I know there’s something going on under the conversation. I just don’t know what. Even Miller seems to get the reference, fiddling with his wine glass stem and wiping at his already-clean mouth with the napkin.
“Please don’t talk about yourself that way,” I say to Alessandro softly. “It’s not true.”
Alessandro lays his hand on my wrist, caressing my skin. “It’s a private joke,topolino,” he murmurs. “I’ll explain later.” He takes up his fork again. “Miller. Jacopo tells me you are becoming well-known as an artist.”
Miller gives an abrupt laugh of surprise. “That’s…overselling it.” The conversation moves on, and the atmosphere begins to settle.
But I’m definitely going to ask Alessandro later about what that strange moment meant.
* * *
After dinner, Alessandro suggests that Miller and I might like to walk in the gardens while he and Jack talk business. I take Miller out to look around. The sun has long set, but there’s an orange glow in the sky as the lights from the city reflect off the low cloud coverage tonight.
“I think Redwood Manor might even be nicer than your place, Miller,” I tell him, as I show him around. He’s been very quiet so far, taking in my tour with a few nods and noises of agreement.
“Teddy.” He puts a hand on my arm to stop me. “Are you sure you’re alright? JJ and I…we’re worried.”
“Oh, I’m fine!” I’ve said it so many times, I wonder if the words are losing their meaning. “I’m just fine!”
“But how did you meet Sandro?” Miller persists. He pulls me over to a stone bench and we sit down. I’m grateful for the dark shadows over my face.
I’m not very good at lying, despite all the practice I’ve had. I’ll have to be stingy with the truth. Fortunately, Alessandro has already primed me on what to say. “We met up one night at a club. In West Hollywood.”
“Which club?”
I have no idea. We didn’t go into that much detail. I shrug. “I forget.”
“How long ago?”
“A few weeks.”
“And you’re alreadylivingwith him?”
I’m going to get into trouble here. I didn’t think Miller would be so insistent. “I’m not living here. I’m just staying a while, helping out.”
“Helping out?” Miller blows out a long breath, staring straight ahead as he gets his thoughts together. “Listen, Teddy,” he says after a long pause, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to be hanging around Sandro Castellani. JJ doesn’t think so, either. Sandro is…dangerous.”
“But so is Jack.”
Miller seems taken aback. “I know you have a thing for Mafia guys,” he says after a moment. He sounds like he’s choosing his words carefully.
“Just like you.” I beam at him. “With Jack. He’s a Mafia guy, too.”
“Yes,” he says, but in the tone of voice I usually hear people sayingNoin. “But JJ’s not… He’s not Sandro Castellani.”
“No.” It strikes me that maybe Miller is envious, on his boyfriend’s behalf. “But Jack is very important in the Family, too. I know Alessandro thinks highly of him.”
Miller stares at me. “How do you know?”
“He’s always asking Jack to come and help him. They’re looking for Ciro Castellani’s killer together. You must know that.”
“Yes,” Miller says. “Yes, I know. And so, apparently, do you.”
“Why wouldn’t I know?”
Miller hesitates another long moment, and I look out over the grounds. Even in the dark, they are just as lovely and inviting as they are in the daytime. Alessandro has given me permission to walk around in them. Maybe I should try it. If the house is full of secrets, the grounds might be, too.
“Is something bothering you, Miller?” I ask at last, because he’s still silent.
