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Motioning for them to follow, André led the way down the hall to the cluttered room across from what Dante knew was André’s bedroom. Inside was a futon-style couch with a couple of pillows stacked on it. There were also weights and a treadmill that André pushed to the side.
“It should do until your uncle and I get everything sorted out. Do you want some hot chocolate or something before you go to sleep?”
Dani shook her head.
“Okay, I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”
André stepped out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.
“Tomorrow we’ll get toothbrushes and stuff like that, okay?”
Dani nodded. “And dog food.”
“And dog food. You make yourself comfortable.”
“Do you think André will mind if Luna sleeps with me on the bed?”
“If he does, we’ll buy him a new one. But I doubt he minds.”
“Okay.”
Dante pulled the blankets back and patted the futon. “Get in and try to sleep.”
Dani crawled onto the bed and lay down. The dog didn’t hesitate, getting right up and snuggling into Dani’s side.
“I love you, Zio.”
“I love you too, topolina.”
Bending down, Dante kissed his precious niece on the forehead and silently vowed to protect her with his life before leaving the room.
“How’s she doing?” asked André.
“Traumatized and freaking out but trying to hide it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry? This isn’t your fault.”
“Eh.” He shrugged. “Do you want hot chocolate?”
Dante smiled to himself. Cooper Springs was André’s town—he felt responsible for what happened to its citizens. They’d never talked much, true, but DanteknewAndré. He was a damn good man.
“Sure, why not? It isn’t as if I’m going to sleep.”
He watched as André poured milk into a silver container, set it in onto a base, and pressed a button. A green light lit up and the machine began to whirr quietly while André spooned chocolate mix into two mugs.
“What’s that?”
“A milk warmer,” André said proudly. “I use it for, well, obviously hot chocolate, but it’s also great for lattes too.”
“Always surprising me, aren’t you?”
Dante was avoiding bringing up what he needed to bring up, the idea that Lani Cooper had sparked back in the station. He did not want to. Talking about his family was low on Dante’s list of Fun Conversational Gambits. Except, of course, for Simone and Daniella.
He sucked in a breath and ripped off the proverbial bandage.
“Back at the station, Lani got me thinking about everything that’s been going on.”
