Page 27 of Ruthless King

It’s because of that comfort I decide to ask, “Nico, would you tell me more about what you do?”

“I can’t. It’s for everyone’s safety. The less people know, the better. If the police came around asking you questions, you’d have to lie. At least this way, you wouldn’t have to lie.”

“About the missing man you mentioned.”

He looks at me and doesn’t say a word.

“Fine,” I whisper. “But can I ask you something else? Do you ever travel for your work?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious. I haven’t traveled much. My father kept me pretty sheltered back in LA.”

“I’ve been a lot of places, LA being one of them. Sometimes my work takes me out there.”

“Maybe we could have met there.”

He smiles. “Maybe.”

My heart is pounding fast. Nico admitted he’s been to LA, but that doesn’t mean he killed my father. And there’s no way to ask him more about that without him getting incredibly suspicious.

I need to talk to Beatrice again and demand she find proof if I’m going to continue.

Because right now, as Nico smiles at me, a flutter forms in my heart. I’m supposed to make Nico fall in love with me, but I think it might easy for me to fall in love with him if I’m not careful.

And that’s the most dangerous part of this all.

Enzo comes with me to see Beatrice again. Once more, Nico is at work, and I’m left to my own devices. I’m so grateful I’m not a prisoner and that I can go where I want.

It just isn’t fun with Enzo breathing down my neck.

“Privacy,” I remind him once I reach Beatrice’s door and she lets me inside. Enzo nods, stationing himself against the wall beside the door. I hurry into Beatrice’s room and shut the door, locking it for good measure. Beatrice stuffs a towel under the door, muffling our voices in case Enzo listens in.

“I need proof,” I tell her.

She rolls her eyes and plops onto the bed. “We’ve been over this. I know Nico is responsible.”

“No, you don’t. Not for a fact. And I need proof that he did it, or … I won’t kill him.”

“Why are you talking like this? You want justice for your father, yes?”

“Of course, I do, but not if Nico is the wrong man.”

Beatrice is silent as she stands up and slowly approaches me. I don’t like how she scrutinizes me like I’m a bug under a microscope. “You like him.”

“No,” I scoff. “I don’t know him. But I won’t murder a man who didn’t murder my father.”

“No, you’re starting to like him. Already. That’s a problem, Aurora. You’re supposed to make him fall in love with you. Not the other way around.”

“I don’t love him, Beatrice. He’s still a stranger. But what I’ve seen shows me he isn’t a monster.”

She scoffs. “He is a monster.”

“You’ve never even met him. I’ve lived with him for three days now.”

“And you think that makes you an expert? Wake up, girl! You’re taken in by him. Fine. But do your duty.”

“No. Not until I know the truth. You want me to kill Nico? Then give me proof he did it.”

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