I gaped at it.
Talk about size appropriate for its plotandowner.
This wasn’t rich. We were talking 1% of the 1%.
When he helped me out of the car, something I’d never needed help with before but enjoyed nonetheless, he stood behind me and propped his chin on my shoulder.
“It’s hideous, isn’t it?”
Withholding my chuckle was impossible. “I mean…”
“It’s a statement piece.”
I rubbed my cheek against his as I angled my head to better look at him. “To whom?”
“The world. The city. The underworld.”
“You didn’t choose it?”
“You could say it chose me.”
Curious at the half-answers, I turned in his hold. “Explain.”
“You might not like what I have to say.”
I pursed my lips as I pondered how to reply to that. “Just because I might not like it doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear it.”
“Fair point.”
“We can’t always like what the other has to say. Not only is that impossible, it’s impractical and tedious as hell. I hate yes-men and -women.”
He barked out another laugh as he tapped the tip of my nose. “You grow more and more perfect, Kitty.”
“It’s hard being me.”
“I bet.” Amusement still gleaming in his eyes, he tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow and guided me to the front entrance, which had no less than ten steps that led to the grand entranceway. “This belonged to the Fieris. Do you know who they are?”
“The leaders of the ItalianFamiglia.”
Not to be confused with the currentFamigghia.
Just like my ancestors were notEnglishorBritishbut Irish…
“Ten points to Kitty.” His smile turned sour as he took my coat and slipped it over the bannister of a rather grandiose central staircase. “Once upon a time, my grandfather ran this city?—”
“—until the Fieris blew up his home and pinned it on Currau. He told me.”
Stan shook his head. “It still amazes me that he talks to you. We believed he was nonverbal.”
“Obviously, I’m the Valentini-whisperer.” I toyed with the fingers I gripped in my hand. “Anyway, I’m glad that he talks to me. He’s very lonely.”
“Aurora visits him whenever she’s in the city, and with her schedule, that’s saying a lot. She never forgets about him.”
“You do too. I’d know. It wasn’t the Dramamine talking when I told you that he’s often tried to set me up with you since your little sojourn in the hospital.”
“I should get him a gift basket then.” He pouted. “Not that you listened.”
“Of course not. I wasn’t interested in a Capo.” I rolled my eyes. “I wanted a finance bro.”
