Sabrina, the sweet, bubbly girl next door, never imagined being pulled into a world of danger. But meeting Julian, a captivating mafia member with a dark past, changes everything.
As she falls for him, she's torn between love and the dangerous secr...
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I can't stop smiling as Julian and I head back to the hotel.
My fingers keep drifting to the diamond necklace around my neck, and I can hardly believe he bought it without a second thought.
It's the most beautiful thing I own now, and every time I feel its cool weight against my skin, I'm reminded of how much Julian went out of his way to make me feel special.
I glance up at him, unable to contain my grin. "Room service and hot tub?"
He squeezes my hand, his lips curving in that soft smile of his. "Yeah, sounds perfect."
Once we're back in our room, we settle on pizza for room service—simple but exactly what we need after such a long day.
When it finally arrives, we sit on the couch, laughing and trading stories between bites.
Julian throws in a joke now and then, and I have to cover my mouth to keep from spitting out my food from laughing too hard.
With him, everything feels lighter, carefree in a way I haven't felt in ages.
After we finish, I slip away to change into my swimsuit, a sleek black bikini. I pull on a cover-up and walk out to find Julian, who's already waiting by the door with a playful look on his face.
"Ready?" he asks, nodding toward the hotel's rooftop hot tub.
"Mhm."
The evening air is cool as we step onto the rooftop, and the sky is a deep indigo, scattered with stars.
The hot tub is warm and inviting, steam rising from the surface, and as I ease into it, the warmth wraps around me instantly.
Julian slides in next to me, close enough that our shoulders are just touching.
I feel Julian's arm resting along the back of the hot tub behind me, so I lean into him, letting the warmth of his presence sink in.
The city lights glow softly in the distance, casting a cozy, golden haze around us.
I touch the diamond necklace on my collarbone, my fingers brushing over each tiny stone. "This is... the nicest thing anyone's ever given me," I say quietly, feeling a little overwhelmed but so grateful.
Julian tilts his head, his eyes warm as he watches me. "Good. It belongs on you." He pauses, then with that hint of a grin he adds, "Only the best for my girl."
A happy blush fills my cheeks, and I reach down to splash him playfully in response, laughing.
He catches my hand in the water, holding it tightly, his fingers weaving through mine as if he never wants to let go.
I look down at our joined hands, feeling that familiar flutter in my chest. "Julian... thank you," I say softly, not just for the necklace but for everything.
He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to thank me. There's nowhere else I'd rather be, nothing I wouldn't do for you."
And in that quiet, shared moment, I feel a warmth beyond the hot tub, beyond the city lights—something that makes everything feel right, as if being here with him is all I've ever needed.
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I leaned back into the couch, the sound of Sabrina showering softly in the background, and saw that it was Camilla calling.
I sighed, knowing I had to pick up. "Hey, Cami. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah," she answered, her voice quieter than usual. "I just wanted to thank you for the other night."
I rubbed my temple, still exhausted from everything, but I could never deny her if she needed me. "You're welcome. How're you feeling?"
"Better," she replied, but I could sense something off. "I just... I know you were worried."
I frowned. "You don't have to hide things from me, Camilla. You can tell me what really happened."
I wanted to believe she was fine, but something told me she wasn't being fully honest.
She hesitated for a moment. "It's nothing, Julian. Really. Just... a lot on my mind. But I'm good. I'll be alright."
I bit back the frustration. I didn't want her keeping things from me, but I knew she wouldn't open up unless she was ready.
"Alright, just know I'm here for you, okay?" I paused, then added, "You don't need to go through things alone."
Camilla's voice softened. "I know. Thanks, Julian. I appreciate it."
I stayed quiet for a moment, the silence between us thick with things unsaid.
I hated that I couldn't fix everything for her, but I couldn't force her to open up either. "Call me if you need anything, alright?"
"I will," she replied, and I could hear the faintest edge of something I couldn't quite place in her voice.
But before I could say anything else, she hung up.
I put the phone down with a sigh, running my hand through my hair. I didn't like that she wasn't telling me the whole truth, but I knew I couldn't press her right now.
She'd talk when she was ready, even if I didn't agree with how she was dealing with it.
I looked toward the bathroom, knowing Sabrina would be done soon. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Camilla, but for now, I had to focus on Sabrina.
