AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It can wait until we get to the house.”
I didn’t push it. If he wanted to run the show, I’d just let him and see where it got us.
I spent many rides in silence with Hugo looking straight into the traffic and completely ignoring my existence, but this time it was different. There was an awkwardness pressing hard upon us, and it made me very uncomfortable. When he finally pulled up on my street, I exhaled, relaxing.
He stopped to say something to the two guys in the car parked across the street, but I didn’t wait. I took the elevator to the third floor, throwing my coat on a chair and walked into the kitchen. I went straight for the wine fridge, getting the cork out of a bottle of white that was already open and pouring myself a glass over a bunch of ice cubes. I sipped the sweet and sour liquid, enjoying the light bouquet of aromas, letting it wash away my disquiet, but the moment I lifted my eyes, I saw the missing cabinet door and got all jittery again. There was a longing inside of me every time I remembered that wouldn’t let me be at peace.
When Hugo caught up to me, he stopped in his tracks.
“Someone will come tomorrow to fix that,” he said hesitantly and then he looked at my glass like it was an insult. “You shouldn’t be drinking.”
“Do you ever get tired of nagging me, Mustafa?”
“I am not nagging you. You are seventeen; it’s illegal.”
Laughter shook my body, and I almost spit my wine.
“Let’s go in the other room. I wanna sit down. Should I pour you a glass too, Hugo?”
“Nah.”
We went to the living room, and I threw myself on the plush sofa, enjoying the comfort while Hugo sat in the matching arm chair. I always liked this room. It had looked the same for as long as I remembered, with the stained wood coffee table, the three arm chairs and sofa with golden frames and cushioned with black velvet that felt so soft. Now when the winter sun was settling in Brooklyn, the rays played in the crystal chandelier. In a few weeks, a huge Christmas tree would be placed right next to the window, and I’d come here to watch the snow fall from the sky. It gave me comfort to be here, and it was exactly what I needed right now.
“You said we have something to talk about.”
“About last night, Cat.”
Fucking finally.
“You mean when you attacked my boyfriend or after?” I asked and then took the wine glass to my lips, watching Hugo turn hostile over the rim. Maybe it wasn’t the best strategy to poke him with a stick.
“If I ever see him near you again, Cat, that boy will not live to see the end of his puberty.” He didn’t raise his voice, but there was a stone-cold truth in his words.
“You can’t tell me who I can see.”
“I can, and I will. He wants you to touch his cock, and I’m ready to leave him without one.”
The Nucci blood started boiling in my veins. I had no further plans to lose any more time with Nate, but it wasn’t his place to order me around like I was dog.
“Strontzo!”
“Watch. It. I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, Catherinelle, but you need to lose the attitude.”
“Then so do you, jackass. You have done nothing but make my life hell ever since Gino made you my guard. Are you blaming me because he made you do it? Because, trust me, I begged him to change his decision.”
“Oh, really?”
“Oh, you can bet on it. I’d be so much happier with Vito keeping an eye on me. He’s cute; he’s fun.” I shrugged and crossed my legs, staring straight into his murderous silver eyes. “I’m sure that if I kissed Vito, he would have finished the job.”
When I saw Hugo swooping in my direction, I knew I had finally pushed him over the edge, but I wasn’t scared. No. I was excited.
