I point for her to sit back down.
“That’s not all of it?”
“Do you think Harper would just go back to bed after that?”I ask.
Nova’s eyes widen as she realizes something worse had to have happened.She waits for me to finish the story.
“Harper tried to escape with the boy.I attempted to help her, but she got caught by the fence line and dragged back here.The worst part, I was ordered to kill her, and Ashton had orders from my father to kill me and her if I didn’t go through with it.”
Nova’s sitting at the edge of the bench, her hands gripping the seat.“You obviously didn’t kill her.”
“She’s fine, mostly,” I say with a heavy breath.“Dante wanted her to kill Caden.She doesn’t have it in her, and I wasn’t going to let her pull the trigger.So, I came up with a solution.”
Nova’s brow furrows.“You came up with a solution?”She’s not convinced.To be honest, I’m becoming less and less convinced of the idea the more I sit with it.
“The two of us marry, I join my father’s business after college, unless I can get drafted by the NHL.Then, after I’m done with hockey, I’m forced to work for him.”
She rests her head in her hands, the weight of everything heavy on her.
“You’re going to marry Harper?”
“I don’t see another choice,” I say.“You know how Dante always rattles on about protecting family.I’m making Harper part of our family.”
Nova slowly lifts her head, glancing at me.“But you’re damning your soul to work for Dante,” she says.“You hate your father.You always swore you’d never become him, never work for him.I know you care about Harper, but maybe there’s another way.”
“I’ll have to make sure I’m drafted into the NHL,” I say.It’s the only answer that gives me the chance of freedom.
“You’re not alone, Luca.We’ll figure this out,” Nova says.
“Thanks.”
“So, why is Harper with your mother?”she asks for the umpteenth time.
“Mom caught wind this morning of our swift engagement.She wants to get to know Harper and is probably doing her own brand of interrogation on her.”
“That’s not great news, considering your mom was the daughter of Gino DeLuca.”He was another mafia boss, now he’s just a corpse.
“Yeah, but Harper doesn’t know that.She didn’t know this place was a mafia compound until Caden used themword.”
“Mother,” Nova cackles.
“You know what I mean.”I didn’t even want to come back home.I wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for Nova’s birthday party.
I swallow the blame, it’s mine to endure.I should have woken when Harper climbed out of bed.It was my job to keep her safe, and I failed miserably.
“What are we going to do about this boy?”Nova asks, tilting her head to the side as she stares up at me.
I like that we’re on the same page.The two of us have always been allies under this roof, and while our fathers condone violence, neither of us wants there to be any more bloodshed.
Nova lost her mother and her nanny as a young girl.
I don’t know how she’s come to forgive her father.If Mom had perished, I’d never forgive Dante.Hell, I still don’t forgive him for what I witnessed as a child.
“I can’t ask Dante,” I say and stare at her pointedly.“I can cause another distraction, but there are cameras, and I’m not sure my ruse will work again.”
“I’ll talk to my father as soon as he returns with Harper,” Nova says.“Did we get the boy’s name?Maybe we can do a little reconnaissance and figure out who he belongs to.”
“I did not and Harper didn’t mention it.”I rub the back of my neck.Anxiety pricks at my skin.“I could send an anonymous tip out?—”
