Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Nia

Jess's voice calms some of the hectic inside me. "And then Daddy went completely crazy and locked me in my room and told me that I was marrying this old man from Italy," she says in a rush. "And that's when Mike broke down my door and got me out of there."

I keep listening as minutes tick by. Jess details all that's happened to her since I left that night for my date with Gris. And though I had questions, somehow just hearing her voice has soothed some of the worry. "I'm so glad he was able to get you out."

"Me too. Now tell me what happened to you. Mike says you're not with Gris but with a Kincaid?"

I wince, not having thought this part through. "It's a really long story," I say breezily. "But Jake's amazing and he asked me to marry him."

"Oh my God, that is the best!" I'm glad my sister isn't asking the details. "Mike," she shrieks, "Jake and Nia are getting married."

"Jake?" I hear a male rumble in the background. "Holy shit. "

I let out a long breath. "It's a little complicated though because I don't think Roman likes me."

"Cause you're Toni's kid?" she asks, as though it's completely obvious. Maybe it is.

"I think so."

Jess hums like she understands. "Give it time, Nia. You're really hard not to like."

That might be the nicest thing she's ever said to me, and I melt into the kitchen chair. The guys all nicely cleared out, retreating to their rooms after Roman handed me his phone.

He called Mike so that it looks like a call between cousins, just in case anyone is checking.

"You really think so?" I bite my lip, fiddling with the hem of my shirt before drawing my knees up. "Because I'm not sure I can be in another family where I'm the outsider, you know?"

"Who says you were the outsider? Toni was the outsider. Me, the aunts, the Andrianis, we have always been your family, not his. The only people he got were the Vendettis and that's because they are psychos."

I smile despite myself. "You mean that?"

"I mean it," she answers softly. "Now, give me a few tips on getting Mike to propose."

"You don't want a bigger fish?" I whisper darting my eyes to make sure no one is listening.

"No," Jess says back, quiet too. "I'm good with the fish who breaks down the door and literally carries me to safety."

I nip at my lip. "Well, your blowjobs have gotten you this far."

She laughs. "Word."

A small silence settles between us. "I wish I could hug you."

"Me too. I wish I could see you or at least tell you where I am, but Mike told me not to say on the phone."

"I totally understand, I know we're leaving today, but I don't even know where."

Jess sighs. "Think we'll get to see each other soon?"

"I hope so," I answer. "I miss you. "

"I miss you too."

"I love you, Jess. Thanks for always being there."

"I love you too. And ditto. I can't wait to get to live a real life together, instead of that lie."

I did not give my sister enough credit. "Me too. Take care, okay?"

"I will. You too."

I nod, then I realize she can't see me. "I will. Talk soon."

We hang up and I sit there for a while, staring at Roman's phone. My head is full, I guess.

"Done?" Jake calls from the doorway. I have no idea how much time has passed, but I was totally lost in thought. "Yes. Tell Roman thank you for helping me make the call."

"You can tell him yourself," Jake replies as he turns back toward the stairs. "We're ready!"

Roman and Luke appear thirty seconds later with our suitcases in hand.

I push up from the chair giving Roman his phone back. "Thanks for that."

"You're welcome," he answers, not meeting my eyes.

I nip at my lip, knowing that I misjudged my sister the way Roman did me. "I get why you don't like me."

His gaze snaps to mine. "I like you a lot, Nia."

My brow furrows. "What?"

"The mistake was mine, and it was a matter of not knowing you," he says with a shrug. "I'm sorry for what I texted, for what I started. It won't happen again."

I nod. I get it.

I reach for my suitcase, but he gives me a wink. "I got it."

We leave the house, a large SUV waiting in the drive. Piling in, it only takes five minutes before we've reached a small air strip.

The plane that waits on the runway is small, but it looks ridiculously nice. My family has money, but not private-jet money.

I stop, my brows going up, as my sunglasses come down. "We're flying in that? "

"Private planes and private air strips make it far easier to doctor flight logs," Jake murmurs, his arm coming around me.

"Do I get to know where we're going?"

"Marathon, Florida," he says. "If we're going to hide, it might as well be on a beach."

My lips part. "Seriously?"

"Like I said, private airstrip."

"We'll probably stay for four or five days and then move locations. But we'll try to keep our stops scenic."

I can't even imagine the money they're spending to fly private planes about every four or five days.

"Jake says you have a passport?" Roman asks, pulling out his phone like he's making a note or something.

I nod. Using it would mean alerting customs of our movements.

The car stops and Jake gets out, holding out his hand so that I slide across the seat on his side.

"I'll work on getting you another…" Roman says as he gets out too but stops halfway when his phone starts buzzing. He glances down. "It's Mason."

"Better pick it up," Jake answers, pulling me tighter into his side.

"Mason?" Roman starts but instantly stops, his face going granite hard.

"What's wrong?" Luke asks but Roman doesn't have time to answer. Because another black SUV is racing toward us.

"Shit," Jake rumbles, tossing his suitcase to the side and tucking me partially behind him.

"What's happening?" I cry.

Roman holds a hand out in front of me, further blocking me from view. "Toni has escaped."