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"I'm sure Nicolas would prefer to stay with us," my mother replied. "He's shy."
I wasn't shy. I was terrified.
"Oh, it's okay," Andrew stated. "He'll be fine with Genevieve."
"But—"
"Your man there can go with them if you think it will make Nicolas feel better," Andrew suggested.
I wanted to shake my head. I didn't want Steve to go anywhere with me. I was afraid of what the man might do if he got me alone, and if Gena was inside the bathroom, that would leave me alone in the hallway with Steve.
I had no choice when Gena yanked on my arm and started leading me away from the crowd of partygoers and toward a hallway at the back of the room.
I started to wonder where we were going when we continued through the hallway to the very back of the house.
Where in the hell was this bathroom?
The moon?
When she finally stopped in front of one of the doors, I tried to take a step back so she could enter, but she refused to let go of my arm. Instead, Gena leaned up on her heels and pressed her cheek against mine.
"Close your eyes," she whispered.
What?
"Close your eyes, Nico."
I reared back until I could see her face. No one called me Nico. Well, no one had called me Nico since I had been sixteen years old, not since that horrible day when I lost the only man I had ever loved.
Chapter Three
~ Luca ~
My nerves were strung as tight as a bow string. Waiting was frustrating, aggravating. I felt as if I had been waiting forever when it had actually only been ten years, almost to the day.
That seemed poignant.
The last time I had seen my love in person, the last time I held him in my arms, would be exactly ten years ago come tomorrow. That was a long time to be without him, but I was positive Nico remembered me.
He had to remember me.
It was the one thing keeping me alive and moving forward these last ten years. I had made Nico a promise as they dragged me away from him. I would be back for him, come hell or high water, and I always kept my promises, especially the ones I made to him.
I glanced down at my cell phone when it buzzed. It was a message from Vinnie. Gena was bringing Nico to me. My heart started beating a little faster, thundering in my chest.
It was time.
The second the lights went out in the entire house, I stepped out of the pantry and hurried to the hallway where Gena and Nico were supposed to be waiting for me.
As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I spotted the hulking figure standing in my way. I nodded to the others with me and watched as they quickly took him out before turning toward the treasure I had come here to steal.
My breath caught. Even with the lights off I could clearly see the fear on Nico's pale face as he looked around. He hadn't spotted me yet, and that was a good thing. I only had seconds to act.
I pulled a small black canister out of my pocket and moved up to Gena and Nico. As soon as he turned toward me, I sprayed him in the face. Nico's eyes rolled back in his head. I caught him in my arms before he could hit the floor, cradling him close to me.
Finally, I had him in my arms again.
"Go," Gena whispered. "You need to be out of here before the lights come back on."
