FULL NOVELXO Chapter 30
“Okay, so let me get this straight,” Sienna says, eyeing the pint of ice cream I have on my lap. “Are you going to finish that entire thing?”
I nod.
Two of them, if she has another pint. I don’t ask. This is serious, but I can’t tell my best friend anything. I feel like my entire life is a jumble of lies.
Not one person knows the truth about me. Except Connor. And as it turns out, he’s the one person I absolutely cannot trust.
I’m hurt, angry, and feeling betrayed.
And scared.
My belongings are still at Connor’s penthouse, except the small bag I was packing when I rang George and told him I was staying home sick. Then I snuck down to the garage after mentioning I’d left something in one of Connor’s cars—he would’ve seen the elevator move—and waited for a vehicle to leave.
Then snuck out on foot.
Longest twenty minutes of my life.
“Do you have more?” I ask with the spoon in my mouth, changing my mind. These are desperate times.
I can’t stay here.
Sienna jumps up and returns, sitting opposite me, and puts a pint of Ben and Jerry’s vanilla on the table in front of us.
I stare at her. “Vanilla? Who has vanilla?”
“It’s for smoothies. Don’t judge.” She laughs.
I smile back, even though it’s mostly forced.
Connor just texted me to say he wants to talk, which means he’s going to be home in a few hours and doesn’t yet know I’m not there.
George messaged a few hours ago to ask if I needed anything. I pretended I was fine and said I was just sleeping and watching movies.
No one has any reason to believe I’m not there.
Yet.
Once he sees his office door open, he’ll know. Which was my bad. I should’ve closed it, but I was in a state of shock when I left.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
What am I going to do?
Connor will know to look for me at Sienna’s, though not Isabelle’s or Duncan’s. But I’m putting both of them in danger by going there, so I’m not sure what to do.
Hence the two pints of ice cream.
“We had a fight, that’s all.” I don’t have the brainpower to come up with yet another set of lies.
“How serious?” Sienna asks.
Very.
Connor is using me to get to my family. Fortunately, I found out today, instead of a few months into this insane fake relationship.
I spoon the last scoop of double chocolate chip into my mouth and let out a moan.
“Pretty serious,” I say. “I don’t think it’s going to work out. We rushed in.”
Sienna bites the side of her mouth and nods. I’m impressed by how diplomatic she’s being.
For a moment, I realize I miss this girl-talk time, despite my current circumstances and the fact I’m eating my bodyweight in dairy. She probably thinks I’m finally coming to my senses.
Maybe I am?
Who else has to get fake engaged to…whoever Connor Barrett is? Who the hell has their office wallpapered with images of mob families? Many of whom are my family members.
And me.
That is the cherry on top.
A big part of me wants to run home and confront him, but the images terrify me. There are a lot of people who would want to destroy my family. Apparently, Connor Barrett is one of them.
And I have feelings for him.
Did.
Right now, I hate him.
“You can stay here a few days, and perhaps whatever you fought about will start looking different by then,” Sienna says. “But yeah, you’ve rushed in, so maybe this is a good thing.”
Oh, it’s definitely not a good thing.
“I can’t stay here. He’ll find me,” I say, then realize what I just said.
Shit.
“Mia! Has he hurt you?” she asks, sitting bolt upright.
“No, no, I just…Connor is protective and bossy.” And probably dangerous. I never once before today thought he’d hurt me, and it makes me want to burst into tears.
Sienna sees the look in my eyes and flies around the table, pulling me into her arms. I let the tears fall and sob. The hurt, the betrayal, and my fear all come rushing to the surface.
I thought he was going to help me build a business. I thought we were going to stand at the altar and promise each other forever. Or at least six months.
Instead, I made a deal with the devil.
“Oh, babe. I’m so sorry this has happened. Do you want to talk about it? Tell me?”
I shake my head.
My phone texts again, and I ignore it. Then Sienna releases me.
“Maybe you should talk to him. I’ve never seen you this upset.”
Sniffing, I grab a tissue and wipe my eyes.
When I pull my phone out, I see it’s from Cade.
Mia, I’m sorry I’ve been a dick. Can you stop ignoring my calls and talk to me?
I sniff.
Maybe I should go home.
It’s not like they’ll marry me off to Vitale overnight. I can speak to my father and make a new plan. I need to tell them about Connor. I can’t keep this to myself. If something happens to them, I could never live with myself.
I make a decision.
You were a dick. I reply.
He sends a smiley face emoji. Then, Meet me for a drink… 7pm.
I frown.
It’s probably my best choice. I can be home in Long Island tonight if I get Cade to take me. Father is currently in Manhattan, so I’d have a few days to think about things.
Plus, Connor can’t touch me there.
The Silver Ring, Cade adds, and I reply, saying I will see him then.
I’ll take a few days off, apologize to Donna, and then decide where to go with my life. My plan failed.
My stupid heart is broken.
“It’s Cade.” When I see her face, I smile. “Don’t worry. He’s apologized for the other night. He won’t hurt me.” I lift the phone to show her the message. “He’s a self-confessed dick, but he loves me.”
She flops back into the cushions. “Man, mafia families. It’s so complex.”
“You got that, all right,” I say, flopping back with her. Then I sigh. “I wish my mom was alive. I miss her so much.”
Sienna turns her head. “You can share my mom. You know she loves you.”
I smile, my eyes tearing up again. “She’s the best. Tell her I’m coming over soon for more of her brownies.”
Then I sit up because I need to fix my life. “Can I have a shower and borrow a dress?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going home to Long Island. Tell Donna I won’t be in tomorrow, but I will call her and explain.” I won’t be telling her anything, but it buys me time to come up with lie number seven hundred and something.
“She won’t be happy after you took today off,” Sienna says, “but I’ll tell her you’re still sick for now.”
I nod, then shower and dress for one of the nicest bars in NYC.
Why Cade wanted to meet there, I have no idea.