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Massimo shook his head. “You should not even consider it. Killing that barista was stupid but not really relevant in the great scheme of things, but attacking someone from the Camorra’s racing crew was even stupider, but still not causing any major ripples. But if you start killing off our own men, that won’t go unnoticed. Our soldiers will demand an explanation, and I fear you won’t have one that’s acceptable for anyone without your erratic disposition. So if you leave, you must accept that Rory might move on with someone from our world, and you’d be unable to do anything against it.”
I didn’t say anything because Massimo wouldn’t have liked my answer. Maybe he knew it too because his eyes were full of warning.
The following day, Massimo, Alessio, and I had to visit two of our less productive drug labs to increase their motivation.
After finishing our jobs around eight in the evening, I decided to grab dinner and head for Aurora. “Where are you going?” Massimo asked when I dropped him and Alessio off at the mansion but didn’t get out myself.
“To Aurora, where else?” Alessio said.
It would be futile to deny it as I’d be caught on camera anyway. “Just bringing them dinner and making sure they’re safe.”
“We could come along,” Massimo said.
“You’ve been attached to my hip all day. I need some me time away from you fuckers.”
“Sure, that’s what it’s about.” Alessio rolled his eyes, then he gave a shrug and lit up a cigarette. “Not that I have any interest to go there. Mom made lasagna, so I’m going to stuff my face, then chill in my room.”
“When I asked Carlotta if I should come over to make sure everything’s okay, she told me she and Aurora didn’t need any help. So why do they need you?”
“Jealous?” I asked with a laugh. Massimo wasn’t the jealous type, but he’d never had something he was invested in. Lotta seemed to have gotten under his skin in a way I hadn’t thought possible.
“Carlotta disapproves of your action and dislikes your personality, so no.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. I’m not going there for Lotti. I have things to discuss with Rory.” I threw my door shut and reversed out of our driveway. Massimo, Alessio, and I had never had secrets. I didn’t enjoy deceiving them, but I had no choice right now.
After picking up Asian takeout, I went over to Aurora’s apartment. I thought she expected me to visit daily, so I was dumbfounded to see her angry face as she opened the door for me. Her hair was disheveled as if she hadn’t found time to brush it yet. She still looked gorgeous. She was in sweat shorts and a white tank. To my disappointment, she had on a white sports bra underneath.
I raised the bag with Chinese takeout. “I bring dinner.”
If looks could kill, I’d be ashes.
“It’s nine o’clock,” she said pointedly.
“Won’t you let me in?” I asked when she made no move to open the door farther.
She released a sigh and stepped back so I could walk in.
“Did you tell him it’s nine o’clock?” Carlotta shouted from somewhere in the apartment. Her voice sounded as welcoming as Aurora’s face looked.
I wasn’t sure what their problem with nine o’clock was. Maybe it was girl code for something I wasn’t aware of.
I headed into the kitchen, turned on the light, and set the bag on the table. Aurora didn’t follow me, so I returned to the hallway, and when I didn’t find here there either, I went to her bedroom. She was inside and lifting Battista out of his crib. He was crying softly, not the full-blast screeching some babies were masters at.
“We already ate dinner,” Aurora said when she turned to me with him on her hip. “I was trying to get him to sleep when you rang the bell and woke him from his almost slumber, ruining forty minutes of my singing and rocking efforts.”
“Maybe you should give him a Valium.”
Aurora glared and stomped past me. “Very funny. In case you don’t know, dinnertime with a baby isn’t nine o’clock. We ate at seven, and since then, I’ve been busy getting him ready for bed. He’s been fussy all day. I think he’s teething. But of course you wouldn’t know any of this since you haven’t asked about him since you visited us for breakfast yesterday morning.”
“We saw each other last night. I’m sure you would have told me if something was the matter with him.”
“You should ask about him. He’s your son. Even now, I don’t think you’re here because you want to see him.”
She was right. I was here because I wanted to see Rory. “I’m here. That’s what counts.”
She shook her head, rocking him, but he looked wide awake as he stared at me. “You promised you would try to take responsibility. But I don’t see that.”
“What do you want?”
