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Once inside the car, both Vlad and I start relaxing a little. Still, I don't think he knows the meaning of loosening up, and I can see the way his mind is once more at work, most probably working theories and mentally testing future scenarios.

Sighing deeply, I can only hope that the confrontation with Marcello won't be too bad. And before I know it, my eyes drift closed, a deep sleep claiming me.

29

SISI

It's not much later that I feel Vlad slowly shake me awake. I groggily open my eyes just as he gathers me into his arms, thanking the couple for taking us and wishing them a great trip.

"You can put me down," I tell him, my voice husky from sleep. He looks a bit reluctant to do it, but eventually he lowers me to my feet.

I stretch a little, my limbs aching from all the exertion, and I look around us to try to gauge where we are.

"How much longer until Marcello's house?" I raise my head up to gaze at him.

His eyes are focused on me as a slow smile starts creeping on his face.

"What?" I frown.

"You said Marcello's house. Before, you used to call it home," he replies, a little too proud of himself.

"Did I?" I feign ignorance as I keep on walking. Still, I can't wipe the grin off my face as I realize heisright. It's been quite some time since I've stopped calling it home. And it's all because my home changed from a place to a person.

"I know you're smiling," he calls out from behind me, clearly amused. "And you're going in the wrong direction," he points out after I'm already quite ahead of him.

I turn sharply, my eyes narrowed at him.

"Just admit I'm your home." His eyes twinkle with mischief as he comes by my side, taking my arm and placing it into the crook of his elbow.

"Maybe." My lips twitch, but that's all I'm willing to give him. His ego is already too inflated.

"I knew it," he whistles, tugging me closer and telling me the house is not too far.

"Are you worried about the meeting?" he eventually asks, his tone serious.

I tilt my head toward him, briefly considering the question.

"I don't know," I answer honestly. Because I really don't. Marcello vehemently prohibited me from having anything to do with Vlad, so I know it won't be a pleasant meeting in the least.

I am, though, a little worried about disappointing him. We might not have known each other long, but I'd learned to respect him and his true care for the family. He may not be an open book most days, but he's always been fair to me and he's given me an opportunity to live with him when he didn't have to. I was, after all, technically an adult when I left Sacre Coeur, and definitelynothis responsibility.

And so I find myself backed in a corner, since I don't want to lose Marcello's regard, but I willdefinitelynot give Vlad up.

"We can just hope for the best, right?" I ask, forcing a smile.

"Marcello isn't an ogre," Vlad jokes, "for all his ogre-ish tendencies. But he can be quite unyielding," Vlad mentions, but upon seeing my eyes slightly widening in worry, he amends, "but I'll take care of it, Sisi. Don't worry about it. In fact, don't worry about anything. I'll handle it all." He peers down at me, hisexpression so sincere that I can't help but lean slightly into him, placing all my trust in him.

"Okay," I reply softly.

The couple really did us a favor by dropping us close to the house, so we only have to walk a couple of miles to get to the main gates.

Upon seeing us, the guards immediately open the gates for us, welcoming us inside.

I guess they didn't get the memo that Vlad is persona non grata.

There's a long alleyway that leads from the main entry gates to the house, flower beds on both sides of the stone path.

We're halfway down the alleyway when I feel Vlad tense. I don't even have time to ask what's going on as he shoves me behind him, a loud gunshot permeating the air.