Page 61 of Naz & Roz

“Everything,” she finally whispered.

“Not us,” he returned easily.

Roz smiled a bit. “No, and yes.”

Naz didn’t like that at all. “Come in, and give me a sec, yeah? Just gotta make a call.”

She nodded, and he stepped aside to allow her into his apartment. Dropping another quick kiss to her forehead, Naz left Roz to take off her coat and shoes as he headed further into the apartment. He found his phone where he’d left it charging on the bedside table. A quick press of his finger against the screen, and the phone dialed a familiar number.

His father picked up on the second ring.

“Naz, what can I do for you?”

“Give me the night,” Naz replied. “Call off any Capo that might need me, or send me running. I just … need one night.”

“Can’t do that, son. Sorry.”

Naz let out a hard breath. “Listen, I wouldn’t ask, but—”

“No, you know the rules, Nazio. Handle your business.” Cross cursed under his breath, and then muttered, “Give me a minute—Zeke’s calling.”

He tried really fucking hard not to glare at the wall while the phone went silent, but it was difficult. He didn’t ask his father for very much, but especially not when it came to the mafia. He knew he had to do this thing—get his button—on his own because if his father handed it to him, no one was ever going to respect him for that. But this wasn’t the same thing, and he really just needed Cross to shut up and listen to him for once.

Okay, that was a little unfair. His father did listen to him, but Naz was aware Cross also had to act as his boss, and not just his dad, too. That couldn’t be easy.

Naz told himself to remember that fact when his father came back on the line with a heavy sigh that echoed.

“Is Rosalynn with you tonight?” his father asked before he could say anything. “You know that was Zeke, and he was curious if I’d heard from you tonight because Roz took off. Apparently, her mentor came into town.”

Naz blinked. “Doesn’t he live in England where she goes to that school?”

“He does.”

“Why would he come all the way—”

“Is she there?”

“She is. Just showed up. That’s why I called. Something’s … not right,” he added quieter just in case Roz was somewhere near his bedroom and listening to his call. “With her, I mean. She seems off.”

“I’m sure she does.”

“What does that mean?”

“She’s having a moment that’s not my business to explain. Ask, son. And since Zeke thinks a night away might do her some good, but especially some time with you … you get your one night. Expect a call at five in the morning. Understood? Business as usual as of five, Nazio.”

He blinked again.

Like a fucking idiot.

“What’s going on?”

“Ask her. I hear she has a big audition coming up.”

His father hung up the phone without letting Naz ask another question. He was left staring at his phone with more questions than he had answers, but he figured the girl wandering around in his apartment might be able to provide him with the information he needed.

Except … Roz wasn’t wandering his apartment. He found her sitting at the piano that his grandfather had passed onto him. Her fingers slid over the keys as though to ghost overtop them, but never actually pressing down to make music.

She didn’t need him to make a sound to know he was in the room. She started speaking without a word from him.