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“Look, I’ll be back this afternoon. How about we go out, have some dinner, and get red wine drunk?”
Mira sighs. “Okay, just not at my restaurant. Text me when you’re back.”
I shove my phone back into my pocket and glare at Luca. “What?” He turns around again, ignoring my question. Dipping my finger into the bowl of holy water at the start of the aisle, I flick it over myself before crossing with an eye roll. “Forgive me, Father, for all I seem to do is sin.”
My heels click over the concrete floor as I follow Luca down the long passageway, passing every row of seating in the nave. There are Bibles sitting at the start of every row, and suede sacks for tithe offerings. Stained glass fills the walls and ceiling of the church, where there isn’t washed brick molded and carved into ancient patterns. The Cathedral has always been bittersweet to me. On one hand, Luca’s family owns it, but on the other, I don’t know. I haven’t quite figured out what my feelings are.
We haven’t hit the end of the passage before Luca’s father appears from the confessionary, wearing his cassock.
My walking slows when he emerges, clutching his hands at the front of himself while intertwining his fingers. “Son.”
He bows his head and his long hair that’s tied at the nape of his neck drops lower down his back. His blue eyes come to mine. They’re similar to Luca’s in every way they could be. I tried to ignore that for a long time until I couldn’t anymore.
The corner of his clean-shaven mouth turns into a smooth smile. “Meraki Mallory. Hello.” His cheeks pinch red when he sees me, and I move a little to the side.
I don’t know what it is with Luca’s father, but there’s something off about him. It has everything to do with what operates outside.
Joshua gestures to the bench seats at the front. “Sit. We can chat since everyone is out.”
I watch as Luca lowers himself beside his father. I’ve always found it interesting how thirsty Luca is for his father’s affection. Like he wasn’t hugged enough as a child.
My teeth grind together when I remember the first time Luca ever brought me here alone.
“Meraki, sit down.” I follow Luca’s order and slowly lower myself onto the cool wood, squeezing the edge of the bench while doing it. Luca leans into my ear. “Stop fucking fidgeting or I’ll give you something to fidget over.”
I keep my eyes trained on the spot in front of me, my teeth clenched to stop from answering back. I hate you. Luca unbuttons his suit jacket and spreads it over his upper thighs.
“Meraki’s mission with Niko failed. He made her.”
I wouldn’t exactly say that he made me because I’m not exactly sure which parts I was faking. Niko and I moved effortlessly around one another. He may have been using me, but I’m not so sure how much I was him. Everything is a front with me, and that’s almost what I found myself telling him that one night when I overheard his girlfriend telling him he’s going to be a father.
I blink when my eyes dry from staring too long.
“And what was it that he said?” Joshua asks softly. Too softly.
Unfortunately, I’m not stupid. Whoever made a man like Luca has to be the Devil and this priest here doesn’t fool me.
I turn to face Joshua, my shoulders straight. “He said that we are to deliver you to him by Friday or he’s taking me instead.”
Joshua remains calm, not one feather ruffled. His cheeks do that red thing again, and I almost roll my eyes at how pathetic it looks. I know that since Niko has come back, I’ve found a new confidence, which I have absolutely no business feeling. Niko has already made it clear where he stands, and on top of that, I don’t know who the hell he is anymore.
“Hmmm, interesting,” Joshua whispers, finally dragging his focus from me and to the altar in front. “Anything else?”
“Another thing,” I say, watching them both. “He mentioned he knows Ghost.”
Joshua’s eyes snap to mine, the wrinkles on his forehead crinkling when his brows crack up to his receding hairline. “Impossible. No one knows who Ghost are or is.”
I lean back on the bench. “I’m guessing he may.”
“Well, no.” Luca’s hand rests on my thigh. He squeezes so tight that my breathing stops. “That’s not true, honey. There’s a possibility that he could be lying.” He forces a fake smile onto his face for his father while keeping his grip on my thigh clenched.
“Is that true, Meraki?” Joshua asks me pointedly, and silence stretches out when I don’t answer right away.
“No,” I say honestly, my lashes hitting my cheeks every time I blink. “I know when Niko is lying, that is something I’m certain of. He is not about Ghost.” I forget to add the part where I missed the bit where he was lying about how he was acting.
