“Then we share the same sentiment,” I remind her. My skills are better utilized elsewhere, like helping my boss expand his empire. Hell, it would’ve even made more sense to send me to Italy to deal with the current situation there.
She bundles the flowers, maneuvering them in a way I don’t entirely understand. I walked past the store once and was mesmerized by how at peace she seemed as I looked at her through the window.
“You don’t have to be at my work. No one's going to do a drive-by while I’m selling flowers.” She looks at me, then her eyes go wide. “Right? Like, that stuff only happens in movies.”
My silence is answer enough as she mouths,"holy shit,"and then sits back in her chair with anoomph. It’s the same way I found her last night, as if her world had just been cracked into a million pieces, and everything she once knew was unraveling. And maybe it is.
Not only has she realized her best friend married into the Italian Mafia, but now she’s a target by association. It’s Ara's guilt over the matter that has me here in the first place.
I don’t dare probe the question looming in the air between us. Sure, she came on to me last night, but I concluded a long time ago that Lily is a good woman, and her world just got blown wide open. I rationalized that it's the only reason why she practically threw herself at me last night, and although I understand she needs comfort, I’m not the right person to give it.
And this is just business, I remind myself. An abnormal task I’ve been assigned and will take professionally, like all of the missions given to me.
However, it’s hard not to notice what looks like her entire world being sucked into a vortex and her normally bright, sparkling blue eyes devoid of the life they usually brim with. If I had the choice, I would’ve protected her from this. Most peopleare better off not knowing about the scary monsters in the night. It tarnishes and changes them, just as it has her.
It’s only then I realize my knuckles are whitening. I don’t even know how long I’ve been fisting my hands, as if forcing myself to maintain the distance between us. I know better than to get emotionally entangled with the people I'm protecting, but watching her like this is… uncomfortable. It should be easy for me to avoid it; the only person's emotional welfare I’m attuned to is my boss's, and yet I find myself stepping toward her.
She doesn’t look up. She’s simply staring at her hands, appearing entirely vulnerable. Something everyone I associate myself with knows better than to do. There should be no opening, no weak spot, no moment of letting one's guard down. But hers is always down, exposing every sensitive part of her. Her neck still has a bruise from where she ran into a branch, and a knot of feral anger unravels in my stomach. She’s too easy to break.
“Stop pitying me,” she says, bringing her hand to her neck and massaging the spot, noticing precisely what I was staring at. It’s only because I’m looking for it that I can see it through the makeup she’s covered it with.
“I’m simply curious.” I straighten my shoulders and come to a stop at her side as I redirect my attention toward the flowers.
She scoffs. “I doubt you’ve been curious about anything for a long time. Anything besides straight and narrow might give you an aneurysm. Wouldn’t want you to defect now.”
I try to keep my expression neutral, although the possibility of a smile breaking through threatens. She’s the only woman I know who can so elegantly insult me. Even then, she still seems polite about it, which is a double-handed offense.
“I was curious about why you do this.” I nod toward the bouquet she’s working on. Her blue eyes glare up at me, and I immediately know I’ve hit a sore spot. Does she think I lookdown on her occupation? Who am I to judge someone else’s pursuits when all I have on my resume is underhanded dealings and killing people?
“Because flowers make people happy,” she says, not at all sounding like a ray of sunshine, but as if she’s had to repeat this time and time again. “I know people don’t understand it, and it doesn’t turn over nearly as much profit as my family's companies, but it makesmehappy. I like putting smiles on people's faces or being a part of healing in times of mourning. Flowers are appropriate for almost any occasion, and I like being creative, even if it seems stupid.”
My eyebrows furrow slightly as I pick up one of the flowers and roll it in my fingers. Can this single rose do so much? I thought they were only used for funerals or courting a woman. Then again, what would I know about courting since I’ve never had any semblance of a relationship other than one-offs to meet my needs. I never looked at a single flower any differently until now.
Lily’s phone screen lights up on the counter withDadflashing on the screen, and she grumbles her complaint as she picks it up. I did a notable amount of research on her family last night while she slept. Her father is as money-hungry and ambitious as the next person in most wealthy social circles, and he recently pushed for his son to take over multiple companies.
“Hey, Dad, is everything okay?” she asks, her hungover self suddenly chipper, but I can see through it. There’s obvious tension she holds toward him. I put the rose back down. “Yeah, we decided to come back from Italy early. That’s all.” Another long pause. “This Friday night? Oh, that’s short notice.” Silence. “I’ll be there.”
Just like that, he hangs up on her, and she stares down at her phone. She then looks back up at me, her face paling. “I have to go to a party. You cannotcome.”
“That’s not an option,” I say matter-of-factly.
“My dad can't find out about this situation. If he does, he’ll have me close up the store and sell me off to the highest bidder. He’s already breathing down my neck about marriage now, but if he knows I’m somehow involved in Mafia misconduct, I’m epically screwed.”
“Lucky you’re not involved in any Mafia misconduct, simply introducing your boyfriend.”
“You’re not my?—”
I encroach on her space, baring my teeth. “This is not up for discussion. If Luca has ordered me to be with you at all times, then I’ll be with you at all times. I’m doing my best to play nice here, but I think you forgot I’m not some pup to be toyed with. I don’t take orders fromyou.”
Tears spring to her eyes, and my jaw grinds painfully. Fuck, I'm not cut out for this. Her floral scent infiltrates my nose, and it’s so different from the usual smells of my day-to-day tasks that I want to deem it offensive, when it’s anything but.
“You’re such an asshole,” she says quietly. “This is my life.” It’s better she realizes the truth of who I am sooner rather than later. I’m not her friend nor her confidant. If she’s deluding herself that I’m kind, then I should clear her of that notion.
“Right now, your life is mine to protect, and I take thatveryseriously.”
Noticing a silhouette approaching the front door, I end the discussion. The bell that dangles above the door chimes, and we look up in unison as a woman carries in two boxes. I step back, creating space between us, and slip into the back room, where I can still see her through the cut-out window but not interfere with the running of her business.
“Oh, you’re early.” Lily brightens and quickly wipes away the tears that sprang to her eyes, as if all is well and life is as it always has been.
