Page 20 of Crimson Vows

The doorbell’s echo fades as Marco’s footsteps retreat downstairs. His presence is a constant hum in the back of my mind. I imagine him opening the door to Nico, all charm and danger wrapped in one devastatingly handsome package.

I shut off the water, the silence deafening. Droplets race across my skin as I reach for a towel, wrapping it around myself while condensation beads on the mirror, obscuring my reflection. It’s better this way—no need to see the worry etched into my face.

Clothes cling to damp skin, a reminder of the rush. My hair hangs heavy, strands sticking to my neck and shoulders, but there is no time to dry it. I apply a small amount of blush, mascara, and lipstick before turning toward the stairs.

“Marco?” My voice wavers, belying my attempt at composure.

“Down here, Gia.” His tone, casual, too casual, carries up to me.

Rounding the corner, I brace for friction, the spark that ignites when two forces like theirs meet. But there’s nothing—just two men, relaxed, a sight so unexpected it stops me in my tracks.

“Wow, Gia.” Nico’s voice is warm and genuine. He stands, his height and build filling the space. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you, Nico.” My words are a whisper, surprise, making them fragile. “But we both know I look like a drowned rat.”

Marco rises next, and his eyes rake over me with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. “Bellissima,” he murmurs, and I can’t tell if it’s admiration or something darker dancing in his gaze.

“Okay, seriously. Thanks, but you two are far too nice. I literally jumped out of the shower and rushed down here. I have to admit this wasn’t what I expected to find when I came downstairs,” I state, caught in the crossfire of their attention. The air shifts, charged with the unspoken, but for now, we’re just three people suspended in a moment of peace.

Marco’s stride closes the distance between us in seconds. His hand finds my waist, tugging me into him. The smell of his cologne, a mix of leather and spice, envelops me.

“And what exactly did you expect to find?” he breathes, voice a low rumble.

I stand, quietly observing the two men for a moment before I reply, “One of you bleeding.” My heart flutters, betraying my calm facade.

Marco laughs, and Nico eyes me for a moment before joining him.

“Come on, Gia. We’re all friends,” Nico chimes in with a reassuring smile, defusing the tension in the air.

I breathe out a nervous chuckle. “Exactly.”

Marco’s grip doesn’t falter as he leans down to press a lingering kiss on my temple before stepping back. “Well, you two enjoy your day,” he says softly. “I really have to get going.”

Their easy camaraderie baffles me, the absence of tension cutting through my own armor. Marco’s departure looms. I watch him leave, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

Nico’s presence beside me offers a lifeline; his warm smile is a comfort. “Shall we?” he prompts, his hand outstretched in a silent invitation. I’m thankful he doesn’t bring up the fact Marco clearly woke up here.

I nod, my throat tight with unspoken words and uncertainty. With a deep breath, I lace my fingers with his, intertwining our paths as we enter the world outside. The day beckons, filled with promises and whispered secrets yet to unfold, but I can’t help but think about how surreal the entire scene that unfolded feels.

As we walk down the sunlit street, a burning desire to ask what in the fuck Marco said to him begins to overwhelm me.

“Sorry about that,” I say to Nico, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I didn’t expect him to... We just fell asleep.”

“Nothing to apologize for,” Nico reassures me.

“Thanks.” I offer a shaky smile, grateful for his understanding.

I shuffle my feet, the silence stretching between us.

“Look, Gia...” Nico begins, his jaw clenching as he searches for the right words. “If I had known about you and Marco, I wouldn’t have...”

“Asked me out?” My voice is a whisper, daring to cut through the tension.

“Yeah.” He runs a hand over his bald head in a gesture of discomfort. “That’s not how I operate. I wasn’t trying to be underhanded or anything.”

“Then I am glad you didn’t know about us when you called,” I assure him. I study him for a moment before I continue, “Marco... he didn’t say anything to make you think—?”

“No.” Nico interrupts, shaking his head. “I had no idea about you two, but after talking with Marco this morning, I assumed it must be a newer thing.”

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