When he was beating me, there were times it looked like he enjoyed it.
His jaw clenches, making a muscle jump in his cheek, and I begin to regret my question.
“That’s a trick question,” he replies, his tone tense and all the gentleness gone. My lips part, but before I can apologize, he says, “As the eldest son of the Vitale family, I was raised to take over from my father. It’s my duty to protect my family and to exact revenge when a loved one is hurt. If someone attacked you tomorrow, I would go after them and make them pay, and yes, I’d enjoy making them bleed for what they did to you.”
I already regret my next question, but I can’t stop it from spilling over my lips. “What if I didn’t look like a man, and I was the one who shot Riccardo?”
“I would’ve killed you with a single shot to the head. The Cosa Nostra doesn’t torture women.”
It’s better than what the Yakuza would do. A quick death is an honorable way to die.
“My turn,” Augusto says as he takes off his suit jacket, setting it down beside him on the couch. “What do you like to do in your spare time?”
“Whenever I didn’t have to pretend to be Ryo, I would play games on my phone or make clay pots.”
I look at his hands as he rolls up the sleeves of his dress shirt, and it’s the first time since I laid eyes on him in the street that I notice the tattoos again.
The ink follows an intricate pattern of feathers and flowers with three clocks hidden between them.
Augusto sees what I’m staring at and says, “My sisters and I are triplets. Each clock shows the different times we were born.”
I like the tattoos covering the back of his hands and arms, but I don’t dare tell him that.
“You probably didn’t bring any of your pottery with you?” he asks.
I shake my head.
Augusto pulls his phone out of his pocket as he gets up, and when he comes to take a seat beside me, my body tenses.
“Let’s order everything you need so you can continue with your hobby.”
My eyes flit to his face as he surprises me once again. He keeps doing nice things for me.
Things no one has ever done for me.
My heart clenches in my chest, and as I stare at him, I try to see him in a new light. One where he isn’t a monster, but a man who’s actually caring and kind.
He turns his head, and catching me staring at him, the corner of his mouth lifts. “What kind of equipment do you need?”
I clear my throat before I reply, “A kiln. It’s an oven. And I’ll need a wheel and carving tools.”
Augusto pushes his phone into my hands. “I’m going to get the wrong stuff. Order whatever you want.”
As I search for places where I can order from, Augusto actually looks interested. Every now and then, he stops me from scrolling to ask a question about an item.
Slowly, I find myself relaxing, and by the time he’s helped me purchase everything I’ll need to continue with my hobby, I feel excited.
A smile forms around my mouth as I hand his phone back to him. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Yuki.”
Our eyes meet for a moment, and I instantly feel nervous again.
Earlier, when our reflections appeared in the sliding doors, I was stunned speechless to find a beautiful woman standing beside a handsome man. His stance was protective next to her, and there was a gentle expression on his face.
It felt like I was witnessing a private moment between Augusto and someone else before I realized it was me.
When I was watching Riccardo and Gianna in the club, I was mesmerized by the loving way he looked at her. I remember wondering what it would feel like.
