“That’s the one.” He rakes his fingers through his hair.
That doesn’t make any sense. “How did he go from wanting you dead to wanting you working for him?”
He shrugs, looking exhausted. “Beats me.”
I frown. That’s not an explanation. “I don’t understand. So that’s it? Everything is fine now? You’re back to business as usual?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
I stare at him, tempted to beg him to let me go again. If he’s fixed his issues with Ferraro, won’t he be able to get me the documents I need to leave the country? Won’t he be able to give me some money and put me on a plane?
Yeah. Probably. If he wanted to.
But even if he did,he’dknow my new name.He’dknow where I went. Andhe’dalways be able to track me down.
That’s not good enough. What I need is a real clean slate.
It’s going to take me some time to figure out how I can get that.
But I will.
Eventually.
He nods at the knife. “I’ve got to be up in six hours for my first day of work, and it’s been a long day. I need to get some sleep. If you decide to kill me, it’s probably better for you to wait until I’m unconscious.”
My eyes narrow. “I’m not like you, remember? Not everyone’s a murderer, Nero. The knife’s for self-defense.”
“Self-defense? No one can touch you here. I told you that.”
“What about you? Who’s going to keep me safe from you?”
His entire face darkens. For a second, I think he’s going to say something, but then he turns and walks out of the room, apparently done with this conversation.
I drop the knife onto a credenza and follow him. “So what now? What about me?”
“What about you?”
“What am I supposed to do here while you’re at work?”
He moves into one of the bedrooms. “I can get you some entertainment tomorrow.”
“You can’t expect to keep me inside all day long. I’m not a house cat. I’ll go insane.”
He takes off his jacket and throws it over the back of a chair before starting to work on the buttons of his shirt.
“It’s not forever. But for now, you have to stay put.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know what Gino Ferraro’s agenda is. He’s planning something, and until I know what it is, it’s too risky for you to move around the city. Let me get my bearings. I need a few days to settle in.”
“Can I get a phone?”
“Not yet.”
“I need to call Del. If she doesn’t hear from me soon, she will call the cops. She’s relentless. She won’t give up until she finds me.”
Nero sighs and slips off his shirt. “You can call her tomorrow, but only to let her know you’re okay. I’ll arrange it.”
