Page 86 of No Promises, No Lies

“Smile, Aurora,” he warns, his tone low so only I can hear him. Brown eyes threaten violence. “I don’t think I need to remind you what will happen if you don’t.” He shoves two fingers hard into my ribs and I flinch away as far as the grip he has on me allows.

“Am I interrupting something?”

Both Matteo and I whip our attention around to find Niko towering over us both—wearing his usual expression of bored malevolence. Matteo visibly relaxes at the sight of my brother, knowing he’s no ally of mine. He straightens, breaking into a broad smile before clasping Niko on the back. “Not at all. I always have time for my new brother-in-law.”

Niko’s eyes narrow on my fiancé. “Not yet,” he growls before his eyes settle on me, “I need to borrow Aurora for a moment.”

Matteo appears caught off guard. His smile remains, but it no longer touches his eyes. I can tell he’s reluctant to agree, but Niko wasn’t asking.

My brother reaches out, linking his arm through mine and tugging me toward him. A move so unlike Nikolai, I make no move to resist. He ignores my stunned expression as he drags me away from my fiancé. “Carroza,” he gives a respectful nod to the Italian Consigliere before stalking off through the room and dragging me with him.

A quick check over my shoulder shows Matteo standing right where we left him, not trying to follow, though his expression has darkened severely. I try not to tremble at the sight of the dark promise in his gaze, turning back before I trip over my heels, scrambling a little to keep pace with Niko.

My brother doesn’t spare me another glance, his eyes fixed forward. I nod politely at guests as we pass, some of them trying to start a conversation with me, but Niko isn’t having any of it. He power-walks me through the bar and out onto the back terrace, right out into the intricately maintained garden the restaurant overlooks.

We’re well out of sight of anyone before I finally dig my heels in, wrenching my arm from his grasp. “Nikolai, what in the?—”

“Go.”

I freeze, staring up at my brother.“What?”

Niko stands, his size and figure a menacing sight in the shadowy garden. He’s lit only by the glow of string lights as he points in the direction he was taking me before I stopped him. I follow his finger to a black wrought-iron gate at the back of the garden.

“Go,” He repeats, folding his arms.

I stare at the gate, my brain trying to compute. I look back at Niko. “I don’t understand.”

“He hurt you.”

I furrow my brow, truly looking at my brother for the first time all night. The expression he wears on his face is murderous.

“Matteo—” Niko’s jaw clenches as he speaks the name, “he hurt you.”His eyes roam over the well-hidden bruises and marks as if he can see them.

I nod, a slow understanding mixed with disbelief and suspicion.

“You don’t want to marry him.”

It’s not a question, but I answer it anyway, “No.” My voice is no louder than a whisper. But he hears me and nods, looking over my head back the way we came, checking to ensure we’re still alone.Matteo hasn’t followed.

“You’re letting me—go?” I ask the question, my eyes going back to the wrought-iron gate barely visible in the shadowed corner of the garden.

My brother’s eyes soften when they meet mine again. “I never wanted this for you. Father—” he shakes his head, anger filling his eyes again, “—I thought he would leave you alone. Honor hispromise…”

So did I.Tears burn at the back of my eyes.This time I do not stop them as a few break free and trail down my cheek, so tired of pretending.

“I thought if I made being home horrible for you, you would stay away. Prep school, college, skating… Far away from this life and this burden.” He shakes his head, “I was wrong.” His blue eyes meet mine. The sadness in them is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered, and my initial suspicion disappears. “I’m sorry. I can’t go back and change it—the things I did—said.” He swallows, running a hand through his blonde hair, out of its usual knot at the back of his head. “But I can try to make it right.”

Niko turns, striding the few yards to the gate standing between me and freedom? My mind spins. He unhooks the latch, swinging it open. “Run,” he says, his face serious.

“Run, Rory, and never… never look back.”

51

BREAKAWAY

RORY

Iwalk numbly through the gate—still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for all of this to be just another cruel trick or a trap. I half-expect Matteo to be waiting outside, but a quick glance back-and-forth shows the alleyway is empty.

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