“I understand.” Pulling my coat around my body, I shiver as a sudden gust of cold air hits me. “I’m just not sure I’m ready to decide quite yet.”
He nods. “I get it. But rental spaces like this, right in Midtown, are hard to come by. By waiting, you risk losing out.”
“True. But I have someone I’d like to discuss this with first.”
Even though Nico said he would support me no matter what I choose, I wouldn’t make a decision without talking to him. First, because if I rent this place, he’s going to be paying for part of it.And second, I know he’ll want to check out the building to make sure it’s safe—which, for all my proclamations of independence, I don’t mind in the least.
“Fair enough,” Garrett says. He holds out his hand. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Shaw. Call me when you’ve made a decision. Or if you’d like to keep looking, I’m sure I can line up some more places.”
I shake his hand. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
Once he turns to leave, I pull out my phone to shoot Nico a text.
Just finished. The place looks pretty nice. I took lots of pictures. But I still want to think about it.
Moments later, his reply appears.
Good idea. It’s better not to let the realtor push you into making a decision too quickly.
Before I can respond, another text comes in.
Not that I’m telling you what to decide. I’ll support you no matter what.
I grin at the phone while I type my response.
I know. We can talk about it later. I’m heading back to F & F now.
Three dots blink for a second.
Okay. Text when you’re close. Love you.
My heart flutters, just like it always does whenever Nico says he loves me. It’s funny, because he’s said it plenty of times, first when we were in high school, and more recently. But it still hits just the same—this overwhelming mix of joy and gratitude.
As I start walking down the sidewalk, I text him back.
I love you too. Can’t wait to see you.
I know it’s been less than two hours since I left him. But after living with Nico for nearly two months now, I’ve gotten used to him being around. Even when he finally went back to work at the office, I was right upstairs, so he could pop in to visit any time.
It’ll be tough when he has to go away on business. He’s been putting it off, asking his friends or other high-level employees to cover for him, but eventually, he’ll have to leave. Which stinks, but it’s another part of returning to normal life. Of putting Elio and Luca Caruso behind us.
Well, notentirelybehind us.
Nico still has to testify at his father’s trial, as do I, though my role is much smaller than his. Luca Caruso is still lurking in the proverbial background, but he’s stood by his word. Nico met with him privately a couple of weeks ago to make sure they were on the same page, and Caruso swore on his sister’s life that I wouldn’t be harmed.
“Do you believe him?” I asked Nico when he returned from their meeting. “He’s a criminal, after all. How much does a promise really mean?”
“A normal criminal, I wouldn’t believe,” Nico replied. “But in the Cosa Nostra, family is very important. Especially blood ties. If he swore on his sister’s life, I think he meant it.”
Nico paused, and then he got that same look he had when he was threatening the intruders in his condo. A dangerous look. One that reminded me that hecouldkill, if he wanted to.
“I could find his sister,” Nico finally added grimly. “It wouldn’t matter where he hid her. And if he threatened you… it would be an eye for an eye. And Caruso? He knows it.”
Do I truly think Nico would hurt an innocent woman?
I spin the idea around while I wait at the corner for the light to change.
Nico’s not a violent man, but if someone he cares about is threatened, he won’t stand for it. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, whether it’s using his computer, his company, or his skills as a warrior. But to hurt someone who has no direct part in it? Someone who’s only dragged into the mess because of a family member?
