By the time I reached the servants’ cottage, the kitchen light was on. Biting my lip, I peered through the window. Whoever was up wouldn’t stay there for long, giving me just enough time to sneak past them and make it to my room.
Franky stood at the stove, rubbing his hands as he listened to the news on the transistor radio. Uncle Theo was always the first one up, but I didn’t see him. Just when I was pretty sure I would have to climb into my bedroom through the window—which I knew was locked—a step sounded behind me.
I rounded and came face to face with my uncle.
Who was holding the carving knife between his fingers.
“Care to explain why this was in the grass?” He arched a brow. “Or why Signor Dominico’s car was still running, stalledon the lawn?”
I winced. I’d been busted plenty of times before. But having a single parent, who was a junkie, meant that I usually could blow off whatever was happening. This? This felt different.
My chest knotted with real, deep feelings. “There was a break-in,” I began. “Nico came over, but we couldn’t find the guys. And then he took me back to—to, um—”
“Yes, I can induce the rest from you wearing his clothing,” my uncle muttered, sounding like something salty coated his tastebuds.
I shrugged. “I don’t know what else to say.”
My uncle puffed up his chest with a deep inhale. “I do.”
Great, here it comes.
“Be careful with Nico. He doesn’t have the luxury of choice like you do.”
I opened my mouth then shut it. That wasn’t what I was expecting him to say.
“Tell him his car is in the staff lot, keys on the dash,” my uncle added as he walked to the front door of the cottage.
“Wait, hold up!” I stepped in front of him. “Are you saying I shouldn’t be with him?”
Theo let out a short laugh. “On the contrary, I think you two are meant for one another. But other people won’t think that.”
“So what? I should end it because they don’t approve?” He wasn’t acting at all like a totalitarian authority figure. His reasonable approach and calm demeanor were throwing me off. My mom would have screamed at me. Any number of her boyfriends would have gotten physical and threatened me enough to make me disappear for a few days.
But Theo just stood there, calmly watching me.
“No, I’m simply asking you to be careful,” he explained. “It won’t be long. The people who won’t approve of you two—their journey on this earth is nearing its end. When it does, yours can finally start.”
With that, Theo went into the house. He said something to the cook, who muttered and blustered. Together they went into the garage. That was my cue to run upstairs, grab my things, and lock myself in the safety of the hallway bathroom.
Chapter 36 – Nico
The music in the private dining area was the sweet blend of sound that only came from the classical era. Sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and on the far side, there was a view of the terrace, but guests dining out there, huddled under the umbrellas and braving the summer heat, couldn’t see in the one-way panes of glass.
I stared over Boston, tugging at the crisp sleeves of my best dress shirt. My hand smoothed down my tie for the third time, and I debated going to the small oval mirrors framed by a gaudy piece of modern art to check my hair once more.
There wasn’t time.
The door opened and a petite woman sailed inside in a cloud of black. While she still wore somber clothes, mourning through her choice of garments, the sunny smile on her face said her tears had dried long ago.
“Nico!” She beamed, rushing straight into my arms.
I crushed her to me. “Finally. What took you so long?”
“Traffic.” She pulled back, put a hand on either side of my face, and said, “Let me look at you, boy.”
I held my breath while she studied me.
“I think you’re starting to grey since last summer,” she teased, flicking at my hair.
