Chapter 26
The tingles lessened, my breathing becoming easier. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with air.
Fear mixed with pain in Nero’s too dark eyes. “Are you okay? Tell me you’re okay.” His voice was a frazzled demand of desperation.
I inhaled again, letting the air spread through me once more. “I’m okay,” I managed.
He thrust his hand through his hair. “Fuck, Lanes. You scared the shit out of me.” He turned away, pacing the small space in front of me, breaths coming out in jagged, harsh gasps.
Sherry barged into the kitchen. “Where is she?”
I waved from the counter. “I’m over here, Sher.”
She hurried toward me. “Are you okay? Was it shrimp? I never should have let them on the menu. But I thought everything was marked properly and they promised they would fry them in separate oil and keep them separately. This is all my fault.”
I forced a smile. “I thought they were macaroni and cheese balls. This is not your fault.”
“Lainey?” Laurent rushed into the kitchen, Phoebe on his heels. Laurent’s parents were behind them. “What the fuck happened?” he asked.
I was making a scene. I did not want to make a scene. “I’m okay,” I said, holding up my hands and letting a slight nervous laugh slip. “Thanks to Nero. He got me to my pen in time.”
Rose and Wyatt squeezed in behind everyone. Wyatt’s tie was wrapped around his head, the top three buttons of his shirt unbuttoned. A clear sign he’d already been on the dance floor.
“Lainey, you okay?” Rose asked. “Were you choking?”
“Shrimp,” I said.
“Why the hell was there shrimp here?” Franc asked from the doorway.
“You can’t not have it on the menu just because of me,” I said. “I should have asked what it was before I ate it.”
“Did you know that shrimp have their hearts in their head!” Gio announced.
“Not now!” Franc exclaimed.
Quinn came in and grabbed Gio’s hand, pulling him out of the kitchen.
“Lainey!” Dad’s voice rose above everyone.
“I’m okay, Dad,” I said, letting my head fall into my hands. This was horribly embarrassing. “Everyone go back to the wedding. Please. I’m okay.”
“You sure?” Austin’s head popped up over Dad’s.
“I’m good. Go dance. I’m sure Rhone and Sutton are already on the dance floor.”
“They’re trying to distract everyone else, so we don’t wind up with the whole guest list in this small kitchen,” Austin said.
“Even more of a reason for everyone to go back out there. Go have fun. I didn’t die, so no need to crowd around me like a corpse.” There was a wedding going on, and I was not supposed to be the center of attention.
I laughed, trying to lighten the mood and get everyone back out on the dance floor.
“Why are you laughing?” Nero’s blue eyes were practically black as his gaze crashed into mine. “This isn’t fucking funny. Everyone get the hell out!” His hand flung toward the door, waves of anger rolled off of him.
“Oh shit,” Laurent said. “I know that feeling all too well.” He looked at his bride, who was even more stunning in this light. She radiated beauty and grace. Despite my little emergency, she still looked happier than any bride I had ever seen. “Not easy when someone you love almost dies in front of you.”
Someone you love? My heart stuttered, and Nero’s gaze met mine. My lips parted, wanting to say something, but remembering we had an audience, I snapped them shut. We could talk later. Right now, we needed to tame the circus.
“I didn’t almost die,” Phoebe said with a roll of her eyes.
“Tell that to the medical staff that had to hook you up to multiple IVs because you depleted all your nutrients.”
“It was nothing,” Phoebe said.
“Nothing?” Laurent crossed his arms over his chest. “Unbelievable. You could have died.”
“But I didn’t.”
“And Lanes almost fucking died,” Nero blurted. “We almost lost her. So if you all can kindly fuck off.” I grabbed Nero’s bicep, turning him to me.
“I’m okay,” I assured him again, and I would keep saying it until that terrified look left his too dark irises.
The skin around his eyes pinched, a sheen of water pressed against his lids. “But you almost weren’t.”
I ignored everyone else and ran my finger along his jaw. “But I am.” His eyes slipped close, and I brushed my thumb along his jawline until the tension eased.
He inhaled and opened his eyes, staring at me. The room faded away. All that mattered was me and him.
“I know that look,” Franc said. “It’s how I felt when Quinn showed up on my doorstep after her car got swept away.” Franc shook his head. “Sorry I ever doubted you, Nero. It’s obvious now that you won’t hurt our girl.”
Nero’s eyes met Franc’s and the skin along his jaw tightened again. “I told you that.”
“I know and I’m sorry.”
“Let me take you home,” Sherry said to me.
Nero stepped in front of her. “I’m taking her home.” There was an edge to his voice that gave no room for arguing, but Sherry didn’t step down. She held Nero’s glare with her own.
I rested my hand on Nero’s arm and gently urged him aside. His muscles were a tight coil that felt like they might snap. I hated to see him so worried. I hated that I foolishly ate something without knowing exactly what it was.
He looked back at me, too many emotions to decipher flashing across his face. “I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he growled.
“And you don’t have to. Just let me talk to Sherry.” I smiled, attempting to show him I was okay.
With a sigh, he moved aside. I smiled at my best friend. “I love you, Sher, but stay. Let Nero take me home.”
Sher shook her head. Concern filled her eyes. “I don’t want him to hurt you again.”
“I won’t,” Nero said with a defiant tone. I glanced at him and shook my head. I could see that he was panicked still, that anger and frustration were taking over, but taking it out on Sherry was not the answer.
He stepped up to Sherry and held his pinky out to her. “Promise.”
“What did we miss?” Mrs. Grasso asked, glancing around to the crowd that still refused to leave. Confusion tugged at the corners of her eyes.
“Come on, Momma Grasso,” Wyatt said, draping his arm around her. “You owe me a dance.”
Gio ran through everyone, looking under the cabinets. “Has anyone seen Sally?”
“You brought Sally!” Franc exclaimed.
“She wanted to see Uncle Laurent and Aunt Phoebe get married,” Gio pouted. “I told her to stay on the hay bale. She didn’t stay.”
“For fu—fudge sakes. Let’s go look for her.” He placed his hands on Gio’s shoulders and steered him out the door.
Sherry stared at Nero’s finger as everyone else filed out for what felt like an eternity. Finally, she exhaled and hooked her fingers with his. I sighed a breath of relief.
She yanked him to her. “Hurt her, and I’ll kill you.”
“I’ll give you the knife.” Nero’s eyes met hers, unwavering and full of promise.
She turned to me. “You’re happy?”
“I am. I’ve never been happier.” I reached for Nero’s hand and squeezed it, trying to release the tension that was wound so tight in his veins. “Except for the whole almost dying thing.”
Nero all but growled beside me.
“Okay then. Just promise me you never talk to me about your sex life. I don’t want to know. Also. Don’t die. It’s nonnegotiable.”
“Agreed!” Nero said.
“You got it.”
“Good. I’ll call you later to check in. I love you.”
I held my arms out to her and hugged her to me. “I love you, too.”
She met my gaze. “You sure you’re happy? My offer to hit him still stands.”
I laughed. “I appreciate it, but I like his face as it is, bruise free.”
She nodded, then turned to Nero. “Take care of her.”
“I will. Always.”
Sherry hugged him quickly, then hurried out of the kitchen and back to the reception.