Page 172 of Reign

I hold her gaze. “Don’t put her in positions where she has to lie for you.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

“It’s the one you’re getting.”

She huffs. “Te odio.”

“You don’t.”

She shakes her head.

“Tell Angelo,” I say.

“Not tonight.”

“Before the semester starts.”

Her brows rise. “You’re giving me a deadline?”

“I’m telling you how long I’m willing to participate.”

Her jaw tightens. “You would let this explode?”

“No.” I move toward the door. “You already lit the match. I’m refusing to keep covering the smoke.”

“Luciano.”

I stop with my hand on the door.

She looks tired now.

“I was trying to help her,” she says.

“I know.”

Her intention makes the mistake forgivable. The harm to Elena is another story.

“Fix it, Hermana.”

Then I leave before she can answer.

I’ve been away from Elena long enough.

***

The second floor is quieter.

Not quiet. Nothing in an Amato house is ever quiet. But the voices from downstairs soften beneath the floorboards, muffled by old wood, expensive walls, and a family skilled at pretending the worst conversations belong behind closed doors.

Elena isn’t in the hall.

She isn’t in the sitting room either.

I find the half-open door farther down and stop when I see the light inside.

A nursery.

Or what’s meant to become one.