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“My sister and Kate. From my father or the Abates?”
He arches a brow. “Are you changing the deal?”
“I’ve always wanted them safe.” I manage to sit up and scoot off the table. I push the skirt of my dress down. “That hasn’t changed.”
“If you want them safe, do as you're told.” He rolls his shoulders. “I can walk you up to your room.”
I shake my head. “I know the way.” I head toward the door to leave the dining room.
His hand takes my arm. “Don’t think that because the house is quiet and you don’t see staff that I won’t know what you’re doing. There’s no escape.”
I nod. “I know.” I tug my arm free, feeling so low after such a lovely high.
“Elena.”
I stop when I reach the door and look over my shoulder at him.
His expression is… well, I’m not sure. I get the feeling he wants to say something, but he doesn’t.
I turn back to the door.
“Sleep well,” he finally says.
The next morning,I wake to Rosa pulling out clothes from my drawer.
“What’s happening?” I ask as I rub sleep from my eyes.
“Oh, good. You’re awake. You’re expected to be down in the garden in fifteen minutes.”
“What?” Panic rises. Any change in my day makes me think the time has come and Niko is going to kill me.
“It’s a lovely idea. A walk in the morning can do you good. Fresh air will strengthen you.”
I dress in jeans and a T-shirt. Rosa hands me a zippered fleece jacket in case I get cold. When I reach the garden, Niko is already there sniffing a rose. He’s also in jeans and a red-collared shirt. The dress is casual, belying the fierceness of his presence.
When he sees me, he waves me over. “These were my mother’s.”
I look at him and then the rose bush, wondering if I’m dreaming. Niko seems to be sentimental. He’s sharing something personal. That’s not the man I know.
“They’re lovely.”
He holds his hand out toward a path that weaves through the manicured yard. It makes me think of period movies set in England. “Let’s walk.”
We walk side by side in silence for several strides.
“Why do you think your father has such a hard-on for Tiberius Abate?” he finally asks.
I’m also relieved. This walk is part of the deal to share what I know, not a march to my death.
“I don’t know for sure, except that my father feels he lost face when my sister tried to run off with her boyfriend. I wasn’t kidding when I said her value to him?—”
“What had been the plan for her before that? Not Romeo?”
“No. Not Romeo. I don’t know who. He was relieved Don Conti would take her, but he didn’t get what he wanted.”
Niko was quiet for a moment. “What does that have to do with Tiberius?”
I shrugged. “I think he feels a partnership with him will strengthen the Family.”
