I frown, asking, “Do you act like you don’t care about people because it’s easier for you to go through life without attachments, or is it because you don’t want them to care about you in return?”
“Cute,” Nico quips, lip curling up in distaste. “But I’m not the one who signed up to be fixed by a team of shrinks. That was you, remember? So don’t try to psychoanalyze me, yeah?”
Sighing, I shake my head. “Can I thank you instead? I’m sure you don’t want to hear it, and you claim that you don’t care that Matteo would be thankful, but I won’t pretend that I’m not. You made sure I was safe and you did it expecting nothing in return for it.”
“You can thank me, it doesn’t affect me any.”
“Well, thank you, then. I’d like to stay in contact with you, if you’re up for it.” I don’t think I care whether or not he’s up for it. His devotion to my safety for eight straight weeks has earned him a friend even if he doesn’t want one.
His nose scrunches. “Why?”
“I’d like to be friends.”We’re already friends.
Again, he asks, “Why?”
I lift a shoulder, taking a step closer to him. “Maybe you’re too stubborn to admit that you care for me, or for anyone else. But I care for you. Matteo is your brother, and he means so much to me. You matter to him, so you matter to me.”
“I’m a shit friend,” he says in a huff. “You shouldn’t waste your time trying to be mine.”
“You’re not a very good liar.”
Affronted by the comment, he looks like he’s about to argue with me, but I stop him in his tracks. My arms fall around him and I embrace the stubborn man tightly before letting him go. Rising up on my toes, my lips peck softly against his cheek, and I step back to smile at the baffled expression on his face.
“I’ll text you soon.”
“I could block your number.”
“You won’t.”
“You sure you don’t need sixty more days?” he asks, calling out sharply as I start to walk away. “Because I’m pretty sure you’re fucking mad, girl.”
“What’s life without a little madness?” I counter, turning over my shoulder to wave goodbye.
Uncle Lev and my dad are closer than when I left them, staring at me and beyond me with a sort of disbelief and discomfort in their eyes. No anger swimming around in their gazes, though.
“Did you know he was here?” Dad asks, voice sounding strained.
“Honestly, no. I thought someone might be,” I admit. “A Moretti or one of your men. I felt very looked after while I was here, even though I had no proof that I was. I just felt safe, you know?”
Uncle Lev grumbles under his breath, but it’s loud enough for me to hear. “I like him more than the other one.”
“You like Nico better than Matteo?” I ask, throwing my hands up annoyed. “Nico, the one who kills people for enjoyment, is less offensive to you than Matteo? The one who’s been nothing but kind to me and our family? The one who could very well be a second father to the twins—yourblood—with how much he dotes on them?”
“What’s wrong with killing people for enjoyment?” he challenges, arching a brow. “You seem to like the boy enough, you kissed him.”
“On the cheek!” I defend, face turning scarlet. “I was saying thank you.”
“I’d sooner see you marry him than Matteo,” he continues stubbornly, unlocking the SUV as we approach it.
“He’d sooner marryyou,” I point out, huffing as Dad opens my door. We all pile in, and I add, “He doesn’t like girls.”
“Where’d you hear that?” Uncle Lev asks, starting the car and waiting for me to put on my seatbelt in the back.
“Matteo has mentioned it,” I say with a tone that silently addsobviously. “Nico isn’t hiding who he is. It’s not a secret. And so he’s definitely not marrying me.”
“But Matteo might?” he grouches.
“I’m going to ignore you now.” I sniff, turning my attention to Dad. “Have you been talking with Dante more? Matteo said you have. Do you trust him more now?”
