(VALENTINO'S POV)
The city lights smear across the windshield as I pull up to the curb outside Casa di Oro. The low thrum of the engine fades when I kill it, and for a moment, the silence between us feels almost peaceful. I turn to Krystal. Her face glows faintly from the neon spilling through the tinted glass, and I can't help the small smile tugging at my mouth as I rest my hand over hers.
"Thanks for coming out with me tonight," I say quietly. "I've been feeling like shit the past few days. Needed to get out before I lost my fucking mind."
She looks at me, that soft, knowing smile playing at her lips. "I'm glad you did. You've been carrying too much lately."
"Yeah, well," I sigh, pushing open the door, "tonight, I'm having fun and getting shit-faced. That's the plan."
Krystal chuckles as she steps out. "And who's supposed to drive when we're both getting drunk tonight?"
