Page 31 of Ravage God

“He’ll just want to find Nico, and things will be messy, and you know it.”

“As he should. That fu—manwould deserve nothing less than the beating coming for him.”

Yeah, only I was afraid it wouldn’t be just a beating he would get. And I didn’t want to spend my time arguing about it with Elio.

“You haven’t asked me if I’m okay,” I said.

I saw his chest rise and fall. “Fuck. You’re right. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Tell me what I can do to make you feel okay,” he said.

“Hold me.”

He hesitated, but only for a fraction of a second, before I felt myself being pulled into his big, strong body, felt his arms go around me tightly, and felt him engulf me in my entirety. Tears pricked my eyes. If only I could stay like this with him forever.

I felt so fucking stupid. It was like everything Valentino had told me and warned me about had been thrown out the window. I had put myself in that situation.

I moved in closer to Elio and felt his arms tighten around me marginally.

I didn’t know how long we stood like that, but it was enough for me to get my bearings under control. At least it didn’t feel like I was about to lose it all over again when he finally pulled away and hooked his thumb under my chin, lifting it until I had no choice but to look at him.

“Okay?” he asked softly.

I nodded, even if the last thing I felt wasokay. I didn’t know how I was feeling.

And I didn’t know how to put that into words.

Elio nodded, his eyes roaming my face for a brief moment before he pulled away from me. I instantly felt cold and then shivered.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get back inside before Valentino realizes you’re missing and goes looking.”

Right. That was a very real possibility, and the last thing I wanted to do was explain to my brother why I was out here.

I walked past him and through the door into the building.

Elio followed closely behind. I could feel him near me, but not close enough that we touched. I took a deep breath when we got to the entrance of the ballroom. My legs froze. It suddenly felt like too much to try to go inside with everyone else… with people I didn’t even know very well, and some I didn’t know at all.

And they were all laughing and looking like they were having the best time, while I felt like I was drowning,dying, and no one even realized it. What was wrong with me?

“Coming in?” Elio asked.

I tried to swallow, but it felt like there was something stuck in my throat.

“You go in first,” I said, my voice no higher than a whisper. I sensed him hesitate. I turned around and smiled at him. “I’m really fine. Thank you for saving me. Go. I’m sure there are some men that Massimo wanted you to talk to.”

I knew I guessed right from the look on his face. I forced my smile to widen a bit.

He nodded slowly. “Come find me if you want to go home.”

I shook my head. “Valentino will take me home. Or my dad. You don’t have to worry.”

He frowned at me. I kept the smile on my face and didn’t feel like I was breathing properly until he finally nodded and slowly turned away. I watched as he made his way further into the room.

Aldo Valachi stopped Elio, with Chiara at his side, and it felt like my heart turned into coal at the sight. I didn’t need to hear what they were saying to see what was going on. Aldo was trying to reintroduce his daughter to Elio as someone hecouldconsider for a fiancée.

What would I do if that turned out to be the case? If Elio and Chiara ended up engaged, and I?—