Rosa pauses, her expression unreadable. “Nonsense,” she says after a beat. “We’ll just have the stew for dinner instead; if that’s all right with you.” Her tone is amiable, but I catch the way her eyes stay on me. She’s watching, waiting for me to refuse. Rosa knows things. Maybe if I play along, she’ll let something slip, like where Cyan’s keeping my Nonna.
I force a small smile. “Sure thing, Rosa. I’ll see you later for dinner.”
“Thanks for breakfast, Rosa. As usual, it was delicious.” Cyan kisses her cheek, a rare softness in his voice.
“You’re going?” Rosa asks, her brows knitting together.
Cyan nods. “I have to return to Boston and meet up with the others. Need to handle the police and plan for Chester’s burial.”
Rosa’s face falls. “I wish we could give him a proper send-off,” her tone thick with sorrow.
Cyan’s jaw tightens. “After this is over, we will have a proper memorial service. But right now, it isn’t safe.”
Rosa nods, then kisses his cheeks, hugging Cyan tight. “You all better be here on Friday.” Cyan nods, and Rosa turns away. But I don’t miss the way her fingers tremble as she reaches up and wipes at her eyes. She’s seeming worried, and that brings a twists to my chest. This man, this monster, has people who love him. People who grieve beside him. Emotions prick at me sharp, and unwelcome. I resent that Cyan’s grief looks real, that Rosa’s tears look honest
Cyan tilts his head toward me. “Come on, I’ll drop you off at the office.” Following him out. As we step into the hall, Johnny falls in beside us, ever my silent shadow. But as I glance back at the kitchen, I catch Collin and Troy fighting over bacon like actual brothers. It feels as if I’m watching a sitcom.If sitcoms came with guns beneath the table...
This is a family, a twisted, violent, criminal family–but a family nonetheless, and Cyan’s the centre they all orbit around.
I’ll play along, smile when needed, nod when expected. The second I learn where my Nonna is, I’m running, and not even Cyan fucking MacBrady will stop me.
Twenty-Eight
“Sometimes the only way to escape the wolf is to learn how to wear its skin.”– Aria Boschett.
We step through a side entrance into Cyan’s expansive garage. Overhead lights cast a sharp glow, bouncing off the sleek metal of luxury cars lined up like trophies. I’m not a car enthusiast, but even I know wealth when I see it. Multiple Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, and other vehicles I can’t even name cost far more than my yearly salary. I scan the collection. “There’s millions of dollars’ worth of cars in here.”
Cyan lets out a rich, laugh. “Can’t turn off that accountant’s brain, can you?”
“The lady knows her numbers,” Johnny says.
Cyan steps ahead. “Johnny, Aria’s riding with me this morning. You can follow in her car.” Cyan nods toward the sleek black Mercedes-Benz SUV.
Johnny steps in the SUV direction. “Sure thing, C.”
A middle-aged man I don’t recognize, with salt and pepper hair gets out of the front seat of a Rolls-Royce, and moves to open the back door.
“Salvo, this is Aria,” Cyan introduces him.
“Nice to meet you, Salvo.”
Salvo dips his head. “Pleasure, Aria.” As we slide into the backseat, my gaze flickers to Cyan. In his three-piece pinstripe suit, he makes looking that good look effortless. And because my brain is a traitor, I instantly remember what that mouth did to my nipples last night.
Heat coils in my stomach.Damn it. Stop. Stop.I shake my head. Cyan MacBrady is a criminal. A man who has me trapped in his world. The fact that my body doesn’t care is infuriating. Needing a distraction, I blurt out, “Is it always like that?”
Cyan raises a brow. “Like what?”
“Rosa making breakfast. The guys all showing up.”
His expression softens. “Rosa is my uncle’s wife. She was there the morning after my parents and sister were killed.” There’s something unexpectedly raw in his voice, and for a second, it sounds too close to how my voice catches when I talk about my parents. The sympathy pang hits before I can stop it. He clears his throat, gaze shifting out the window before continuing. “For breakfast, if we were around, yeah. When I moved the family here to Crescent Bay, she made the weekly dinners a rule, so we all show up. No one’s ever late.”
“Johnny still lives with her?” I ask, piecing things together.
“Yeah.” Cyan grins “We give him shit about still living with his mother, but secretly, we’re all jealous.”
“Oh, so they’re family, not just your minions?”
His lips twitch with amusement. “Yeah, they’re more than my minions. Collin’s my blood, but honestly? They’re all my brothers.” That makes my chest tighten in a way I don’t like.
