Vincent’s tongue is warm and commanding. I like the way it feels against mine. Our slow dance is in sync and natural. I’ve never found a rhythm so easily with a guy before, and it just reinforces the fact that I was supposed to come and find Vincent today.

Poor, beat-up Vincent.

I pull back with a gasp. “I’m not hurting you, am I? Is your mouth okay?”

He doesn’t even wait a beat before he’s whispering against my skin. “Your kisses could never hurt me.”

I smile and lick his tongue, heat spreading through me as we deepen the kiss again. I love how strong his body is, the way his sure fingers grip my hip and pull me a little closer.

Our wet clothes stick together.

I’m pressed right against him, my arms around his neck, my heart beating in time with his.

The rain above is the perfect soundtrack, and my romantic heart is full to overflowing right now.

Eventually Vincent pulls back for air, resting his forehead against mine for a moment.

His breaths are shaky and he still can’t seem to find his voice.

“I knew I’d like kissing you,” I whisper and lean back so he can see my smile.

“You thought about it before, huh?”

“Maybe.”

His eyes sparkle with a smile. “Is that why you came today? So you could kiss me?”

“That was just an added bonus.”

His hands run down my arms as I step back.

Threading my fingers between his, I look him in the eye and admit, “I’ve been worried about you. And I had every reason to be.” My forehead bunches; I can feel my eyebrows wrinkling together. “He should not be treating you like that. You need to tell my dad.”

He’s shaking his head before I’ve even finished talking. “I know you think that works, but…”

“He’ll listen to you.”

A scowl flashes across his face. “It’s too risky.”

“Involving the police is too risky? The police are there to serve and protect. That’s their job.”

“It’s not that simple, Chloe.” Gently tugging me closer, he wraps his arms around my waist. “Justice doesn’t always win. The police can’t always get the bad guy. They can try, but then if Uncle Enzo or Diego don’t get convicted or get a really small sentence for assault, my life’s not worth it. They’ll kill me if I betray them.”

Those words are like a knife to the heart.

“You can’t…you can’t live like that.” Tears scorch my insides, rising up my throat and building on my lashes. “It’s not fair.”

He swipes his thumb beneath my eyes and softly whispers, “It’s okay. I’m going to be okay. I’ll be free one day.”

“How? When?”

“I don’t know. The only step in front of me right now is my high school diploma. Once that’s done, then I’ll think about what’s next.”

“That’s over a year away!”

“I can do it. I know how to survive. I just have to do it their way until I can get out. Sure, it was easier when Nick was around. He’d step in. I wasn’t outnumbered.” He dips his head, his swallow thick and audible. “I miss him.”

As if my heart wasn’t breaking before.

Resting my hand lightly on his beat-up face, I press my forehead against his. “We need to get him out of jail. We need to prove he’s not guilty so he can be acquitted and you can have your bodyguard back.”

He gives me a pained smile. “It’s not that simple.”

“I know that.” My soft voice grows strong with conviction. “It’ll be really hard. And we might fail. But we have to try. We need to get your brother out.”

His shoulders slump as he leans away from me and looks up at the rain. “I don’t know how.”

“I think we need to start by asking him what really happened. Obviously everyone who could help him gave up for some reason.”

“Or he’s guilty,” Vincent mutters.

I lightly thump his shoulder and wriggle out of his grasp. “Would you stop saying that?” I swallow, hating his doubt. It only fuels my own. I want to be convinced that Nick is innocent, and negative talk won’t help us. Licking my lower lip, I stare Vincent in the eye, hoping I sound stronger than I feel. “If your brother is anything like you, he’s not guilty. And it’s not fair that he’s stuck in some prison while the person who set him up is walking free somewhere. I can’t just ignore that. I won’t.”

An emotion I can’t decipher flickers over Vincent’s face.

“You need to go see him and find out the truth. Once we’ve got that, we can work backward, dig up the right evidence and hand it to the right people.”

“Your dad,” Vincent mutters.

I cross my arms. “I know you don’t like him, but—”

“I think it’s more a case of him not liking me.”

“He doesn’t even know you.” I spread my arms wide. “Besides, he was the one that stopped you from getting expelled.”

“I bet he’d hate the thought of his daughter hanging out with me. I bet he’d expel my ass if he knew that.”

I have to concede with a huff. Turning my back on Vincent, I stare out at the rain trickling down the dirty glass panes.

An involuntary shiver runs down my spine, the cold, bleak air nipping at me.

Vincent moves behind me, his slow footsteps closing the distance between us. His hands touch my shoulders and very slowly glide down my arms until I’m completely enveloped.

Resting his chin on my shoulder, he whispers, “I haven’t seen Nick in a while. I should probably go visit him. Maybe when I’m there, I could ask. I’ve never outright asked for the truth before. Maybe it’s time.”

Turning my head, I press my smile against his cheek. “I want to come with you.”

He tenses. “No. You are way too beautiful and sweet to be walking into a prison.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t put me on some pedestal. I might be sweet—naïve, even—but I’m also very stubborn and when I believe in something, I won’t back down.” I turn in his arms so I can look him in the eye. “I believe in you, Vincent, and I’m helping you whether you want me to or not.”

He tightens his hold around my waist and I’m waiting for his gruff refusal.

But it never comes.

Leaning forward, I rest my chin on his shoulder and can’t help a small, triumphant smile.

Looks like I’m visiting my first prison tomorrow.