"You told me she sang you to sleep and helped you with your nightmares. You spent so much time together. Time that you enjoyed. Do you really think it was all fake?”
The ache in my chest sharpens.
"Maybe she changed her mind."
Lindsay's expression turns dry.
"She must have been a pretty great actress to make Rafaelle Vitale fall for her while faking all her emotions."
I scowl.
"Sometimes I forget you’re a damn lawyer."
She nudges my shoulder.
"What if you're missing something?"
"I'm not."
"Really?"
Her eyebrow rises, "Because from where I'm sitting, one of two things happened."
I really dislike this conversation.
"Either she never cared about you."
My stomach twists.
"Or she had a reason. A really good one. You said it yourself. It’s Ignacio Navarro we’re dealing with. He’s always playing games and he could have very well done something to make her pick his side.”
The words settle heavily between us.
I look away first.
Because that's the possibility I can't stop thinking about. The one that keeps me awake at night. The possibility that Liliana didn’t choose it. That my siren didn’t leave me on her own accord.
Before I can formulate a suitable response, the playroom door opens.
Matteo steps inside.
One look at my face and his expression immediately becomes concerned.
It’s annoying. I don’t even know what I’m doing here. I can mope spectacularly well in my own house. But she has managed to permeate every inch of it. Her smell lingers in my bedroom, taunting me, making me feel even worse.
"You’ve got that face you make when you want to deliver bad news,” I drawl.
My brother glances between me and Lindsay. Then sighs.
"We received an invitation."
I frown. "To what?"
“A gala at the Navarro estate. To welcome Liliana to the family."
Silence.
The room suddenly feels smaller. The fact that Navarro’s planned a party isn’t surprising. The old man loves to show off and brag about his wealth, the things he’s been able to acquire. I’ve never understood that shit. We work in the criminal underworld. And sure we’re mostly untouchable in this city but that hasn’t stopped my family from being as private as we can be.
