Nico only gets up once, pouring a glass of wine and pushing it generously in my direction when I’m finished unloading the groceries. “Here,” he says. “Thank you for organizing the kitchen. That is not…something that’s precisely in our skill set.” I shrug, a little pleased to have made inroads with
There’s a long, tense moment when I do seriously wonder if Christian is going to punch someone. But he shocks us all, I think, when Christian flicks his eyes to Nico’s beer. “Is there more of that?” he asks, his voice dry. “Yeah,” Nico says, immediately jumping out of the chair and heading for t
“Exactly,” Christian says. “Are you seriously buying this?” Nico hisses, gesturing towards me but keeping his eyes on Christian. “That she knew nothing – that she just lived with this guy, handing over her paychecks to him, oblivious to the fact that he’s not only Bonetti’s secret accountant that
Suddenly, quite suddenly, it’s all too much. I burst into tears, burying my face in my hands again, sobs shaking my shoulders as I blubber against my palms. I start to cry so hard that I can’t even catch my breath, and then I panic because I know these tough mafia guys are looking at me like I’m a
“Where are you going?” I ask, confused and surprised as he heads around the coffee table, aiming for the kitchen. “I’m getting us refills, Iris,” he replies, his voice tired. “Because if we’re going to have the family chat, I’m going to need another drink.” And, despite myself, I laugh. Christ
“Christian,” I murmur, leaning forward to peer into his face after we sit in silence for a too-long moment. “Do you…do you not have any hope in this world?” He scowls a little, turning away from me and looking out at the dark city through the wide expanse of windows. “I don’t even know what that m
“Primarily,” Christian says, drawing my full attention back, “designating you as my sister means hands off,” he says, giving me a significant look. I smile a little, liking to see his protective side. “Does it also mean I get a share in the Romano fortune?” I ask, dry, and Christian laughs, instan
Christian groans as I look down into my lap, intuiting that he’s hurt my feelings, and then he scootches closer to me. “Don’t look like that, Iris,” he murmurs, putting a warm hand on my shoulder, “you’re breaking my heart.” “I don’t want to be a burden to you, Christian,” I sigh, looking down int