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My eyes wander through his, searching for an answer. He straightens his tie, tucking his shirt back into his pants.

“What does that mean?” I ask, worried. Will he kill someone because of me? I don’t want death on my hands, and he knows that.

Oh my God, what did we just do?I wanted it, but was I just caught up in the moment? Caught up in the pure agony that he never fails to put me through?

“It means we still have a game to finish.” He leans over, pulling the sides of my dress down. He fixes my mask, his hands cupping my face.

All the questions I have leave my mind the moment his lips kiss the center of my forehead.

24GIOVANNI

She was mine.

Sheismine now, no denying it anymore.

I grab onto her hand as I open the door, walking down to the main room. I don’t give a fuck about this game anymore; I have shit to do.

I turn back to look at her, her eyes searching high and low around her. Every touch of my skin on hers makes her skin red. I thought I was gentle with her, but I guess not.

I smile at her, but she just looks down.

She has always been nervous around me, but there are times when she takes control over me. Fighting me. I like it. I don’t want to be bored.

Not a damn thing with her is boring.

“It’s them!” A group of people push past us as I laugh.

I knew this game wouldn’t last much longer, thank God. I got what I came here for: Nina. Now I just need to talk to her father.

I need to tell him about everything that has changed over the past week; about everything I’ve found out.

Loud cheers fill the room as Rolando walks onto the stage, grabbing the microphone. “Well done!” He raises a glass. “You two, come up here.”

I pull Nina in front of me, my hands grabbing her waist, helping her onto the stage. I don’t give a fuck if anyone notices my signs of affection toward her. I want the whole world to know that she is mine.

“Take the masks off.”

I look down at Nina as she unties her mask, giggles falling from her lips. I take mine off, only looking at her.

“Would you look at that!” Rolando shouts. “You two went on a spree.”

I nod, placing a hand on his back. I can’t even remember how many people we put notes on, but I am going to assume it was a lot because I walked over a lot of people lying on the floor.

“Thank you, everyone! My wife and I are thrilled to have held a great night such as this one. May we do it again next year!”

* * *

NINA

We take two separate cars back home, but everyone meets up at my parents’ house. They congratulate me for doing so well at the game, but I don’t even remember much of it. It was a blast, but I still can’t believe Gio had me believing he was a stranger the entire time.

Mama, Ana, and I walk into the house, all of us taking our coats off and throwing them on the counter.

“How come you didn’t find either of us?” Ana asks with a smile from ear to ear.

“You’re just that good.” I laugh.

I look over at Mama as she spins around to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. “We really do need to do this every year. So much fun.” She chugs the bottle down, almost spitting it out laughing.