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He nods. “Boss said to do whatever you want. I can take you wherever you want to go, and if you want to stay home, I should keep you company.”
I frown. Dante’s never bothered about me having company before, especially male company. “Are you gay?” I blurt out, and he laughs.
“No, I’m definitely not gay.”
“Married?” He shakes his head again. “I don’t understand why Dante would ask you to stick around. It’s not like him.”
“What is he like?”
I bite my lower lip. Dante would hate me talking about him. “I just don’t understand,” I repeat.
“Maybe stop trying to,” he suggests. “Just relax, and we can get to know one another.”
“Why?”
He smirks. “Because that’s what people do? Besides, if we’re going to be spending time together, it’s only right we know each other.”
I must work out what Dante is playing at to stay ahead of the game. Something is off with this whole situation.
NERO
Tessa is suspicious. She’s also jumpy, like all the time. At the slightest noise, she looks around nervously, as if she’s expecting something bad to happen. Dante has a reputation for violence, but I can’t see any signs of bruises. I’m not stupid, I know not all domestic violence is physical, and even when it is, perpetrators can be very careful about the marks they leave and where they leave them.
“Do you have siblings?” I ask, trying to get her to relax. She shakes her head. “What about your parents, are they still together?” She shrugs, looking more uncomfortable by the second. Maybe I should get Callie to look into Tessa’s background. We didn’t bother because it’s Dante we want, and it’s obvious Tessa has no control in the relationship. I doubt she knows any of his business dealings, and my only hope is she’s one of those women who linger in the background, listening to everything that’s said. She looks the type to hold secrets. “You’re gonna have to help me out here, Tessa. I’m trying to get to know you.”
She places her hands on the worktop and stares at me with suspicious eyes. “I don’t know how much you know about my marriage, Nero, but it’s complicated. If Dante finds us chatting like besties, he’ll shut it down and I’ll pay the price.” She turns her back to me and begins washing dishes.
“What does that mean?” I ask, glancing at the dishwasher and wondering why she isn’t using it.
“I think it’s best we don’t talk.”
“What, ever?” I ask, smirking. “How will I know where you want to go? And can I ask why you’re handwashing the dishes when you have a dishwasher right there?”
“Dante likes the dishes handwashed.”
“So, why have the dishwasher?”
“Because . . . I don’t know. Why do you ask so many questions?”
I try a different tactic, figuring she’ll never tell anyone anyway. “I have a sister. She lives in Ireland, so I don’t see her as much as I’d like. She’s a headteacher in a primary school. My parents are both dead.” I see her watching me from the corner of her eye. She’s intrigued. “I’m not married and I don’t have kids. Not that I know of.” I laugh to show I’m joking.
“Sorry about your parents.”
“Don’t be, you didn’t kill them.”
She gasps. “They were killed?”
I nod. “Drunk driver. He hit their car when they were travelling to the airport to see Luna. That’s my sister.”
“That’s awful. Did they find the driver?”
I nod. “Yeah, he’s in prison.”
“It must be hard. I don’t know my parents . . . not anymore, anyway. I was taken into care when I was younger. I grew up in foster care and, eventually, I went into a care home.”
I breathe a sigh of relief that she’s finally talking. “Wow. And look at you now, living in this huge house.”
A sadness passes over her face. “Yes, I’m very lucky.”
