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“I know. I can see you making the effort.” Which makes it all harder. It would be so much easier if Nico was an abusive asshole. Instead, he takes the time to smile at me and make sure I’m safe. He can be absent a lot with work, but for a Mafia man, he’s a lot better than I ever expected.
“So, now that it’s just us, I want to learn more about you. Favorite hobbies?”
“I mostly spend the days reading,” I admit. “There isn’t a whole lot more to do. I used to enjoy shopping, but …”
“But?”
But then I was out shopping the day my father was murdered.
“I grew out of it,” I say instead. “What about you? If you weren’t working all the time, what would you be doing?”
“Probably relaxing on a beach somewhere.”
“You? But you’re a New Yorker.”
“Who’s getting tired of working all the time.” He takes a bite of his steak and chews it, a pensive expression on his face. “I wouldn’t mind just relaxing for a bit.”
“Then why don’t you?”
“Because too many people depend on me. And my job isn’t exactly one you get a vacation from.”
I take a sip of my wine. “So, is this our lives now? You work, and I stay home?”
“I think you knew that when you came to my house that first day.”
He’s right. I didn’t expect anything more. But still … now that Nico is opening up, I know I want more.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask.
“No. Just being yourself is enough.”
I know I shouldn’t push for more answers, but with Nico looking so open and vulnerable with me, I have to try. “Is there nothing you can tell me about why the police are looking into you? Who’s Giovanni Costa?”
More like, who’s Giovanni Costa to Nico?
“I shouldn’t tell you. The less you know, the better.”
“Please.” When I grab his hand, he doesn’t pull away. “We’re married. I know we don’t love each other, and technically, you don’t owe me anything, but I want you to let me in. Please.”
He stares at me for a long moment before sighing. “All right. Giovanni Costa is a Mafia man from LA. I got into business with him. And then he disappeared. And now, the police are looking into him and asking me questions.”
“What happened to him?” My heart is beating out of my chest. It hurts so much that it almost distracts me from Nico’s answer.
“Honestly? I’m not sure. But I believe he’s dead. And I don’t have anything to offer the police. All I can hope for is this storm to pass.”
Does Nico truly not know what happened to my father? Or is he still holding back and not giving me all the details? If I don’t know everything, then the police can’t use me against him if he did indeed murder my father.
“Does death happen a lot in your line of work?”
“It does.”
“Have you …” I lick my dry lips.
“Have I ever killed anyone? Are you sure you want to ask me that, Aurora?”
The truth is I don’t want to know, but I need to know.
“If you feel ok telling me,” I say instead.
