I glance between them, confusion swirling in my gut while a buzz of excitement rushes through me.
It settles deep in my core as Falco makes it clear that he’s not to be dismissed.
It shouldn’t be hot, but it really is.
I fight to keep the smile off my face.
“No?” Giacomo repeats. “Aerin is coming out with me, so you won’t be needed. As you can see, I have my own team. She will be well protected.”
Falco doesn’t even glance at Giacomo’s security. His gaze is locked and unwavering on my brother. “I go where she goes,” he says flatly. “That’s my job. So I can assure you I’m not going anywhere.”
14
FALCO
The bar Giacomo takes us to, Cloud, is a mix of a bar and restaurant.
Near the door, a small cluster of tables sit filled with people sharing nachos, chicken wings, and a variety of drinks from the bar.
The bar itself takes up most of the left wall and is tended by four people darting back and forth to serve the growing crowd.
From the middle to the right is a dance floor and DJ booth filled with people rocking and grinding on one another to the music churned out by a man dressed in leopard print with pink hair.
Not the sort of place I expect someone like Giacomo to enjoy spending time in.
He’s greeted at the bar like a friend, orders some drinks and food, then he and Aerin settle into their conversation at the tables.
I remain at a distance, watching Aerin out of the corner of my eye while keeping a closer eye on Giacomo’s security and all the other people mingling around the tables.
His request for me to stand down was a first, and I would oblige if not for the oath I swore to Guido.
Only he has the power to end my watch on Aerin, and until that order comes I’m sticking to her like glue.
No matter how much it hurts.
As much as it pains me, I’ve tried to distance myself this past week.
I was so close to kissing her in the garden and ruining the delicate balance I’ve curated between myself and my feelings. It’s tempting to give in.
Every second I’m with her, every time I hear her laugh or see her smile or watch her engage in gentle conversation with the staff at the estate, I’m tempted to sweep her into my arms and show her how much I care.
The only thing holding me back is that the momentary gratification of giving in to my feelings isn’t worth it.
Not when I can have the rest of my life by her side, keeping her alive, loving her from a distance.
It’s pain I can channel into other things.
As turbulent as it makes my mind, what’s another thing keeping me awake at night?
Distance is best.
I remain her statue, never taking my attention off her even as I scan the bar. What started as a quiet, late-afternoon trip quickly turns into something much more.
Football appears on the TV and draws the crowds while a new DJ, this one with a neon mask covering their face, changes the music into something with a deeper bass that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge.
Each thump that’s a tad too loud aggravates my ears. As time ticks on, my chest grows tighter and tighter.
I hate it here.
