Page 44 of Devil's Tulip

“You’re the sun that orbits around me, Gianna. Without your presence, my life is a bleak, meaningless existence. I love you with all my being, and I promise not to ever betray you. I love you,” Michael declares, grabbing my hand earnestly to drop kisses over the back and inside my palm, his blue eyes guileless as he waits for my response.

I beam, my heart soaring. “Michael, I–”

A sharp knocking cuts me off.

My brows knit. I glance around the doorless room, wondering where the sound is coming from, then turn back to my suitor. “Michael, I lo–”

But he’s gone.

And suddenly the lights go out, leaving me alone in the darkness.

My heart drops to my belly, my happiness twisting into cold dread in seconds. “Michael! Where are you?”

Knock-knock–knock-knock.

The persistent sound won’t stop. It’s everywhere. Loud. Relentless. Amplifying my fear because I can’t see the door. Where is the fucking door!?

I jerk upright, gasping, my skin clammy with sweat. Confusion clouds my mind as I glance around. The room is dimly lit, quiet—except for the sharp rap of someone knocking.

“Gianna, baby, you need to wake up.”

Michael’s voice.

I blink, disoriented, then realize the door handle is jiggling. Shit. I must have locked it when I came in earlier. And… fallen asleep?

Rubbing sleep from my eyes between yawns, I shuffle towards the door, unlocking it and cracking it open. And—wow.

He’s fully dressed in a three-piece suit, looking like he just stepped out of a goddamn magazine. His cufflinks gleam under the dim light, his rings sparkling on his thumbs, ears, and brow.

“Someone is looking dapper. Are we going somewhere?” I ask, my heart skipping as I check him out again. Holy hell, this man is gorgeous. Would I ever get used to this?

His blue eyes flick over me, unreadable. “Yes. We have an important occasion to attend. Get dressed and take your things. We might not be back for a while.”

And just like that, he turns and walks away, leaving me with a million questions burning at the back of my throat.

An important occasion?

My mind flashes back to his phone call—what, an hour ago? Two? I have no clue how long I was out. But whatever that call was about, it changed something in him. Is that related to us leaving?

Where the hell are we going?

A knot forms in my stomach, my heart thudding heavily as I throw on some clothes, my mind racing through every possible scenario. I was just starting to feel settled in this house—like it could be home—and now we’re leaving?

A new wave of anxiety rolls through me. Once we’re out of here, we’re vulnerable. What if we run into Uncle Aldo’s men? What will we do then?

My heart thuds faster. Crap. I almost forgot I was on the run. I got complacent, which isreally bad.

I sigh, glancing around the bedroom I’ve come to think of as mine for what feels like the last time, and my heart aches painfully. “Don’t be so dramatic, Gia,” I murmur to myself, shrugging my backpack on. He did say it was just for a while, so I’ll certainly be back here soon.

…Right?

Steeling myself, I leave my room. The hallway is empty, so I drag my feet towards the staircase and slowly descend, my heart growing heavier and heavier with each step, my anxiety tightening like a vice around my chest.

How the hell did I survive two months alone on the streets? I’ve only been with Michael for one week, but already, I’ve come to depend on him entirely for my safety.I trust him, I realize. And it’s scary as hell.

At the foot of the stairs, I spot him waiting in the foyer, back against the wall, ankles crossed, fingers flying over his phone screen. A sexy little furrow of concentration creases his brows, making his brow ring a little more prominent.

God, even in a suit, he still looks like the ultimate bad-boy playboy.

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