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Roman stiffened. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Of course you don’t,” she agreed readily, before pursing her lips. “Will you do one thing for me?”
“If it is within my power, yes,” he told her.
“Angela is not all bark and no bite, by any means. But her harsh bite is worth the pain to get to know her,” she said, lowering her voice. “Be careful with her, Roman. She’s had to piece herself back together once before. I don’t want to see her broken again.”
The nun knew about Angela’s past. Something even his brother hadn’t been able to dig up. “What happened to her?” The look she sent him had him immediately dropping his head. “Mi scusi. That was rude. It is none of my business.”
“It was rude,” the Sister agreed. “I’m not about to share the darkest corners of anyone’s life with a perfect stranger, let alone Angela’s. That’s for her to disclose. If she decides to make it your business, that is.” Her face softened, and she smiled at him. “If you get very lucky, she just might.”
Before he could reply, Angela noticed his presence. The way her mouth dropped open would have been comical if the glare she sent him wasn’t so nasty. She was well and truly pissed. And he thought she looked fucking beautiful. He watched her long, curvy legs eat up the distance between them, and before he could say anything, she ground her pointer finger into his chest.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. “It’s not enough that you have me followed by that big dumb ogre, Abel, but you have to come and invade my personal space as well?”
“Angela,” Sister Philomena said, stepping between them. Roman was grateful to the nun. “Roman and I were just enjoying a nice chat. It was such a lovely opportunity to thank our silent donor personally. You didn’t tell me you two were friends.”
“We’re not,” they said simultaneously.
Roman smiled thinly. At least they agreed on one thing. “I was just passing by on my way to work, and thought I would stop in,” he offered.
“Bullshit.” Angela did her best to mask the curse word with a cough.
“What was that, dear?” Sister Philomena’s expression was the very picture of innocence.
Angela smiled at the nun. “Just a tickle in my throat.”
“I hope you aren’t coming down with something,” the Sister said.
“It’s nothing,” Angela replied before turning to Roman. “Can I speak with you for a moment? In private,” she added through gritted teeth.
“Of course.” He turned to Sister Philomena, unsure if he was about to tell the truth or one of the biggest lies of his life. “It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for the chat.”
“Any time,” she told him with a warm smile. “Perhaps you will stop in on your way to work another day,” she suggested, before tilting her head curiously. “Where might that be?”
Roman pointed to the east. “You can see it from here, actually. The Omertà complex.”
Sister Philomena gasped. “That tall monstrosity of a building in the center of the city?”
He laughed. “That would be the one.”
She leaned in close, murmuring, “Just between you and me, I always thought the owner of that building must be compensating for something.”
Angela gaped at her. “Sister!”
“What? It’s the truth. And I took a vow of honesty,” Sister Pip reminded her with a wink to Roman. “But I see now that isn’t the case.”
Roman laughed. “Why, thank you.” he bowed to the nun, enjoying the hell out of himself. “Angel didn’t tell me how wonderful you are.”
“Angela,” the fired-up beauty emphasized, “didn’t tell you anything about the Sister or the Lighthouse.”
Sister Philomena patted Angela on the arm. “Well, he knows now.” She turned to him. “And he is welcome any time. I’ll leave you to it.” She patted his shoulder once before walking off.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Angela demanded as soon as the older woman was out of earshot.
“I have a proposition for you,” Roman said.
“I’m not interested in anything you have to offer,” she told him, crossing her arms over her chest.
