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“There are also criminals and murderers,” Graham points out.
Every word feels like a knife cutting deep into my chest.
“Hey, you don’t know—maybe you’ll like some of them. They seem pretty cool. One of them—his name’s Tony—is really cute, but he’s apparently married. Most of them are married, actually. I wonder how many of them married of their own free will and how many did it out of love. I’ve heard arranged marriages are common in their world, just like ours.”
“That doesn’t really matter, though,” Graham states. “I’m going to keep my distance while I’m in New York. Dad’s watching me like a hawk and the last thing I want to do is get involved with the mafia, especially not now when he’s finally starting to trust me.”
I don’t need to hear anymore. My heart feels like it’s been shoved into a meat grinder. I hurriedly leave before they discover me here. I manage enough composure to re-enter the ballroom, heading straight for Enzo.
He frowns when he notices my expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “But I really need to leave. Can one of the capos drive me home? I know you just got here, but I need to go. Please?”
He studies my face for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, alright. I’ll ask one of them to drive you.”
“Thanks. I’m going to the parking lot to wait.”
I walk away, heading straight for the exit. Graham’s words keep ringing in my mind. I had a feeling he would think that way, but I guess I deluded myself into thinking it wouldn’t matter.
I’m so upset I’m not watching where I’m going, and I crash into someone as soon as I step out of the room.
“Woah,” he says with a small laugh, wrapping his arms around my waist to prevent me from falling.
I look up and my eyes clash with emerald green eyes. Graham. His expression goes through a range of emotions—amusement, confusion, shock. His eyes widen.
“Holy shit, Isabella?”
We stand like that for several long moments. His arms are around me, and for a second I pretend that I didn’t hear what he said. I think about how much I wanted to see him. I anticipated this moment, and now it’s all ruined.
“Let me go,” I snap, pulling myself out of his grip.
He does, standing back in surprise. “Wha-what are you doing here?”
“That doesn’t matter anymore.”
“What’s going on, Gray?”
I glance over and his sister is standing there, looking at us in confusion.
“Nothing. Go inside. Tell Dad I’ll take a few more minutes,” Graham tells her, his gaze still locked on mine.
Mikayla looks at me one last time before walking back inside the ballroom. Once she’s gone, Graham cocks his head to the side, eyes roaming my face.
“Are you okay?”
“Perfectly fine,” I grit out. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I start to walk away, but he places a hand on my arm to stop me.
“Hold up. Excuse you to where? I see you for the first time in three months and you think I’m just going to let you leave like that? What are you doing here?”
“I was invited. Or should I say my family was invited,” I mutter.
He stares at me confused. I decide to put him out of his misery.
“Congratulations, Graham. You get to figure out the big mystery. My last name ties it all together perfectly.”
He peers at me like I’m some kind of crazy woman. “Alright, Sunshine,” he states, and I hate my way my stomach flutters at the nickname. “What’s your last name?”
