ena
the nightstand at six in the mornin
indow seat, clutching a worn, gray plush rabbit against
ng, Nico,"
having heard me, ign
o sit too close to him. I leave a clear two feet of space betwe
ng to rise over the tre
bit tighter, but he d
e of staff preparing breakfast. I learn from the head chef that the Don has already left the estate for business. A strange, complicate
d one piece of toast. I prepare a tray and carry it up the stair
it in the chair opposite it. I pull out my phone an
iliar knot of dread forms in my stomach. The numbers are gettin
minutes pas
Nico slowly reach out. He picks up th
my phone, affecting an a
lass of milk and drinks half of it in on
of my phone, his brow furrowed at the dens
ico asks, his voice small an
for a full second, an
mask my shock, keeping my
ut a sick patient
co asks, his eyes
ther,"
dark hair fall over his eyes. He p
a mother," N
is voice. I lean forward slightly, keeping
you feel unwell, Nico," I s
, turning his atten
s tracks. He stares at the half-empty milk glass and the plate with the missing toast. His mouth hangs open s
crayons, he is drawing on a large piece of white paper. He draws a large sq
The caller ID shows an unknown number, so
," a ma
ng his voice make
u want?" I
h condescension. "I can pay them for you. But you have to agree to be a br
the phone gro
n barely contain. "You stole my wedding date. You gave Sabrina the venue I booked an
s voice dropping into a sneer. "
a low voice saying "You are dismissed." The contrast between Lucian Marcello's cold, abs
them involve begging a pathetic associate who
up th
to slow even as my hands tremble with rage. I take a single deep breath, walk bac
shift in my energy immediately. He looks back down at his paper and pick
s a tiny figure standing
-
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