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“What do you think?”
I’d learned quickly with Bella what battles to fight. And her sneaking a drink or two at her own party wasn’t something I wanted to start a war over.
Besides, even if I told on her, she would find a way to make sure she got a nice buzz tonight.
“And Sia?”
“What about her?”
Fuck. My voice was too telling. Too tight and rough against my throat.
Luis arched a brow again. “It’s hard to believe she’s no longer in high school, isn’t it? Another three months and she’ll be off to college, out in the big wide world, getting into all kinds of tro—”
The pound of my fist against the desk sent a mug clattering to the floor. Thankfully, it landed on the soft rug and didn’t crack.
“You are in so much trouble, my friend.” Luis chuckled, and I chose silence.
And denial.
“Nicco said Mahoney is making waves. What do we know?” I changed the subject.
“Not a lot. I sent Harvey and Sal out there to keep an eye on things.”
“You think they would make a move?”
“They would be signing their own death certificate.”
He had a point. Nicco gave the illusion of a calm, composed mob boss, but he didn’t beat around the bush where his family’s safety was concerned. And now he had Lucia to consider, he was even more ruthless.
Luis went back to the monitors, studying them. Looking for any signs of something being wrong. I grabbed his arm, and his head snapped over to me.
“Are you worried?”
“I’m always worried.” He let out a weary sigh. “Arianne is… like a daughter to me. And Lucia, that little girl deserves to know peace.”
I bristled. Because he was right. Like Alessia, Lucia was innocent. She had been born into this world, thislife, and now she would have to suffer the consequences. I didn’t doubt Nicco would do everything in his power to make sure the dark side of his life never touched the bright side of hers. But she was a target simply for being his.
For being a Marchetti.
“You should go enjoy the party,” Luis said. “They are your family. We’ve got enough men here.”
“It’s fine.” I didn’t meet his questioning gaze.
I couldn’t.
Luis had this knack of seeing past someone’s bullshit, straight to the truth.
“She watches you, you know,” he said, quietly. “For the last two years, I have watched her watch you.”
“Don’t.” My hands gripped the edge of the desk, the blood draining from my knuckles. I didn’t want to hear this. Not now, never ever.
“It isn’t a crush, Tristan. It isn’t going away. She’s a woman now, she will—”
“STOP,” I barked, narrowing my eyes at him. Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I considered my next words. “This isn’t helping.”
“I apologize.” Luis held up his hands. “All I’m saying is, perhaps you should talk to her. At least try to clear the air… Set her free.”
Something inside me twisted. I couldn’t talk to her, what would I possibly say?
