217

Jake, Sylvana, and Giovanni are locked in the sitting room with a lot of yelling and banging as I sit in the kitchen with Arrick and try not to self-implode. It’s been only minutes since we left the dining room and my nerves are completely done in. Sitting so tensely my body aches with the effort and I’m on high alert.

“Here.” He hands me a mug of cocoa and slides into the chair beside me at the kitchen table with a supportive smile.

“Thanks.” I accept it gratefully, still picking at the plate of food he warmed for me, trying to ignore the noise echoing down the hall. All the house staff have retired for the night and the place is eerily empty. Arrick’s girlfriend is either in his room or gone, so here he is, babysitting me at his brother’s request, because Jake didn’t want me left alone to ponder everything.

“I guess I sh