“All right.” Bianca nodded. With a look of pure elation, she threw her arms around his neck nearly knocking him back down.

“I love you, Bianca,” he said the words he knew now he’d never get tired of saying.

“I love you, Gio,” she whispered back.

They were both feeling the excitement of what lay ahead. “Let’s go,” he said straightening back up.

They decided to go in through separate entrances. Bianca would walk in through the front of the resort while Gio would go around the back way. Giving her a few minutes so they wouldn’t arrive back together, he slowed his stride as it really sunk in. This was actually happening and she wanted it as much as he did.

Noah’s words from that first conversation Gio had with him over the phone about this came to him. No matter what, this won’t end well. You know that right? Gio had thought about this many times—about the possibility that somehow he could pull this off.

Maybe once she broke things off with him and after some time passed, if Felix was in another relationship even, maybe then Bianca and Gio could reveal their relationship. Maybe then, it wouldn’t be so bad. Those were a bunch of big maybes, because in the meantime, Gio would have to deal with the situation as it stood. Gio had barely been able to hold it together earlier when he watched Felix kiss her. The way he felt now, seeing Bianca engage in any physical contact with Felix might blow everything out into the open.

~*~

Bianca did her best to appear as casual as possible as she made her way back to the table with the rest of the girls. One glance over at the guys by the bar had her heart racing. Felix eyed her and he didn’t look happy. Could it be possible he knew what she’d been up to? The idea that he may have had one of his security guys follow her, even as a security precaution, didn’t even dawn on her until she was on her way back but now it was major cause of worry.

Felix started toward her as she got closer. She slowed not wanting to be too close to the girls now if they were going to argue. Starting to smile as he stepped in front of her, Bianca’s smile went flat seeing the fiery contempt in his eyes. “Where’ve you been?”

Assaulted by the stench of tequila, followed by his slurred speech Bianca realized he was drunker than she’d ever seen him. “To the ladies’ room. I got caught up on my way back when I ran into someone from school.”

His eyebrow jerked up at that. “A guy?”

“No,” she tried not to sound too defensive. Obviously, his reaction was fueled by the alcohol because he’d never once been angry with her and now his body language and the obstinate glare almost frightened her. He was more than angry, he was furious. “A girl I have class with.”

“You sure?”

Bianca swallowed hard. What did he know? “Of course I’m sure.”

“You think I haven’t noticed, Bianca?” He spoke through his teeth, now lowering his voice but stepping closer to her, speaking right in her face. “Suddenly I’m not allowed to touch you but I have to watch while you smile and giggle at all your f**king little texts. Texts you say are all from your mom?” He took another menacing step forward as she took a cautious one back. People around them started to take notice. His eyebrow arched again sharply, as a sardonic smirk spread across his lips. “Oh, you thought I hadn’t noticed did you? How stupid do you think I am? You were probably on the phone with him now, weren’t you?” When she didn’t respond he raised his voice. “Weren’t you?”

What happened next was a giant blur. Gio jumped in Felix’s face. “Calm your ass down, man.”

Noah and the others followed as Felix continued to bark at Bianca to answer his questions.

“He’s drunk,” Noah attempted to downplay Felix’s erupted temper.

Felix suspected she was cheating but apparently had no idea with who because his anger was all directed at her. The girls all stood as one of the bodyguards informed them it was time to go while the guys continued to try to calm a now completely unreasonable and belligerent, Felix.

The last words she heard fly out of his mouth were “Fucking whore!” That’s when Gio’s fist flew into Felix’s mouth. Bianca’s stomach fell and chaos ensued.

Between Felix’s bodyguards, Noah, the rest of the guys, and the bar security trying to get control of the situation the place was a mess. Toni tugged at her hand. “Let’s go,” she urged.

Bianca didn’t understand the urgency until she saw the cameras. First it was just a couple of people with their phones snapping pictures but then she saw what appeared to be paparazzi. They’d been there the whole night and she hadn’t even considered the possibility that she might be seen by them earlier.

Toni and Bianca rushed out the back but even then cameras flashed in their faces. Hurrying to the van, Toni searched in her purse for her keys.

“I have them,” Bianca said, handing them to her as Toni’s eyes widened.

“Why do you have my keys?”

Her heart still pounding and feelings of guilt mounting by the minute, Bianca was beginning to feel like she might throw up. “I’ll explain later; let’s just hurry and get out of here.”

Bianca had asked to borrow Toni’s compact after watching Gio bolt out of there obviously upset about seeing Felix kiss her. Having told Bianca about the van situation earlier that day, Bianca had acted on a panicked whim and took the keys without Toni’s knowledge. Then she’d rushed out saying she had to use the ladies’ room and called Gio. The guilt was coming in from every direction—even this one. Toni hadn’t been thrilled about the predicament Bianca had gotten herself into. Just like Bianca knew her mother and Nana would think, while Toni did think it exciting, she also thought it was dangerous. Tonight had proved exactly why. Things could escalate quickly and unexpectedly. Hearing Felix call her a whore still burned in her ears, and here he didn’t even know the whole truth.