47. I was still wrong—this fucking blows
Chapter 47
I was still wrong—this fucking blows
Luca
I lie in bed for a long time, thinking about the past day.
We had a perfect day. I mean, as perfect of a day a guy can have when his girlfriend and his cousin are actively trying to annoy him. But honestly, I don’t care what we do as long as I get to spend my time with Ariana.
Girlfriend. That word isn’t strong enough for what she means to me. But I’ll worry about that later.
I know Marco really just has me doing the security detail thing to learn, not because he was greatly concerned about anything happening to the girls. I might not be set on a career in security detail, but I’m sure as hell set on Ariana. I found a decent balance of bodyguard and boyfriend while she and Lil dragged me from one end of the market and back again. The gyros were great, the boba tea was fucking weird, and watching Ariana eat that ice cream cone made me so hard I was afraid I would come in my pants in public. Dancing while waiting for her coffee was like the cherry on top.
But I never want to see her stiffen in fear the way she did on the way back to the car again. I didn’t see anyone who seemed to be focused on her, but that doesn’t mean shit. I don’t know the whole story, but if she feels threatened, then I’m going to do everything in my power to eliminate that threat. I know she’s safest in this house, even with Marco gone. There are over twenty men stationed around the property at all times. There are guns and safe rooms and cameras. But it doesn’t feel like enough.
I hate that we’re waiting to tell Marco. But Ariana promised to talk to him in the morning.
And I hate that she didn’t mention this ice neck thing already. The fact that it’s happened more than once recently makes me anxious as fuck. I’m not mad at her, but I’m fucking frustrated. And scared, if I’m being honest with myself. My nerves are shot.
I held and touched her as much as I could while we watched movies for hours after dinner. It really does make us both feel better.
Lil suggested we each pick a movie and we all had to watch it with no objections. Which we knew was bullshit because we’re a mouthy, bitchy group. I picked the original Jurassic Park because it’s my favorite movie. Ariana grinned at me, and she might know more lines than I do. I fell more in love with her while watching it, sitting by her side, her hand in mine.
Ariana picked Robin Hood: Men in Tights . I had never seen it before, but I laughed my ass off. I was sure Lil would pick a horror movie or some over-the-top comedy, but she picked Ever After . She told me while Ariana was in the bathroom that she thought it might help calm Ariana before bed. She said something like Beauty and the Beast might work better, but she was saving it in case they had trouble sleeping tonight.
I’m having trouble sleeping now, but I don’t think an old movie is going to help. Holding my girl would, though.
Fuck. I need to know who is out there, who is scaring Ariana.
I finally drift off to sleep .
When I wake up to screams, my feet are moving before my brain can catch up. I’m out of my room and across the hall in seconds, slamming Lil’s door open.
Ariana is sitting up, screaming at… nothing. Lil’s a few feet away from her, calling her name. My cousin looks at me, her eyes wide.
“What the fuck is happening?” I yell, dropping to my knees on the mattress in front of Ariana. Her eyes are open but unfocused.
“She’s not really awake, Luca. She has nightmares. Well it’s a memory and it’s just the one over and over. It used to be a lot but wasn’t anymore, but now ice neck is happening. Sometimes, she wakes up fine, but sometimes this happens.” Lil talks fast without taking a breath, in panic mode. I can barely hear her over Ari’s heart-wrenching screams.
“Ariana, sweetheart, wake up.” I place my hands on her arms gently, hoping our shared love language works its magic, but she jerks away, scratching me in the process. Her hands continue to flail, making contact with my body again and again. “Ouch. Fuck. What works, Lil?” I should probably move out of Ariana’s reach, but I don’t. I look at my cousin, feeling lost as fuck, but she shakes her head.
“Nothing, she just eventually wakes up or passes out.”
“Fuck that.” I think back to when she panicked in the basement. Something has to bring her out of this.