Bambolina, I only need you.” He curved his arm around my waist, pulling me close. I slid my palms up his chest, leaning up to kiss him.
“You have me,” I breathed, “always.”
Chapter 23
Nicco
We spent the rest of the day in bed. Matteo and Luis made themselves scarce. There was a fire pit around the back of the cabin. Arianne wanted to check it out, but I’d told her it wasn’t safe.
I didn’t want to share her, not yet.
Not after earlier.
I hadn’t wanted to take off, but after seeing my father and my uncles, I’d needed air. What I’d really needed was to fight, but I couldn’t do that, so I’d hopped on my bike with only one thing in mind.
Me and the open road.
Then Arianne had appeared.
I’d seen the disappointment in her eyes; it cut me like tiny daggers. But it was no more than I deserved.
I couldn’t tell her the truth, not yet. And the secrets and lies were beginning to feel like a burden too heavy to carry.
When the sun began to sink behind the tree line, Matteo, Enzo, and Luis all returned to the cabin, this time with pizza.
“You seem better,” Enzo said as the two of us found some plates and napkins.
“I’m okay.” We shared a silent look.
My eyes flicked to Arianne, who immediately averted her gaze. I knew she wanted to know what had happened earlier, but so far she was respecting our privacy.
We joined them, and together we enjoyed an evening eating pizza and drinking beer with her bodyguard and my best friends. Between the food, easy conversation, and laughter it was easy to pretend there wasn’t a shitshow happening around us.
“That was so good.” She licked the grease off her fingers, and a low growl built in my chest when I noticed Enzo and Matteo watching her. They both chuckled, and I flipped them off.
Luis had been quiet, happy to listen to us regale Arianne with stories of our childhood. But when his cell phone vibrated for the fifth time, Enzo grumbled. “Are you going to get that?”
“It’s Roberto.” Luis’ eyes flashed to me. “He wants Arianne to reply to his messages.”
“I have nothing to say to him,” she said.
Arianne had left her cell in the bedroom all day.
“If you need to talk—”
“I said I have nothing to say to him.” Irritation laced her words.
“It’s okay.” I squeezed her knee. “Luis will handle it.” I shot him a pointed look, and Luis clambered to his feet, disappearing down the hall.
Tristan was buying us time. Mike Fascini knew about Scott’s latest attack. He knew Luis had taken Arianne to a safe place. As far as we were aware, Roberto had told him Arianne needed some space. But he wasn’t a fool. Eventually, he would piece together that I was with her, that we were planning to make our move against him.
“Are you two staying?” she asked Matteo and Enzo.
“Yeah, we’re going to crash here.”
“What about classes?”
“It’s all about keeping up pretenses, but maybe after all this, we won’t need to—” Matteo elbowed Enzo in the ribs.
“Let me guess, you guys aren’t supposed to talk about it.” Arianne’s expression fell.
“I’m sorry.” I brushed my lips over her forehead.
“It’s late,” she let out a small sigh, “we should probably get some sleep.”
“Like you’ll be doing any of that,” Enzo snorted.
I swiped a bottle cap off the table and threw it at his head. “Watch your mouth.”
“I’ll clean up first.” Arianne got up but I grabbed her hand.
“They can handle it.” I glared at my cousins. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
Guiding Arianne down the hall, we fell into the bedroom in a tangle of kisses and soft moans. “I feel bad,” she breathed against my lips.
“What for?”
“Because they’re stuck here while we...” Her cheeks flamed.
“They get it.”
“Do they?”
“Enzo not so much but Matteo understands.”
“What do you—”
“Bambolina?” I advanced on Arianne, not stopping until she was caged between my body and the wall.
“Yes?” She looked at me through her lashes.
“Stop talking.”
“Why?” Her lips curved and I lowered my head, capturing them in a bruising kiss.
“Because, amore mio, I’m going to strip the clothes from your body, lay you down, and worship every single inch of you.”
“Oh.” She blushed.
“Still want to talk?” I cocked a brow.
Arianne shook her head. “I’ll be quiet now.”
“Good.” Kissing the corner of her mouth, I whispered, “The only word I want to hear falling from your lips while we’re in this room is my name.”
The next morning, I left Arianne sleeping and went