Page 73 of The Vanishing

“No. I’m being honest. You’ll be great together. This has been a long time coming. I’m sorry I got in the way.”

Giovanni rolls his eyes. “Alright, give it a rest.” He moves across the room and grabs his jacket off the back of the couch.

“Are you going to her now?”

“Yes.” Giovanni pats the back of his dark jeans pocket, distracted as he looks around the room.

“Good.” Nino watches him.

His brother moves to the desk, then grabs the key card and his wallet before walking across the room once more. “Close the door behind you when you leave.”

Nino nods. “I will… I love you.”

When Giovanni is at the door, he swings it open. He doesn’t look back, but his voice is clear. “I love you, too.”

Nino flops down backward against the couch the moment he’s gone, feeling a small sense of relief from the tension clogging his chest. He pulls his phone from his pocket, lifting it overhead as he sends a quick message.

[G is on his way to see Lina. I’ll be back home shortly. We’re okay.]

A moment later, his mate responds.

[Good. See you soon. xx]

Nino grins and scrunches his nose, his heart suddenly light.

[Be naked. xxxxxxxx]

Thirty-Three

Ginger… and oak.

Cellina inhales, smiling as she lies half asleep in bed, warmth and shadow covering her like a wonderful, comforting blanket. It gives her a sense of peace and calm. Security.

A soft kiss on her cheek makes her eyes flicker open. Giovanni is there—handsome, broad and silent as he leans over her body. He’s resting on his elbows above her and sitting on the side of the bed. Cellina grins. “Luce dei miei occhi.”

“Perché non mi hai chiamato?” he says, his brow furrowed. She reaches up, rubbing her fingertips against his forehead.

Why didn’t you call me?“Stop frowning,” she scolds, groggy. “You frown too much… like a… very sexy Shar Pei.”

He takes hold of her wrist, his eyes serious. “Don’t ever do this. If you need anything from me, tell me. I love you more than you can imagine—whatever you need, I’ll give it to you. Do you understand?”

Ignoring the rush of heat flooding her cheeks, she snarks, “Is that an official mandate? As my realm leader.”

“Feed.” He sits straight, tugging her upright with him.

“What about Domenico?” She rubs her eyes, wondering how utterly insane she must look with her hair standing up all over the place and her dry-ass skin. She makes a weak attempt to quell her frizzy curls. It’s pointless.

He cups her face with his large palm. The warmth of his touch sends sparks down her neck and all throughout her body. She closes her eyes, indulging.

“Don’t worry about that right now,” Giovanni pleads, his husky voice quiet in the darkness. “Just feed.”

Cellina opens her eyes and stares into his chiseled face. “What if I feed from you and we bond. It happened to Haruka and Nino. First time.”

Giovanni shakes his head. “They’re weird.”

Laughing, she brings her palms up, rubbing her face and feeling her skin flake. “Notweird. It’s romantic.”

“It’s weird,” Giovanni says, a smile behind his voice.