Page 80 of Bratva Jewels Box Set

“Oh shit, your hair.” Mateo catches on first and runs his fingers over the silky strands. “It looks good.”

“I like it,” Tomas says.

“Okay, well, I’m going to go to my room,” Gracie announces, leaving me with my two boys.

Mateo nuzzles my neck. “Are you going to show us what you bought?”

“Yes, I am. But this isn’t all for me.” I pick up the bags. “I wanted to grab some things for you two as well. It’s what doting girlfriends do, isn’t it?”

I swing the bags in my hand as I walk down the corridor to our bedroom.

After the success of our first shopping trip, the boys let us go out once a day for a couple of hours if we feel like it. Most days we didn’t, but it was just nice knowing we had some freedom. The boys had been called back to Barcelona for a couple of days, Mateo had an interview and some contract negotiations to attend to and Tomas needed to check in with his office.

Before they left, they agreed to us exploring Ibiza Town. They were still not happy about us going out exploring without them,but they understood they couldn’t keep us stuffed away in the house all day long.

Enrique has been keeping us informed of Nikolai’s whereabouts, and it seems he is still in Russia, which has calmed the boys down a little.

I kissed my men goodbye and promised we would behave and stick close to security just like we always do.

Gracie laughs as we walk arm in arm. “I’m giddy on the freedom.”

We spent the day just like any young tourists, checking out the sights of Ibiza Town. We wandered the old town, which overlooks the beautiful ocean. The cobblestone roads, the white-washed walls; everything is steeped in history. We explored the marina with its million-dollar yachts and designer fashion and sipped champagne with the holidaying billionaires. We people watched, killing ourselves laughing as we tried to work out backstories, a game we used to always play as kids.

“I’m sorry about this whole situation,” I say to my sister.

She takes my hand across the table. “Hey, there is nothing to be sorry about.”

“But you can’t afford to take time off from your job, you’ll miss out on opportunities.”

“I would miss out on them if I were dead as well.”

I blanch at her candidness.

She gives me a smile, letting me know it’s okay. “If I’m honest, I kind of like having this time away from work. I haven’t had a break from studying for years. It’s making me reassess my life a little.”

I laugh. “Well, I’m glad I could help, I think.”

“Come on, let’s go home and watch more of Mateo. I need to know if his brother’s lover is really their sister.”

This cracks us up as we find our security detail and head back to the car.

“Thanks for sharing your bed with me,” Gracie says as she jumps into the king-size bed. With the boys in Barcelona, Gracie and I are having a slumber party.

“It’s just like when we were kids.”

She smiles, remembering the times we would jump into each other’s bed if we feared something. As the two youngest, we shared a room while Sophie and Mackenzie shared another.

We curl up beside each other and watch the shadows dance across the ceiling. Eventually, we both drift off, exhausted from a big day of walking, wine, and non-stop talking.

Screams wake me.

My eyes frantically search the room as they try to adjust to the darkness.

“Zoe!” Gracie screams again, but before I can react strong arms grab me, and I’m ripped from the safety of my bed. I try to thrash about, but they have a tight hold on me. I kick my legs out, and the person stumbles. I do it again, catching them in the shin hard enough for them to lose balance and stumble, which lets me escape.

“Gracie!” I scream as I frantically run down the corridor, then I freeze.

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