NADIA

The extravagant hotel was busy as hell. People, one after another, walked through the entrance, lined up at the front desk, and huddled by the elevators. Noelle and I ignored it all.

Noelle rubbed her temples and sighed. “Nadia, I don't understand how knocking her out was taking it easy?”

I kept my tone steady. “She's alive, isn't she?”

Noelle’s eyes widened. “It took me an hour to cover up the black eye.”

Should’ve gone for the nose. “How long did the rest of her ugly-ass face take?”

“Nadia.”

“Three hours?”

"You could at least apologize to her."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Nah. It ain’t gonna happen.” That would be a cold day in hell. I stood my ground, but stopped when I noticed the bags under her eyes. “Fine. If it'll make you happy.” I threw my hands up in defeat. “Anyway, do you have a marker?"

Noelle nodded before rifling through her enormous purse. "Yeah, Lyric loves to dump all his coloring stuff in my bag."

"Great, I need like a red or pink. You know, bright." Noelle pulled out a thick pink marker that I snatched. "Thanks, sis. I'll get it back to you later."

She slung her massive bag onto her shoulder. "Sure. What’s it for?"

I kept my response as calm as possible. "I’m gonna write ‘sorry’ on the back of my hand, but I want the ink fresh when I backhand the Italian out of Elena. I need her to know I mean it."

Noelle slapped the marker from my hand and sighed. “This is ridiculous. At least tell me what she did to deserve being hit so damn hard. Please, Nadia. We have one more week here and I would like it to be as enjoyable as possible for everyone.” Noelle’s earnest gaze and clenched jaw cut through my resolve.

I crossed my arms and sighed. “I can’t tell you. Okay? I know you. You would whoop her ass until the police showed up. Look, I’ll keep my distance from Elena as long as you don’t ask what happened anymore.” Noelle didn’t deserve to have her vacation ruined by her racist sister-in-law. I could hold my own and fake it till we got back to New Orleans.

Noelle smoothed the front of her cardigan and placed her hands on her hips. “Well, I appreciate that, but I want to know what happened.”

I raised a finger to her face. “Nope. We are not kids anymore. My issues aren’t yours anymore. I need you to be less of a big sister and more of a happy wife spending time with her husband.”

Noelle’s face mirrored her concern. "Fine. But when we get home, you are telling me everything. Now, what else do you have planned today?"

I batted my eyes and pursed my lips. "I'll have you know your irresistible sister is going out with a tall glass of English tea. I met him earlier this morning walking back from the square."

Noelle crossed her arms and hardened her tone. "Oh, hell no. You are not about to go running off with some stranger."

I slumped my shoulders and dropped my head back. "Oh, my god. Would you calm down? We're just going to lunch and then checking out an old cathedral. I’ll have my phone the whole time. Besides." I looked at the massive clock above the hotel front desk. “He’s as rich as he is hot. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go get ready.”

Noelle rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Promise me you’ll be safe and remember to call me every couple of hours. Especially if anything happens."

I smiled while stepping into the elevator before pressing the third-floor button. “You do realize if anything goes down, there is very little chance I’ll call you at all, right?”

Noelle raised her voice so I could hear her through the closing doors. “You better hope you do, or the next ass I whoop will be yours.”

I was so done with Taranto. I didn’t care if the trip was free. No amount of free airfare was worth being called ‘sporca negretta.’ I don’t have to know Italian to know I got called the ‘n’ word right to my face. I should’ve never gone without Aidan as if he helped. “Go. Your sister is going to need you, he said. It’ll be great for you to see a foreign country, he said. That bastard”

After reaching my room, I took a breath and centered myself. At least I had my own room. I didn’t want to wake up or walk in on something that would cost thousands of dollars of therapy to erase. Not to mention all the extra space I needed. The pile of new shoes next to my bed was a beautiful mess.

I almost tripped when I saw the silver-satin ribbon-wrapped box on my bed. "Holy crap.” Moving at a sprint, my phone flew from my hands before I ripped open the card on top. “Something breathtaking for the woman who took my breath away. Tomas must have sent it. Aw. That's so weird in a hot way.” I tore open the box and saw the most beautiful little black cocktail dress. "Oh, no he didn't." I stripped down and slid into the form-fitting mini. “Okay, it’s a little snug. But who cares, because look at my legs!” The silk fabric gently rubbed against my skin. I grabbed my phone, about to take a selfie, but stopped. “Son of a--! I only have an hour!” I undressed and ran to the shower, stumbling over my luggage.

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I was in and out before the water even warmed. Aidan and Noelle would never believe I showered in ten minutes, let alone under thirty. Once dry and in my lace underwear, I slipped on the dress as well as my favorite pair of silver heels. After pulling my hair into a tight ponytail, I doused it with a serious amount of spray.

I cracked my knuckles and sat on the bed, hiding provisions inside my cleavage. “Better grab condoms in case it's a great date and cash for a cab in case it’s not.” The knock at my door came right after I finished arranging everything away. “Hold on a second.” I glanced at the mirror to confirm I was ready.

I stepped lightly toward the door and swung it open. Sure enough, Tomas stood in front of me with a grin. The blonde bastard had even undone the first three buttons of his shirt and he looked so damn good. I needed to pull it together if I wanted to make it out of the hotel.

I gave him my signature bedroom eyes. "Hey, Tomas."

His gaze drank me in from top to bottom. “Nadia, you are a vision.”

“I kno—uh, thank you. You’re so sweet. Shall we go?” I shuffled through the doorway, doing my best to block him from seeing the chaos in my room.

