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“You’re going to Cream?” Her eyes widened even more.

“I think that’s the name. I’m not really a big partier, but I wanted to look beautiful for him,” I said honestly. “And you sure have made that happen.”

She patted my shoulder. “You were already beautiful. I just enhanced your amazing features.” The final pin slid into my hair, and I stepped back, giving me an uninterrupted view of my face.

“He’s a lucky man,” she said softly. “I hope he knows that.”

I nodded, suddenly overwhelmed with emotions. It was becauseshe was so kind, and I hadn’t had that kind of kindness since I had been here.

“Oh, sweetheart.” She said, seeing the tears swimming in my eyes. She gave me an awkward one-armed hug. “What’s the matter? If you don’t like it, then we can…”

I blinked rapidly. I didn’t want to cry and ruin her masterpiece.

An idea was beginning to form in my brain. A dangerous one if I got caught, but my guard was outside and he couldn’t see me from the window, and Matteo wasn’t here. There was no way he would find out if I was quick.

“No, it’s not that. It’s perfection.” I mumbled. “It’s just…”

“What is it?”

“I lost my phone and my friend is, well, she has a daughter who is…” I didn’t say the word sick because I didn't want to curse myself, but I left it unsaid, and she understood straight away.

“Oh, sweetheart. It must be so hard being so happy when your friends are suffering.” A modern phone was pulled from her apron. “Here you can use my phone.”

“It’s an international call.” I wanted to give her the chance to say no before I called.

She didn’t say no. “Go ahead.” She shrugged. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

Five seconds later, I was alone, staring down at the phone and wondering if I could risk this. But really, what choice did I have? I needed to speak to Lily, even if it was only for a few seconds. Just hearing her little voice would make me feel better than any day of pampering.

“Hello?” Nat answered on the second ring.

“It’s me,” I whispered.

She squealed. “Where the hell have you been, Sophia? We have been so worried and…”

I cut her off. “I only have a few seconds. Is Lily—"

There was a pregnant pause, and then a tiny, but ever so sweet voice filtered into my ears.

“Mommy.”

I let out a sigh of relief. My shoulders slumped, and for the first time since I had left London, it felt like I could breathe.

All the tension flowed away.

Smiling in my reflection, I sucked in a deep breath, forcing myself not to cry. Lily would know if I was upset.

“Hey, princess,” I said in a sing-song voice. “I miss you.”

Chapter Nineteen

Matteo

There was a crowd gathered outside the club. Excited, barely-dressed people were lining up around the block to get into the newest, hippest club in the city.

It should have made me happy because Cream was a success even before it had really opened, but all I could see was the threat.

Anyone could have been in that crowd, and I was beginning to regret bringing Sophia here. Not only because it would be hard to protect her in that crowd, but also because of how she looked.