guy.” Nora shuffled back to her own seat and accepted the drink from him.
“I didn’t get you anything, Ari, sorry, I didn’t—”
“It’s okay.” For as much as a strong drink would no doubt settle some of my nerves, I couldn’t afford to drop the ball.
Not tonight.
Chapter 17
Nicco
I couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t sit in my uncle’s house knowing that she was at some flashy hotel being paraded around as his fiancée.
After our heated conversation this morning, I’d tried texting her. I’d even called again, but Arianne was freezing me out. It hurt. It hurt so fucking much that when I stormed out of the house and fired up my bike, I told myself I wouldn’t go there. Told myself that I just needed to ride and clear my head. But before I knew it, the roads grew familiar... until I was in Roccaforte, the Gold Star Hotel looming in the distance like a neon fucking sign put there to taunt me.
She was in there with him.
My Arianne.
My strong, brave Arianne.
I found somewhere to park and threw my leg over the bike and just stood there. Staring at the place like it was a mirage in a scorched desert. You knew you shouldn’t... but you just couldn’t help yourself fall for the illusion.
It was a bad decision.
A moment of weakness that could land me in a whole heap of trouble.
But in that moment, I didn’t care.
I didn’t care I was defying my father’s direct order, risking everything just to be near her.
Before I could stop myself, I started towards the hotel, keeping to the shadows. My hooded jacket afforded me some disguise, but I knew Roberto and Fascini’s security guys would have been told to keep an eye out for any signs of me or my guys.
Part of me wondered if Fascini was banking on me showing up. That maybe this was all an intricate trap laid to ensnare me, and I was walking willingly into it.
But I had to see Arianne.
After our fight this morning, I needed to see her. I needed to look her in the eyes and know we were okay, that we could survive this.
As I drew closer to the Gold Star, I pressed closer to the rows of storefronts, careful not to draw too much attention to myself. It was heavily guarded, numerous security men posted on the entrance and beyond the glass doors. There was no way I was walking through the front door, but I knew there were multiple entrances. The hotel overlooked vast lawns that ran down to a private lake, that was my best option. It would give me a perfect vantage point of the Michelangelo Suite. I could watch, I could make sure she was okay, and then I could slip away like a ghost.
It shouldn’t have been so easy. I’d walked right into the gardens, scaled a wall, and found the perfect place to watch from.
It all seemed very dull; dinner followed dessert. I could just make out Arianne as she sat quietly wedged between Fascini and Nora’s date. There were security guys posted at every window, and the door was heavily guarded. But I wasn’t going inside. Watching was enough.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
A crunch sounded behind me and I shot up, glancing around. My eyes strained against the darkness, my heart thudding against my ribcage. If anyone caught me out here—
“Enzo?” I frowned.
“You couldn’t just do as you were fucking told, could you?”
“How did you...?”
“I know you, Nic. I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away. Just took me a while to find you.”
“I had to come.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I know.” I looked back at the hotel. People had begun moving around while the servers worked quickly to clear away empty plates and dirty glasses. Arianne and Nora were huddled close. God, she looked fucking amazing. The emerald green dress accentuated her soft curves to perfection.
A low growl formed in my throat as I watched Scott loop his arm around her waist and guide her toward a group of people as if he owned her.
“Easy, Cous.” Enzo’s hand clamped down on my shoulder. “You need to relax.”
“Relax?” I snapped. “She’s in there with another guy. The same guy who...” The words soured on my tongue as I swallowed them down.
“I know but you need to keep your head. You shouldn’t be here. If anyone were to see you that would be a shitshow of epic proportions. She’s okay. You can see that. It sucks, I know