“I’m debating if this fucker should live or not,” I told her honestly, barely looking at her out of the side of my eyes.
She jumped up and came around the desk to watch the live feed over my shoulder. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “When did you plant cameras on Nova? Does she know?”
“Recently,” I told her honestly. “And, no. So, keep your mouth shut.”
She huffed again but nudged me aside so she could sit on the arm of my chair while she continued to watch with me. “This loser is boring,” she said with a yawn after several minutes passed. “And obviously dumber than a rock. Can we go to lunch already? Eduard said you haven’t eaten yet. Which is bad, Ryan. Here it is after two in the afternoon, and you probably didn’t even have a good breakfast. I’m starving, and I did have a nice healthy breakfast with our moms this morning. Come on. I promise not to complain while you virtually stalk Nova.”
The bell must have rung, ending the lunch period. The library suddenly had other teenagers walking hurriedly through it to reach their classes, and Nova was packing up her things. Her lips moved as she spoke to Brent, but her gaze was on her phone as she typed rapidly. Without sparing him another glance, she waved over her shoulder as she walked toward her next class.
My phone dinged with a text just as I lost sight of her.
My Heart: I miss you so much.
Tracing the words with my thumb, I stood and finally gave Ciana a full look. Dressed in baby-blue scrubs with little kittens on them, her hair pulled up in a tight ponytail on top of her head, and minimal makeup, she looked adorable. “Where would you like to eat?”
Her brown eyes, the same shade as my own, brightened. “I don’t care,” she said as she linked her arm through mine. “I just want to spend a little time with you.”
“Give me two seconds, and I’ll give you my undivided attention,” I promised. I shot Nova a reply, telling her I missed her more, and then pocketed my phone. “How about that deli on the corner?”
“Oh yes, please. I like their salads.” As we passed Eduard, she gave him a little wave. Pietro was waiting by the elevator, along with Ciana’s own guard. “So…I was wondering…”
I groaned as we stepped into the elevator with the two other men. “I should have known you wanted something.”
She slapped me across the chest with her free hand. “No, I really do want to spend some time with you. But you’re right. I do want something.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I’m so tired, Ryan. With work and everything else that’s been going on.” Her shoulders dropped slightly, and I took a closer look at her. She had dark circles under her eyes that not even her makeup skills could fully hide. “I just want a vacation. Somewhere with warm beaches and lots of sun. I’ll take as many guards as Papa says I have to, and I promise not to sneak away from them. I will be on my best behavior. I just want some peace and quiet. Away from the city and work…and being me.”
I considered it as the elevator descended, bypassing every other floor along the way. If she was promising not to evade her security, then I knew she was serious. Ciana didn’t make promises she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—keep. Plus, her disappearing for a week or so could be a good thing. If someone within the O’Brion or O’Farrell families was trying to get to her, then they would be pissed if she was nowhere to be found, even for a short period of time.
The elevator doors opened, and Pietro stepped off, his eyes scanning the lobby before he nodded for us to step out, Ciana’s guard following.
“Okay,” I told her as we left the building. “I will discuss it with Zio and let him know I think it is a good idea.”
“Really?” She gave a happy squeal and started bouncing up and down when I nodded. “Thank you, Ryan!” she cried excitedly, kissing my cheek. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Laughing, I guided her out of the path of a small group and toward the deli. “Don’t get so carried away. Just because I talk to him doesn’t mean he will agree.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, puh-lease. You’re going to be the head of the family all too soon. If you tell Papa you give your permission for anything, then he will definitely take that into consideration and be more likely to agree. A simple yes or no from you goes a long way, Ryan.”
“Where do you want to go for this beach and sun-filled vacation?” I asked as we entered the deli.
“I have a few places in mind. I’ll send you a list and let you and Papa decide which is the best.”
That she wasn’t being picky only further convinced me that she was in desperate need of some time away.
The deli was crowded with people on their lunch breaks, but the staff was efficient and the line moved quickly. Once I ordered for the four of us, Pietro found us two tables in the back so the two guards could sit close, but we could have a little privacy while we ate.
“Are we going to talk about the fact that you are stalking Nova?” she finally asked, halfway through our meal.
“Nope,” I answered, taking another bite of my sandwich.
My cousin’s lips twitched as she fought not to laugh. “Okay, then.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I need to see her whenever I want. To know that she’s safe.”
“Right,” Ciana agreed, her nose wrinkling adorably as she continued to fight her amusement. “It’s just for her safety. I get it.”
“What do you want me to say, C? That I’m obsessed?”
She snickered. “Everyone already knows that.”
“Then what’s the big deal?”
She rested her chin in her palm as she studied me for a moment. “I thought once you two got together, you would finally calm down. Even if just a little.”
I shrugged, trying to get some of the growing tension out of my shoulders. “I’ll calm down once she’s my wife.”
Ciana threw her head back and burst out laughing. Several heads turned in our direction, but she didn’t notice them, too lost in the hilarity that she considered my words. Tears of mirth spilled down her cheeks, and she dashed them away with her fingertips as she tried to control herself. “That is the funniest thing I’ve heard in forever. Ryan, you grow more and more extreme with each year that passes. By the time you two get married, poor Nova will be chained to your wrist because you won’t be able to handle her being out of your sight for even a second.”
“What’s wrong with that?” I asked, confused. “I love her, Ciana. Her being safe and happy is all I can think about when she isn’t right in front of me.”
“No, I understand that. We all do. And I’m sure she does as well.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin before dropping it back onto her lap. “It’s just… You can be a little extreme. It’s sweet, in a weird, obsessed kind of way.”
“There’s a fine line between love and obsession.”
She frowned. “And what is that?”
“Both have the potential of consuming a person. But love is selfless. All you care about is the person you can’t live without being happy and whole. You worry about their well-being and helping them fulfill their dreams. Your only goal for any given day is to ensure they smile more than they cry.” I leaned back in my chair, watching my cousin closely as she frowned while she listened. “Obsession is selfish. You only think about yourself. It’s about your needs, your happiness. You want the person you’re obsessed with to be safe and happy, but only because of yourself, not them. Their wants, needs, and dreams are meaningless in the face of what you want.”