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“Theá may be stupid enough to think you love her, but I knew better. You’d drop everything for Valerie.”

It was a point I proved during one of our first meetings, but he held onto it.

“Where is she?” I growl out.

“Probably asleep in your brother’s bed.” Gabriel shrugs.

My eyes widen as Kylian steps closer. “What’s that stupid saying you and your brothers always mumble?” He steps up in front of me. “Blood makes you related, but loyalty makes you family? And love makes you a fool.”

Pain rushes from the back of my neck and up to my head as black dots dance around my eyes. I crash into the floor, my glasses falling somewhere across the room.

Kylian crouches down in front of me. His face is a haze of colours, but I can make out the scowl as he looks at me.

“Why?” I whisper as my eyes feel heavier.

“We had a deal, Antonio. And we’ve been so generous giving you multiple warnings that you simply discarded. We’ll see just how far your stupid little loyalty can get you.”

Chapter thirty-nine

Theá

Irolloverontomyside and pat the bed in search of Antonio, but instead of warm flesh, my hand meets cool sheets.

Deep in sleep, my brows furrow as I pat around a bit more, as if he’s perhaps just out of reach, but nothing. Slowly, my eyes crack open, and the sunlight streams in. Only adding a cold and gloomy look to the room.

Antonio is usually an early riser, but even I know this is too early for him since it looks like the sun has just started rising.

Rustling from the kitchen causes my head to snap in that direction. It’s one thing for Antonio to be up early, but it’s another for him to already be busy in the kitchen.

The bedroom door flies open, and I rip the blanket up to cover my naked chest. Pierre stands in the doorway with a look that seems to be a mixture of pity and disgust.

“It’s time to go, Theá.”

“What? What are you even doing here?” I rub my eyes, convinced that this all must be a hallucination.

“Theá, I know it’s early, but we have to go. We don’t have much time, pack up everything.”

“What about Noelle?”

“Already packed and waiting for us,” he says.

“And Antonio?” I gaze around the room, noticing his bags are still where he left them last night. A sinking feeling settles in my chest. When I meet Pierre’s eyes, my fear is confirmed.

He’s gone.

Whether it was on his own accord or my father’s, either way, this must be exactly what Pierre was referring to when he said he had the perfect distraction.

“I’ll explain everything later. Just get dressed and packed. We need to be out of here in ten minutes.”

I nod as my vision blurs thanks to the tears that are suddenly taking up all the space in my eyes.

“C’mon, Theá, please don’t cry…” Pierre pleads.

“I’ll be fine, I just need a second.”

I knew this day would come, and I knew this plan never included Antonio, but what I didn’t know was just how much this would fucking hurt. I suppose him not being here makes leaving easier, because I can only imagine how much more it would’ve hurt if I had to physically walk away from him.

Hell, I probably would’ve stayed.