His blue eyes were still glued to me, which meant my plan was working. “The dress looks even more amazing than I expected.”

I almost swooned when he extended his arm. "I guess you have great taste."

While passing through the lobby, I called out to the concierge at the front desk. “Yo, Basilio, cancel my wake-up call.” Tomas was still smiling as we walked out of the hotel. I stifled a gasp at the town car waiting for us and resisted the urge to take a pic. I didn’t want Tomas to know how basic I was yet.

***

After we were seated, I gazed at the beautiful view of the seafront. The waters were as blue as the clear sky. I took a deep breath to enjoy the fresh coastal air. “The weather is so nice today. I didn’t expect it to be as warm.”

Tomas unfolded his napkin and laid it on his lap. “Yes, the weather around this time of year tends to be a bit chillier and cloudier. Perhaps it is a sign of fortunate events.”

I turned away from the peaceful view to see Tomas smiling, eyes glittering like the sea. “Boy, that charm of yours just comes naturally, doesn’t it?”

The waiter walked over and gestured a hello to us. “Good afternoon. Signore Ainsworth, it is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you are enjoying your time in Taranto.”

Tomas kept his gaze on me. “I dare say, Lorenzo, I’m enjoying it more than I could’ve expected.” He turned to the waiter. “Will you bring out a bottle from my reserve? The 20-year red, please.”

The waiter’s eyes widened. “That is a very fine wine, signore.” Lorenzo partially turned in my direction. “The wine is a blend of Corvinone, Rondinella, Nebbiolo, Cabernet, Croatina, and Sangiovese e Molinara grapes. It is a very fine wine.”

After the waiter left, I narrowed my eyes at Tomas. “Sounds like a very expensive wine.”

Tomas leaned forward to take my hand in his. “It is a unique bottle. Specially made. It only feels proper to enjoy it with a woman who shares these same qualities. Will you do me this honor?”

He was good. It was a good thing I was sitting because I felt weak in the knees. “I guess I can help you out since you went through the trouble of planning this date.” I squeezed his hand and straightened my posture. “So, tell me more about this cathedral. My best friend back home is obsessed with them.”

Tomas regarded me by tilting his head back and forth. “This is probably not the type of cathedral you and your friend are used to. La Chiesa Oscura is a bit more grim. Its history is fraught with darkness. But you mentioned earlier that you are from New Orleans. I thought maybe you might find it intriguing.”

I pursed my lips while nodding. “Yeah, I mean, as far as first dates go, that is a peculiar one, but you’re right, I am intrigued.”

Tomas laughed, full lips stretching across his beautiful face. “It’s a bit touristy but quite the experience.”

I tried my best throughout the meal to eat like a lady and not make eye contact every time I took a big bite. After the first bottle of wine, we switched to the cheaper variety drank almost three more bottles. Unbeknownst to Tomas, I wasn't as drunk as I let on, hoping his inhibitions would drop.

After lunch, we walked to the cathedral since it was close. The breezy weather, cobblestone roads, and view of the water was the perfect setting for romanticizing. We walked hand in hand until I stepped away from Tomas to call Noelle. The last thing I wanted was to have to worry about calling her after things got intimate.

Once the call ended, I slipped my phone back into my ample cleavage without him noticing. “Sorry. Noelle tends to worry a lot. It's better to humor her. She hasn’t quite grasped the concept of us both being adults.” I let his gaze linger while I walked back.

Tomas gently grabbed my hand and continued to lead the way. “Don’t worry about it. I also have a sister and she can be a bit of a handful at times.”

I tried to distract him from noticing my heels catching the grooves in between the cobblestones. “You sure the cathedral is open? I don’t see anyone around.”

Tomas smirked. “That would be because I am giving you a private tour.”

“Okay, don’t tell me you rented this place just for a date. Even I think That’s a little extra.” I squeezed Tomas’ hand but a chill ran down my spine as we approached the cathedral.

He wrapped an arm around me to rub my shoulders. “Not exactly. The property is owned by my mother. It’s one of the businesses I oversee when I travel to Italy.”

“Well, you’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”

When Tomas held the large cathedral doors open and grinned at me. "With more to come."

I went inside the church without even glancing his way. “I guess that makes two of us.” I continued walking until I saw what was ahead, and my heels skidded to a stop.

Stairs on both sides led to four levels. A crazy amount of candle sconces filled the first floor, every one of them lit. At the end of the long aisle and past some steps, was an altar much different than any I had ever seen in person. An organ sat under the stained-glass windows. Where there should have been a pulpit, a marble slab stood cold and ominous. It was a little weird, but I was from New Orleans where weird was the norm. I marveled at the beautiful architecture but shuddered at the marble slab. “So, what’s this place’s story, exactly?”

“If you get close enough, you can still see blade marks on the marble.”

My eyes widened as I stared at the altar. “For sacrifices? Like appease-the-whoever-or-whatever kind of sacrifice? I’d say that’s a little more than grim.” The saddest part being that it wasn’t even the worst venue I had been taken to on a first date.

“The cathedral is more of a metaphor for how even in the brightest places, you can still find darkness.” Tomas winked at me.

I stepped towards the slab. There was something familiar about it. "You mean in the darkest places, you can still find a light, or whatever Dumbledore said?"

After a few seconds, a deep guttural voice answered. “No.” I whipped my head towards Tomas. His handsome face was twisted in a sinister glare as he held up a silver blade. “Ready for the full experience?”