“I’m sure he’s fine,” I say automatically although Nico really didn’t look very good yesterday.
“Make sure he is,” Ferro says in a menacing tone that makes me instantly think of murder.Because I’m sure that’s what now awaits anyone who’s not one hundred percent on board with Ferro’s plan.“Make him understand there’s no going back now.”
“You got it,” I say and turn to leave, but stop before opening the door.
“And the Codelli women… we’re keeping them separated for now?”
The look he gives me is somehow threatening and amused at the same time.
“For now, yes.I think it’s best, don’t you?”
“Women tend to get antsy in situations like this, you know nervous, hysterical, that kinda thing.”He wasn’t actually asking the question, but here I am, answering it anyway.“Letting them see each other would give us some peace.”
He’s looking at me like he can’t believe I spoke and maybe I’m seeing that sociopath Nico claimed he was for the first time.I’d probably just deluded myself that he wasn’t.
“I’ll think about it.”He picks up his cigar and relights it.“Now go see to Nico.And I want you both here tonight.Shall we say six o’clock?”
“You got it,” I say and open the door.
This time I walk out before I get any more bright ideas and ruin all the good I’ve been able to achieve in our partnership.Ruin being the operative word.Because I definitely see the curse at work here.Unfortunately, just dismissing it as bullshit has never yet stopped it from working.
Chapter8
MATTEO
After leaving Ferro’s office,I had some breakfast in the kitchen and brought some up for Goldie after I was done.Luckily, she was in the shower, so I didn’t have to hear any more venomous complaining from her.Not so luckily, my mind went into overdrive, vividly imagining going in and taking that shower with her.
But talking to Nico is more important.Especially if Ferro doesn’t think he can be trusted anymore.I have no idea how many chances Ferro gives to people.I imagine it’s not that many.My cousin and his family have always been there for me and mine and I won’t let him get harmed now, not if I can help it.
Not many guys were around while I paced the large living room, which has a great view of the stairs, waiting for Nico to appear.Even fewer came down the stairs in that time.So in the end, I decided going door to door was my best bet for finding him quick.
I lost count of how many rooms I poked my head in after I hit twenty.Most of them smelled like booze, blood, and unwashed men.I eventually found Nico in one of the tiny attic rooms, which I assume were used by the help once upon a time.He was sitting on a narrow iron bed, wrapped in a dark green, threadbare, and moth-eaten blanket, staring through a window, his face as pale as it was all day yesterday.
If this was any other day, I’d assume he was just crashing after a night of hard partying.But there’s more to it than that.And I don’t want to know what it is.
I smile wide as he sees me.
“Good morning, Cousin,” I say loudly.“Don’t you think it’s time to get up?”
He shakes his head slowly, seems to be looking right through me, but doesn’t say anything.I close the door behind me and walk to him, practically praying he’s acting like this just because of a bad handover.
“I’m not sure we did the right thing, Matteo,” he says in a whisper.I wish I could just pretend not to have heard.“I think we made a mistake.”
I sit down next to him and grab his arm to pull him closer.“The only mistake you’re making is talking this shit right now.Ferro’s already suspicious, so pull it together.What’s done is done.We gotta soldier on.”
I’m speaking in that tone between a whisper and a hiss, hoping no one in any of the adjacent rooms can hear me.
Nico’s eyes are very wide and very scared as he looks at me.A lot of times, it’s like looking in the mirror with him, since we look so much alike, but I don’t think I’ve ever looked that scared.Only now, I’m thinking maybe I should be.
“Get dressed, we’re going down to the beach,” I say.“You need some fresh air.”
And we can’t talk about any of what we need to talk about in the house.I hope he’s catching up to that.
“Let’s go,” I add and stand up since he’s just sitting there, looking at me with those big green eyes.I’m fighting the urge to offer him my hand to help him stand.
This room doesn’t smell of alcohol like all the others.It smells like fear, like sour terror.Never mind him,Ineed to get out of here.
He finally stands up and I realize he’s still fully dressed, right down to his shoes.I pull the ratty blanket off his shoulders since he’s not showing any signs of relinquishing it on his own.
