ena

the nightstand at six in the mornin

indow seat, clutching a worn, gray plush rabbit against

ng, Nico,"

having heard me, ign

o sit too close to him. I leave a clear two feet of space betwe

ng to rise over the tre

bit tighter, but he d

e of staff preparing breakfast. I learn from the head chef that the Don has already left the estate for business. A strange, complicate

d one piece of toast. I prepare a tray and carry it up the stair

it in the chair opposite it. I pull out my phone an

iliar knot of dread forms in my stomach. The numbers are gettin

minutes pas

Nico slowly reach out. He picks up th

my phone, affecting an a

lass of milk and drinks half of it in on

of my phone, his brow furrowed at the dens

ico asks, his voice small an

for a full second, an

mask my shock, keeping my

ut a sick patient

co asks, his eyes

ther,"

dark hair fall over his eyes. He p

a mother," N

is voice. I lean forward slightly, keeping

you feel unwell, Nico," I s

, turning his atten

s tracks. He stares at the half-empty milk glass and the plate with the missing toast. His mouth hangs open s

crayons, he is drawing on a large piece of white paper. He draws a large sq

The caller ID shows an unknown number, so

," a ma

ng his voice make

u want?" I

h condescension. "I can pay them for you. But you have to agree to be a br

the phone gro

n barely contain. "You stole my wedding date. You gave Sabrina the venue I booked an

s voice dropping into a sneer. "

a low voice saying "You are dismissed." The contrast between Lucian Marcello's cold, abs

them involve begging a pathetic associate who

up th

to slow even as my hands tremble with rage. I take a single deep breath, walk bac

shift in my energy immediately. He looks back down at his paper and pick

s a tiny figure standing

-