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“I’ll see you tonight.”

I’m going to puke.

My stalker—not Tommaso—slips through the door before I’ve had a moment to stagger to my feet. Yanking open the door, he’s gone, but Ello is there, holding a black robe.

“Did you see him?”

“Who?” He glances around, but it’s pointless. It’s empty. As quickly as he came in and stole from me, he’s gone into the wind.

White-hot rage flushes my cheeks. I can’t believe he did this.

He took something that I hadn’t planned to give to him. It was my choice—something for me to give away. How dare he⁠—

“Valentina,” Ello signs. “We have to get you back. Freddie will not stay asleep for long. We’re already pushing it.”

Cazzo.

Slipping the robe over my shoulders, I follow Ello through the corridors back to the dressing room for performers. The halls are quiet, and the crowd is gone now. Thank God; I couldn’t look anyone in the eye after that.

He stole from me. My stalker took what wasn’t his to take.

Closing the door, I lean back, heart pounding.

He had no right!

Finding my discarded outfit, I strip and quickly wipe the evidence of his release between my legs. A sick part of me wants to keep it, let his ownership be here in the morning. Proof that I’m a changed woman, and I let some hacker-assassin take from me.

That part is extremely stupid. I shouldn’t listen to that Valentina.

“Valentina.” Ello pops his head in, eyes averted. “We need to go.”

I slip my straps up and slide my heels on. Pinning my locks up, I hide my implants again. “I’m ready.”

Checking myself in the mirror one last time, I throw my mask into a pile of clothing and follow Ello back to the dance floor. Rage bubbles in my gut, but I hold on tight. It won’t help me now, but if he shows his face again, I’ll claw his eyes out.

In the lounge, Freddie snores, completely unaware of what happened. Sighing, I lean against the wall, body sore. I’m holding on by a thread—I just want to go home.

Glancing at Ello, I sign, “Can you take me home? I’m tired.”

“Of course.”

Ello holds the back door open for me, and we step out into a summer rain. I tilt my head back, and the drops run down my cheeks. My makeup smears, mascara blackening my cheeks. I don’t care. The rain calms the heat on my face, and I exhale. I can almost believe I’m reborn—that the last few hours didn’t happen in such a shitty way. That I didn’t make a grave mistake.

A hand falls onto my shoulder. I spoke too soon.

“What are you doing here?”

Merda.

Locking eyes with my guard, I school my features before turning to look at my brother. Roman stands there, shoulders damp, with an umbrella over his dark head. He scans me critically, looking for a flaw, then glares at my guard.

“Did you bring her here?”

“Freddie did,” I answer, throat dry. “He’s in the lounge.”

Roman jerks his chin at Ello. “Wait at the car.”

When Ello doesn’t move, Roman’s face grows blotchy. “Are you deaf now, stronzo? Go to the car like a good little obedient dog.”