Page 42 of Giovanni the Savage

I don't like the flutters that admission causes me to feel. It makes me feel … special and grateful to be his first.

“No wonder,” I mutter.

He hums. "No wonder what?"

"No wonder rumors have it that you're gay."

A laugh bursts from his lips at my words, and it doesn't end there. He's laughing softly and ignoring the people waving at him. His attention is on me, laughing at what I said.

His eyes are crinkled, and I revel in the sound of his laughter. The hall isn't quiet, but I can only hear the velvet sound of his laughter.

"That's a first," he concludes after laughing.

I raise my brow in confusion.

"The media has a lot of opinions about my dating life. From me dating my mother to being self-sexual to being celibate."

"That's a lot," I confirm, laughing with him.

I can't imagine a life where I was all over the news.

"Are they all lies?" I tease.

"Obviously. Seeing as you're right here."

His eyes brighten, and he places his hand on mine, which is on the crook of his elbow.

A warm feeling settles on my chest, and for a second, I imagine a lifetime where we met through different circumstances, and I wasn't spying on him. A sinking feeling tells me I can talk to him about it. If not because of the guilt, I know I shouldn't before things get too far, not when Lucas is in danger.

Suddenly, his smile drops, and he looks like he's listening intently to the pods in his ears. He stills for a second before he lets go of my arm.

"I'll be right back," he whispers, placing a chaste kiss on my bare shoulder, and he walks away, still speaking into the ear pod.

I suddenly feel exposed without him by my side, I know that's a dumb feeling because I've been exposed all my life.

A hot feeling settles on me like a cloak, and I know the feeling all too well. Someone's eyes are on me. The feeling is accompanied by my loud heartbeats.

I'm clutching my purse tight and counting down to when Giovanni will return. I feel weak for depending on him, but that's not a problem.

I pull out my phone to look busy when a waiter runs into me, and the glass turns over, spilling clear liquid on the front of my gown. The weird part is he doesn't bother to apologize; he just walks away with his head down.

"Fucking asshole," I grit while trying to dry the mess.

I decide I'm due for a bathroom break. I stride away from the packed hall and head down another hallway, searching for the bathroom. The doors are big and tall, too tall for bathrooms.

The hallway is quiet, the faint music has become distant, replaced by my heels on the tile. I turn to a door and turn the knob and realize it's locked. At this point, the liquid is already seeping through my gown's sheer material, making the fabric cling to my skin.

I head to another door and click it open, not minding that it's a tall door. I peep inside the empty room and walk into what looks like another hall. It has a few chairs; the only light source is a line bulb.

I take a napkin from my clutch and start dabbing my chest area, and just then, my phone vibrates loudly.

It's an unknown number, but I pick it up because I don't have Giovanni's number yet, and he just might be the one calling.

"Hello," I call while still dabbing my gown.

"Majors."

I freeze. The voice that has haunted me for weeks and plagued my dreams. The same voice of the man who kidnapped me and sent me on this mission.

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