"Kristen. I'm not asking."
For a long moment, she just stares at me. I watch the war play out behind her eyes—pride versus exhaustion, stubbornness versus the weight of carrying everything alone.
Finally, something cracks.
"He wants to see Lily." The words come out quiet. Almost defeated. "Says he's going to fight for custody."
My jaw tightens. "On what grounds?"
"Does it matter?" A bitter laugh escapes her. "He's got money. I don't. That's usually enough."
"Kristen—"
"Nico?"
I freeze.
Vittoria's voice cuts through the hallway like a blade. I turn my head and find my sister standing at the corner, Lily perched on her hip. Both of them stare at us with identical expressions of curiosity.
Shit.
I'm still too close. My hand still pressed against the wall beside Kristen's head, my body angled toward hers like a shield. Or a cage. From where Vittoria's standing, this looks like?—
It looks like exactly what it is.
I push back. Put distance between us. Kristen's cheeks flush pink as she smooths down her shirt, avoiding everyone's eyes.
Vittoria's mouth curves into that insufferable smirk. The one she's been perfecting since she was twelve and caught me sneaking back into the compound at 3 AM.
I meet her gaze. Don't.
She presses her lips together, but her shoulders shake with barely contained laughter. Lily, oblivious to the tension, waves her stuffed rabbit at me.
"Mister Nico! Sir Floppington says goodnight!"
I clear my throat. "Goodnight, Sir Floppington."
Kristen moves toward her daughter, arms already reaching. "Come here, baby girl. Let's go to the kitchen."
"But I wanna stay with Tori!" Lily's lower lip wobbles. "We were watching the part where Moana finds Maui!"
"We can finish it another time, piccola," Vittoria says, kissing the top of Lily's head before handing her over. "I'll remember exactly where we stopped."
Kristen settles Lily on her hip, the motion practiced and easy. "Are you finished with dinner?" I ask.
"Yes." She still won't look at me directly. "Giulia made sure to have enough to feed an army."
"She always does." I pull out my phone. "I'll have Dante take you back."
"Oh, you don't have to—" She catches herself. "I mean, it's still early. I can call a car service."
"It's handled."
"But if it's inconvenient?—"
"Kristen." I wait until she finally meets my eyes. "You're fine. We're good for now."
Something in her expression shifts. A tiny crack in that careful composure. She nods once.
