Page 66 of Malevolent Secrets

“I know you don’t trust me, and you think I’m reckless. Believe me, I get it. But hear me out and believe me when I say that I may have started out seeing her as a target, but it’s changed now. She’s my friend now and I care about her. I don’t think I have to explain to you how she sneaks up on you and makes you care about her.”

She’s right, about the fact that I don’t always trust her, and I think she’s reckless, but she’s also right about what I feel for Daniella.

“No, you don’t. And I trust you,” she tilts her head and raises an eyebrow. “Sometimes.”

She smiles and takes Vincent’s cup, draining what’s left of the contents.

“What on earth is going on between the two of you?”

She looks up at me, and she smiles, but it is not a Renee smile because there is no mischief in it.

“Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

She gets up to leave, and I get up too.

“Renata, wait.”

I use the Italian rendition of her name and the sentimental pull of it settles on my skin. She turns to me, and there’s a look in her eyes, something like longing, and I know my eyes mirror the expression.

We are both longing for the times when we were just children, running around and breaking Mama’s precious china. The times she would run after me, hanging onto big brother’s tailcoats. A time before the reality of our inheritance and what the life we were born into meant could affect us.

I come out of the booth and walk to her. I don’t touch her, though.

“I would have been happy to hear from you.”

She smiles up at me and adjusts the strap of her bag.

“Would you?”

And without another word, she turns and leaves.

It’s my turn to sigh, and I’m left to clean up after the tornado and turbulence that Renata Durreti always leaves in her wake.

Chapter Twenty

Daniella

The morning is still and quiet. It’s the kind of silence that usually brings peace, but today it feels heavy with impending change.

I look around the small living room that Jeremy and I made our own, taking in the familiar sight of the cozy couch, the carefully chosen artwork, and the soft, inviting colors.

This house, as small as it is, has been my sanctuary. Every piece of furniture, every decoration, holds a memory, a moment in time that I thought would last forever.

But forever isn’t always what you expect.

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. I open it to find a woman standing there, her kind eyes and warm smile immediately putting me at ease.

“Ciao!” I immediately smile back at the familiar face.

“Maria, what are you doing here?”

She gives me a brief hug as I step aside for her to enter. Maria works at the club and she was the only one who was nice to me on the first day. While others have warmed up to the idea of my presence, Maria was the first person to be kind to me.

“Capo sent me.”

It is jarring, hearing a woman refer to him as that. Capo. Until now, I’ve only ever heard men call him that.

“Lorenzo said you would need some help and he sent me to help you pack,” she says gently.

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