I turn toward the door. “Lovely chat. I’ll go finish arranging your new cage.”
She stiffens. “Lorenzo, I’m serious.”
“So am I.” I glance back at her over my shoulder. “Always.”
I don’t give her time to push. I don’t give myself time to feel. Instead, I head toward the front of the house to leave.
I pull out my phone and call the one person who’s been there for me since my life changed.
Matteo answers with a tired growl. “You better not be calling to say you’ve murdered someone. Again.”
I stare toward the doors. “Relax. If someone dies, I’ll send you a postcard.”
He sighs so loudly it rattles the speaker. “What the hell are you up to, Lorenzo?”
A slow smile cuts across my face. “I’m taking a short sabbatical.”
“A short sabbatical? What do you think, this is a nine-to-five where you punch out and get lunch breaks?”
“I need a little time to handle something.”
“Elaborate.”
“No can do, Cuz.”
“And you expect me to be okay with that answer?”
“I do, because you love me,” I tease.
“Are you in trouble?”
I smirk to myself. “Define trouble.”
“Fuck, Lorenzo. That is not the answer I want.” He sounds pissed, but he’ll get over it. That is as long as he never finds out the truth.
“I’m fine. Just a personal matter I want to deal with. Don’t worry, no one will die.”
He exhales. “Do you need help?”
“You know me, I never do.”
“Which is why I’m worried.”
“You need a life, Matteo. Then you might get out of mine.” I laugh.
“Go to hell,” he taunts back, but I know he’s not pissed.
“I’ll send you a postcard from there, too.” I hang up before he can say anything else.
I step outside. Evening has fallen across the sky. I scroll to another number. Rafe picks up before the first ring even finishes.
“Well, well. How are the future in-laws? Are they welcoming their favorite harbinger of doom into the family with open arms?”
“Like I give a fuck,” I retort.
“What’s the problem tonight?” he asks.
“The usual. I need you to find me a priest.”
