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But I wouldn’t run again. I’d try to get answers this time.

Even if it crushed me. Even if he couldn’t forgive me.

When we got on the street, I turned to Lukas, and it felt like I was really seeing him for the first time in weeks. How he looked atme. I let a glimpse of my true feelings slip through. “Luke, I—”

Whatever I was going to say was cut off by the sound of Lukas’s gelato falling to the ground in a wet splat.

Chapter 26

Lukas

I didn’t kill people unless necessary.

And it felt very, very necessary to kill my brother when he interrupted Daphne. Daphne, who was wearing the most honest, vulnerable expression I’d ever seen on her, staring up at me with bright hazel eyes that I could haveswornhad love in them.

But no. No, that moment just had to have been ruined by my brother stumbling down the street, eyes on us with one of his shithead, disgustingly wealthy friends in tow.

“Daphne!” Nikolas yelled, almost tripping over a chair. “My love!”

Oh, he’d lose his tongue for that one.

Daphne cringed but turned toward him. “Nikolas.”

“Fancy seeing you here,” he slurred, pressing close and reaching out to touch her.

And there went his hand.

“And my dear old brother,” Nikolas said, turning his attention to me. “Or younger, really. I always forget with you being all serious and soldier-like.”

His wiry friend laughed, but I could barely hear it over the blood rushing in my ears. I stepped up beside Daphne, placing a possessive, protective hand on the top of her spine. I grabbed her other hand, which was still wrapped around the ice cream cone even though it was tilted down and dripping to the floor. I tossed it. I’d buy her another when we dealt with my brother.

“What do you want, Nikolas?”

“I can’t say hello to,” His words were cut off by a hiccup, “my future wife. No, your future wife. Piper.”

Nikolas must have been drunker than I thought.

“Well, hello, Nikolas,” Daphne said cautiously. “Are you doing well?”

Daphne’s eyes drifted over to his friend, but he was no help either. He was swaying back and forth like his legs were seconds away from giving out.

Behind him, I saw Zale and Avery approaching. I’d told them earlier to follow us to Rome. After seeing Lorenzo, I wasn’t taking any chances in his city. I knew I could protect Daphne—hell, I knew she could protect herself, but I couldn’t risk it. Couldn’t risk her.

I called them over with my hand. “Take care of him,” I said, motioning at Nikolas’s friend.

Zale nodded, a clear look of disgust on his face. He turned to his friend, “What’s your name?”

“King Adrian,” his friend slurred, even though he looked like he’d just told the funniest joke in the world. I trusted Zale to deal with him because I had my brother to take care of.

Who looked like he was about to cry.

“You—” Another hiccup. “You’re really nice,” Nikolas babbled, his hand reaching out toward Daphne. She calmly moved his hand away from her. I don’t know who moved first, maybe it was at the same time, but she was tucked firmly into my side, with her arm wrapped around my midsection, a second later.

Nikolas blinked at us, swaying so far back on his heels I had to clamp a hand down on his shoulder to catch him.

“I’m sorry. Sorry. Really sorry,” he rambled, looking straight at Daphne.

“For what, Nikolas?” she asked calmly.