It’s a threat, a mild one. I’m not intending to kill her, but I will do whatever is necessary to keep Luca from finding out.
She exhales softly and glances from me to Nova. “You have to tell him,” Harper says. “He’s going to find out, eventually.”
“Just give us time. Okay?” Nova asks. “We will tell him. I just, I need more time.”
Harper’s jaw is tight, and she rolls her lips together. “I won’t say anything tonight, but you can’t ask me to keep this from him forever.”
“It won’t be forever,” I assure her and rest a hand on her arm. “We just need more time.”
Harper is silent for a beat, contemplating her options. “You owe me,” she says, and I hate knowing that I owe anyone any favors, but I nod all the same.
“Deal.”
Fourteen
Ashton
Harper keeps our secret. She seems to avoid me for the next few weeks, and Nova and I are extra careful around the house to not seem overly affectionate.
We still watch television together in the living room, and our flirting is quite a bit tamer than it is in the bedroom when we’re together in the house.
We’ve been out on a handful of dates, but between practice and studying, we haven’t had too much free time. Not to mention, my weekends are booked at her parents’ house, which has seemed a bit more tense than usual.
Moreno has been glaring at me at every opportunity, and Dante seems displeased with something I’ve done recently. I’m not sure exactly what I’ve done to piss them both off.
I’ve been helping Luca at the shooting range, perfecting his skill and working on his aim, which has taken a lot longer than I first anticipated.
“Ashton, can I have a word with you?” Dante asks.
Luca glances peculiarly at his father but doesn’t interrupt or stop him.
“Of course, sir,” I say and follow Dante down the maze of hallways to his office. He’s asked me to keep tabs on Harper, make sure that she’s keeping the family’s secret.
“Come inside. Have a seat.” He gestures to the empty chair across from his desk.
I sit, unsure what I’m doing in here. “Is everything okay, sir?” I ask.
“Yes, and no,” Dante says. He closes the door, making sure it’s just the two of us, alone.
“Harper hasn’t told anyone about you, the family, or the business,” I say, making it clear that I’ve been doing my job as assigned.
It’s why I keep showing up for lunch with Harper and Kensley. It’s not because I like Kensley, although, for a beat, I thought she might have been catching feelings for me. But I’m pretty sure she’s been giving off friend vibes recently.
“Good. I knew you would ensure our secret would remain safe,” Dante says. “But that isn’t why I asked you into my office.”
I don’t have the faintest idea what might be troubling Dante if it’s not Harper. She seems to be the main cause of the Ricci family drama lately.
“Is it my father?” I ask. Dante and Aurelio talk somewhat regularly, I’ve been told.
Dante has been sharing stories of my involvement with the Ricci family business, keeping my father informed of my strengths and weaknesses, apparently.
I got an earful from my old man last week.
“This has nothing to do with Aurelio—your father,” Dante says. “It’s actually a much more sensitive subject.”
Dante comes to perch himself at the edge of the desk, sitting in front of me, staring down at me.
“What I’m going to tell you, Ashton, it requires absolute discretion.”
