Valentina.
I was out of there before anyone found me.
When it was time for lunch, the room was quieter than it had been that morning, though the air felt thick with unspoken words and restless energy.
Isabella had finally drifted off, her steady breaths filling the silence. Marco was out, and for the first time in a while, I was alone with Reed.
The Reed who had a crush on me.
The weight of what I overheard earlier lingered in my chest, Reed’s feelings toward me becoming a tangled thread in the mess that was my life.
Matteo had a new fiancee now… and had left me to the torture from Luca… why should I care?
Why should I hold myself back?
“She’s too hung up on Matteo to notice your little crush.” Marco had said earlier.
Asshole.
The ache of Matteo’s betrayal burned hotter at times like this when I couldn’t ignore. And something reckless sparked inside me.
I glanced toward Reed, who stood near the window, arms crossed, his broad shoulders rigid. He wasn’t looking at me, but his presence filled the room like a storm waiting to break.
I wondered just how much he knew Caterina. Just how much had she done for him? Did she teach him etiquette and stuff like she did for me?
No. Now wasn’t the time for grief.
I stood and walked towards him, the wooden floor creaking beneath my bare feet, drawing his attention. His dark eyes flicked to mine, guarded and sharp.
“Reed,” I said softly, my voice almost hesitant. “Can we talk?”
His brows furrowed slightly, but he didn’t move. “About what?”
I stepped closer, letting my movements feel deliberate. Slow. “About earlier. About… everything.”
His jaw tightened, and I could see the caution in his expression. “Get some rest, Valentina. We leave soon.”
That wouldn’t happen.
I ignored his attempt to brush me off, closing the distance between us until I was standing just a few feet away. “I don’t want to rest.” My voice dropped slightly, now laced with something I hoped sounded like vulnerability. “I just need someone to talk to. Someone I can trust.”
It was subtle, but I caught it. The little swallow he did as his eyes flickered, uncertainty flashing in them. “Valentina…”
“Do you think Marco trusts me?” I cut him off, my voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. “Does he even care?”
Cracking.
The question hung in the air between us, and I stepped closer again, tilting my head to meet his eyes. “I’m tired of being kept in the dark, Reed. I thought maybe you’d stop all this now that we were out of Luca’s grasp.”
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Valentina, you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Was he onto me?
“Don’t I?” I asked, taking another step forward. My fingers grazed the sleeve of his shirt, and he stiffened.
Eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face couldn’t hide the desire within. He definitely liked me, and what I was doing was wrong.
“What are you playing at?”
I let out a soft, bitter laugh, leaning closer until I could feel the tension radiating off him. “Maybe I’m tired of playing by everyone else’s rules. Maybe I’m done pretending to care about what Matteo wants when he clearly doesn’t care about me.”
His hand shot up, gripping my wrist… not hard, but firm enough to stop my roll. “Stop. You don’t mean that.”
“Don’t I?” I whispered, my voice low and teasing. “What do I have to lose, Reed? Everyone’s already made their choices. Maybe it’s time I made mine.”
Just one more.
His grip on my wrist loosened, his dark eyes searching mine like he was trying to figure something out. Then, for a second, those eyes moved down to my lips.
“Valentina,” he practically purred if I was being honest. “You’re playing a dangerous game here.”
My lips curved up in a smile, more defiant than warm. “So play with me.”
My words hung in the air, thick with challenge and tension. I had dropped the ball in his court, it was his turn to play.
But play he didn’t.
Slowly, his hand slid from my wrist, his fingers brushing against mine as he let go.
No.
Before I could think too much about what I was doing, I leaned in, my breath brushing against his jaw.
This was it.
He was definitely going to close the gap between us. His eyes, darker than usual, dropped to my lips again. But just as he leaned forward…
The sharp sound of a door opening shattered the moment.
We jerked apart as Marco stepped inside, his eyes sweeping over us with suspicion. “Car’s ready.” He said gruffy, his eyes narrowing slightly as they lingered on me.
I turned away quickly, grabbing the duffel bag I’d packed earlier and slinging it over my shoulder. My heart was racing, though whether from the near-kiss or from being caught, I wasn’t sure.
Reed didn’t look at me as we followed Marco outside.
***
The car ride to the private airport was silent, the hum of the engine was the only sound. I sat in the back, sandwiched between Isabella and Reed.
The evening stretched endlessly outside the windows, the darkening skies a heavy cloak around us.
As the minutes passed, the adrenaline from earlier began to fade, leaving behind a gnawing ache in my chest.
Without thinking, I shifted closer to Reed, resting my head lightly on his shoulder. His body tensed beneath me, but he didn’t pull away.
It was a small comfort, a fragile moment of connection in the chaos.
But as I closed my eyes, letting the rhythm of the road lull me into a semblance of calm, I felt the weight of someone’s eyes.
Opening my eyes slightly, I caught Isabella’s reflection in the rearview mirror.
Her eyes were locked on me, her frown deep and unmistakable.
I quickly looked away, my stomach twisting with unease.
Whatever this was… this game I was playing… it wasn’t just mine anymore.
And judging by the look in Isabella’s eyes, she wasn’t about to let it go unnoticed.