who?” I ask, smiling as she calls out a random name I’ve never heard before. I listen without interrupting as she listseverything she’s done so far. “That sounds amazing, Ari,” I say when she’s done.
“So, what about you? Any plans of inviting your faithful bodyguard over tonight? Maybe you two could share a meal, and then you can finally tell him about the massive crush you have on him.”
“I don't have a crush on Luca,” I say, my heart racing at the very thought of him.
“You know, Tilly, I’m the one person you can be honest with,” she says, her voice suddenly serious. “It’s okay to admit that you’re attracted to him. I mean, he’s handsome. Not exactly my type, but I see the way you look at him. I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at Luca. I know you, Tilly.”
I mull over her words. She’s right. If I could open up to anyone about my feelings for Luca, it would be my sister. And today, I crossed a line. I’m not sure I can go back now. “I’m afraid, Ari.”
“Of what?”
“Getting hurt.”
“The Luca I have come to know would never hurt you, Tilly.”
I sigh and walk to a chair, dropping down with another sigh. “His lifestyle scares me,” I confess. “I don't want to love him so deeply that I spend days and nights worrying about what will happen to him when he goes to work. God, Ari, what if he makes enemies, and they come after us like what happened with Mom and Dad? I would be putting your life at risk too by loving him.”
Ari is quiet for a moment, and I almost believe she’s hung up before she speaks again. “I wasn’t there that night,” shewhispers, pain laced in her voice. “I can’t pretend to understand how you feel or downplay your fears. I didn't see what you saw, Tilly, and I'm sorry you had to deal with that alone. But I don’t want to see you live in so much fear that you deny yourself happiness. And Luca makes you happy.”
“Maybe,” I chuckle, but the sound that comes out is empty of mirth.
“Then allow him to love you,” she says. “The Rossis are a very dangerous family, and Luca is practically part of that family. Anyone who comes after any of them has a death wish. They’re so powerful that they’re practically untouchable. But on the plus side, despite their power, they are not reckless and don’t take unnecessary risks.”
“But–”
“Tilly, you can’t live in constant fear of the future,” she says, her voice stronger now. “Life is unpredictable. An accident could happen before Luca’s supposed enemies get to us. Don’t…just don’t avoid life out of fear of the unknown.”
“When did you get so smart?” I chuckle, even as her words swirl in my mind.
“It’s because I’m older and wiser.”
“By two minutes.”
"Two minutes in which I got to experience life," she says, laughing. “Anyway, I have to check into my hotel room and film my vlog. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Alright, take care.”
My mood is a little lighter after the call, and I start for the kitchen, but a knock stops me in my tracks. For a moment, I think that Luca is back, and that’s enough to send my heart racing. I try not to rush to the door, taking a moment to applysome gloss on my lips and fluff my hair a bit. Not that I’m doing it for him or anything. It’s just rude to open the door looking like a mess. Basic manners.
Liar.
I resist the urge to touch my hair or dust my apron one more time as I unlock the door, pulling it open. I fully expect to see my bodyguard, but I am instead met by the handsome face of a Rossi brother. The men of that family are built like boulders, and it's a wonder they don't terrify every living creature they come across. Lorenzo Rossi is no different. The nerdy glasses he loves to wear don't fool anyone. He's as dangerous as the rest of them.
“Lorenzo, hey,” I say in greeting, my eyes dropping to the bag he’s carrying. “Thanks for coming so quickly. I didn’t expect you until later.”
“Luca made it sound urgent,” he says with a shrug. “Figured I’d get it done before—hey, what is that smell?” He pushes past me and into the apartment before I can stop him, zeroing in on the kitchen. I follow him and can’t help but laugh at how he beams at my charred cookies. “Are these chocolate chip cookies?”
“They’re burnt,” I say, breaking into a laugh when his face falls. I realize I haven’t laughed this hard in so long, and instead of feeling embarrassed at my flaws being on full display, I find myself feeling at ease around a Rossi. “You don’t have to look like a kicked puppy. I have a few cookies stored, and I was about to bake a fresh batch.”
“Good, because Luca and I didn’t discuss payment, and I demand chocolate chip cookies as payment for my work.”
“Oh, I’ll pay—”
"Don't," he says sternly. "You're practically family, Matilde. Two of my brothers are married to two of your cousins. The only payment I'll accept from you is in the form of unburned cookies. End of discussion."
I smile. “I’ll throw in a chocolate mousse too.”
