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The sound was haunted and frightful, the notes chasing each other, quick and erratic then slowing almost abruptly. Tumult and fear, resignation and defiance, and beneath it all an underlying pain I could not shake.
I couldn’t stop playing, even as I began the melody anew, reformed it, but the emotion remained, and it filled the room and me. For a moment, I felt at home, felt almost at peace.
“I see you discovered your piano,” Nino drawled, and my fingers dug into the keys, making the beautiful instrument cry out almost angrily.
CHAPTER 11
KIARA
My eyes darted to my left, where Nino stood, watching me with mild curiosity. He was dressed in black pants and a tight black T-shirt that exposed his tattooed arms. His hair was pulled back in a very short ponytail.
I flushed and quickly stood. “I’m sorry. I should have asked before I started to play. I don’t even know if I’m allowed to.”
Nino frowned and moved closer and didn’t stop despite my growing tension. He leaned against the piano, close but still more than an arm’s length away. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, and I forced myself to stand still, allowing him his appraisal. It was his privilege. Finally, his eyes met mine. “Why wouldn’t you be allowed to play the piano?” he asked. “I got it for you and it’s meant to be played.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “You didn’t have to do this. It’s too expensive.”
Nino’s mouth twisted in dark amusement. “I didn’t, but I wanted to, and money isn’t an issue, Kiara. We have more than we could ever spend.”
I glanced back down at the keys and brushed them with my fingertips.
“Play that song again,” Nino said.
“I only started working on it today. It’s not ready yet.” I didn’t mention that I’d never been happy with a song I’d created and avoided playing in front of others if possible. Music was emotional for me. Laying myself bare to other people like that had never seemed wise.
“Play it,” Nino ordered.
My eyes flew up to his face. His expression was commanding but not cruel. I sank back down on the bench, taking a deep breath, and rested my fingers against the first notes.
I closed my eyes because with Nino’s intense gaze on me, I couldn’t focus. Then I began to play, and the melody came to life, flowed around me, evolved as I added a few more notes.
The last note had long died off when I dared to open my eyes. Nino regarded me, and heat rose into my cheeks. “It’s not good, I told you, but—”
Nino leaned in, and I held my breath. “Don’t put yourself down. You are a Falcone now.”
I blinked and gave a nod. I’d been put down all my life by others and by myself. Giulia had said the same thing to me before, but none of her words had ever had an effect. Upon looking into Nino’s beautifully cold face and seeing the dominance in his eyes, it seemed impossible not to take his words to heart.
When it became clear that Nino expected an answer, I said, “Okay.”
He gave a small shake of his head, but I wasn’t sure what it meant. He straightened. “I have to leave to meet with the owner of our fight club, Roger’s Arena, now. You can spend the day as you please. You are free to walk around the premises and the mansion, but as I said, don’t go into Remo’s wing.” Remo probably had a poor woman locked into a dungeon there. I shivered.
“I will here be alone?” I asked.
Nino shook his head. “Savio will stay with you.”
Relief flooded me when I realized the Camorra Capo wasn’t on babysitting duty, even if the younger Falcone made me nervous as well. After the embarrassing incident yesterday, I really wasn’t looking forward to meeting either Falcone brother.
“If you want to leave the house, tell Savio and he will drive you wherever you want to go. Tomorrow, I will have time to show you around Vegas.” He waited for a response, so I nodded.
He returned a curt nod before he left.
I stared at his back, dumbfounded.
For a moment, I wavered between sitting back down at the piano and going to find something to eat, but then my rumbling stomach won that struggle. I headed down the connecting corridor into the main part of the house. It was still quiet, but when I moved closer to the kitchen, I could hear a male voice. When I stopped in front of the door, I recognized Savio’s voice. “I’m stuck here babysitting. I’ll come over when Adamo takes over when he gets out of school.”
I was about to turn around and return to Nino’s wing despite my hunger, when the door swung open. I tried to stumble back but still managed to get hit in the shoulder, landing on my butt. I gasped from the sharp twinge then flushed with embarrassment when I found Savio staring down at me with narrowed eyes.
