“Thanks,” I tremble.
“That was before you worked with Luca. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I’d like to think someone would have done the same for Maria. That’s how it works on the streets.”
“Maria?” I question.
“Youngest sister,” Emilio replied in a low voice.
“You had another sister? I didn’t know that.”
It seemed like he needed a moment of silence. Something musthave happened to her, and asking seemed that it would open an old wound. So, I left it at that.
After a minute, I asked, “How did you get Luca to appoint you as his right-hand man?”
“I earned his attention saving your ass. I kept it by having the balls to carry out any request he wanted.” He laughs, “At one point, he went wild just to see how far I’d go.”
“Clearly, you surpassed his expectations. Luca was always particular with who he surrounded himself with.”
“We had a mutual goal. Plus, I wanted to make sure Cassie was taken care of.”
“She looks the type to be able to handle herself.”
“It’s a security thing. Not everyone grew up as privileged as you. Cass and I needed to hustle so that we could survive. It’s been me and her for so long. She’s all the blood I have left.”
“She doesn’t come around much.”
“Cass never really liked the idea of me becoming a made-man. She has her reasons. So, she doesn’t come around unless it’s just her and I.”
“So you don’t see her often?”
“We have dinner three times a week. We speak on the phone every day.”
“I didn’t know you were close.”
“If anyone knows my darkest secrets, it’s her.”
Tracing my finger on his chest, I said, “I wish Luca and I were that close again. He's not the same person.”
“That’s not a bad thing, Bethany. He evolved because he needed to, but that doesn’t mean he stopped caring.”
Deep down, I knew that, but I couldn’t separate the man he was from the man I knew him to be now.
“Well, with the Aria in the picture now. That’s all he caresabout.”
“Jealous, Bethany?”
I roll my eyes. “Can I confess a secret?”
“If you trust me enough to keep it.”
“I never wanted to be anyone more than I want to be Aria. She’s bold and fierce. She’s stunningly beautiful, and her confidence matches Luca.”
“That comes with age. Don’t think Aria had it easy.”
“I know, I know. She left the lifestyle and made it on her own. But at the end of the day, she is still who she is. And we are no more than five years apart. She just has it all together.”
“A lot can happen in five years.”
