“He was pretty cryptic with me too, but I guess Nonna has seen you dip out in the middle of the night a couple of times.”
“Shit,” he mumbles.
“Yeah, but it seems like there’s a side of her Balt and Deo know that I don’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“Giuliano had a theory when we met Balt. He gave off some mysterious vibes. Giuls thought he might be connected to the Mafia.”
“Seriously?”
“Or used to be. Somehow he’s not anymore. Now I’m wondering if my nonna was in on it or discovered something on her own. I mean, she is from Italy.”
“Right. Was he concerned? Suspicious?”
“It was an offer of help if we needed it. He said I could talk to him, Deo, or Nonna. I don’t know what it means exactly, but I guess it’s good to know they have our backs.”
“I would never want Nonna to know. I wouldn’t want her to look at me differently or not accept me anymore.”
“I won’t tell. Never. This secret dies with us.”
Vanian nods before pulling me close and kissing me. It’s the first time he’s done it outside of the cottage, and it takes me by surprise enough that I laugh.
As he searches my eyes, his smile fades. “Are you sure you want to do this with me? I won’t blame you for backing out while you still can.”
“My commitment hasn’t wavered. In fact, it’s stronger now. You saw the news. That little girl is still in a coma.”
“Yeah. We can only hope he gets a prison sentence. The other inmates will take care of him, then.”
Nodding, I squeeze his hand. “We should go. It’s a bit of a drive to La Crosse.”
We take my car, but Vanian decides to drive. I’m thankful. I’ve never committed murder before, and to say I’m distracted is an understatement.
“Guess what happened in Chicago?” Vanian says once we’re on the highway.
“What?”
“There was a murder. A convicted sex offender who had been released from prison after fifteen years. He was found shot dead near a playground with his pants open.”
“Holy shit. But you’ve been here.”
“Yep. It wasn’t me. It was either a copycat or someone who reached their breaking point. They haven’t been arrested yet, either. I couldn’t ask for a better development.”
“That’s… amazing.”
“I’m grateful, and I think you’re right. It’s the perfect time to stop. After tonight, I’ll figure out how to move past this.”
“I’ll be right by your side.”
He glances at me, flashing a sexy smile. “How did I live all these years without you in my life? Never again, Nantes. It’s you and me now.”
I hope he means that the way I want him to, but even with the steamy nights in my bed, I’m still bracing myself for him to realize having sex with a man and being in a relationship with one are two different things.
Pushing those thoughts away, I fiddle with my playlist to find some music that will get my mind off what’s about to happen.
Tonight, everything changes. I hope I can handle it.
Chapter 25
