Only Luca stood a few feet away from his wife, glancing at his watch in boredom. “Sofia,” he said tersely. “You’ll be late to your obstetrician appointment. Stop loitering.”
She deserved so much better.
I secretly hoped Jeremie would kill him.
Sofia stood, a blush flooding her cheeks as she straightened her sensible dress. “It’s been such a pleasure spending time with you girls.” She offered Lila and me quick kisses on the cheeks. “Let’s do this again soon, okay?”
“Text us as soon as you finish your appointment.” Lila squeezed her hand in solidarity.
We watched Luca and Sofia exiting the house, walking at least two feet away from one another, not sparing each other one glance.
“Can you imagine those two boning?” Enzo muttered, his eyes locked on his phone screen, per usual. “It’s probably colder than a ski competition.”
“We need to do something about your brother.” I pinned Achilles and Enzo with a frown.
Enzo looked up from his phone. “I’ll go see if Sofia needs help throttling him.” With that, he walked out the door, following Luca and Sofia.
Lila stared at his back. “Enzo’s been acting weird.”
“Everyone’sbeen acting weird,” I sighed.
Achilles looked to be over everyone who wasn’t me. He grabbed my hand in his and tugged. “Let me buy you dinner and then you can tell me why I need to punch Luca.”
Tiernan shook his head at our antics. Lila smiled.
When we headed to the door, my brother called out after us, “Hey, her curfew is at nine and don’t try any funny business, lad.”
Achilles flipped him the bird as he dove to kiss me.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Tierney
“It is time.”Achilles propped his arm against our bedroom’s doorframe.
Three words, and yet, I knew exactly what they held inside them. I knew who he was referring to and what needed to be done.
Butterflies took flight behind my rib cage, reminding me that at my core, deep inside, a part of me was and always would be a killing machine.
“What makes you say that?” Clad in a black satin robe, I met his gaze through the mirror of my vanity.
I was getting ready for a night out with Frankie. She was in town for an event, and we thought it would be a good idea to catch up over dinner and drinks. I no longer frequented parties, charity events, or lavish yacht trips with society’s upper crust, but I still loved Frankie dearly. With her, I didn’t have to pretend. Not much, anyway.
“He’s broken.” Achilles pushed off the door and strolled toward me. I put my mascara down and picked up my bronzer next, watching as he placed his palms on my shoulders. “Mentally and physically unwell. He’s begging for his death.Willing to speak in order to get it. This is usually when they’re primed to give you the truth.”
His interrogation techniques were less than humane, but in my father’s case, I didn’t really care.
“Do you think he’ll tell us why he did it to me?” I asked.
Achilles nodded, his gaze holding mine in the mirror.
“When do you want to do it?” I asked.
“Why don’t you have your fun with Frankie and then swing by the Long Island mansion? I have a meeting with my brothers there anyway.”
I nibbled on the corner of my lip. Was this really happening? Was I going to watch my father die? Contribute to his death in some way?
It seemed odd to even call him my father after what he’d done. But the truth was, a small part of me always held on to the hope that we could find a way to really be family.
