56 • We Could Make It Real

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆

"Was that something new? You hangin' out and havin' fun with them?"

I looked up from my phone and paused my strides, the muted question snapping me out of my grim thoughts. I just texted Niccolo to get out of Russia this week.

He should, before Ilya's sons found out that Nicco worked for my father before Pappa went missing. Although it was mostly blackmail, their arrangement, I bet Ilya's mob-boss-wannabe sons wouldn't take Niccolo's reasons at face value.

"I looked like I was having fun?"

To my right, Adreana fiddled with her gold necklace, staring at me with a frown that showed genuine interest and some bemusement. "You weren't?"

"The wine tasted like piss."

She laughed and took a step forward so we'd be facing each other. "I mean, at first, you clearly looked like you'd rather be somewhere else."

"It's just not something I'm used to," I mumbled. When she kept staring at my face, I redirected my attention to my phone screen.

"Having fun with your family wasn'