And now she needed me more than ever.

Bennie climbed in beside me, draping an arm along the back of the seat and slouching down. “Shopping is boring,” he complained.

“You’ll survive,” I assured him, putting my phone away before he got nosy and tried to read over my shoulder.

Ciana slid along the bench seat across from me, out of breath and clutching at her huge purse. Vito followed her, shutting the door behind himself, laughing hard. “I’ve never seen you move so fast as when you think you’re going to get left behind from a shopping trip, Ciana.”

“Didn’t you just go shopping last week with Tavia?” Bennie commented.

“Yes,” she said, opening her mirror to fix her hair. “But I haven’t seen Nova in forever. I’m just excited to get to spend some time with her.”

“And get a new pair of shoes,” her youngest brother said with a roll of his blue eyes.

“What’s wrong with getting new shoes?” she asked, narrowing her eyes on Bennie. “I spend my own money, that I work hard for. Is it taking anything away from you?”

He grunted but didn’t have a ready comeback for her, which made the rest of us laugh as he crossed his arms over his chest with a dramatic huff. The limo started moving, but I opened the divider and told the driver which mall I wanted to go to.

“Sure thing, Miss Nova,” he called back.

“What’s so special about that mall?” Bennie demanded.

“There’s an outfit I’m looking for, and the online store said it was in stock,” I told him with a shrug.

But really, that particular mall was connected to the hotel where Cali was currently staying.

Matias Ramirez was having surgery at the hospital a few blocks away, which meant that Cali’s stepbrother would be there and not at the hotel with her. At least, that was what Cali had said in her message. I didn’t know how much longer she would be alone—or as alone as a person could be with a small army of guards keeping her under lock and key.

14

Nova

As soon as we walked into the store, I started grabbing things in my size that I just had to try on. Back at home with my parents, I was a simple jeans and T-shirt type of girl—give me a pair of Converse or boots, and I was ready for the day. But when I was in Ryan’s world, I knew I couldn’t be that girl all the time. I had to play the part, show everyone that I belonged beside a Vitucci.

I piled everything into Bennie’s arms, making him follow me around until the stack was almost over his face.

Figuring that would be enough to make him think I was busy for as long as I needed, I followed the associate back to the huge changing rooms. “I think I can take it from here,” I told her with a cheerful smile. “But could you make sure my cousin doesn’t get bored?”