Page 109 of Mafioso's Muse

‘Anyway,’ he said, taking a step back, ‘if you could come along to the hearing and answer their questions, I’d certainly appreciate it.’

‘Of course.’ She looked up, pressing her lips together. ‘For the record, he never told me anything about… his other life. I really only got to see one version of him.’ Except for that one time she had accidentally seen another version of him. Not even Lili knew the details of that night.

Nigel nodded slowly. ‘I imagine that was very deliberate on his part. Some of the questions might be difficult for you, but we need to do things properly so we can all move forwards.’

‘I understand.’ That didn’t mean she had to like it. ‘Who else will be there?’

‘Harrison.’

Of course.

Nigel shifted his weight. ‘And Mr Gallo.’

She blinked, trying to figure out how she felt about the prospect of seeing him again, especially in a formal setting before a captive audience. ‘I’m surprised he agreed to attend.’

He angled his head and gave her a knowing look. ‘Of course he agreed.You’regoing to be there.’

Willow didn’t respond.

‘You’re still at the beginning of your career,’ Nigel continued. ‘This is a good opportunity for you to clear your name. The board members simply want assurance that you’re not connected to what took place in any sinister way or withholding any information because of your history.’

She turned back to the empty space. ‘Just tell me when and where.’

Nigel gave her arm a gentle pat. ‘Cast it from your mind for now. Focus on getting better.’

Her rib would heal. Her heart would not.

‘I should head back up,’ he said. ‘Lili should be finished by now. Do you want me to let her know you’re here?’

That would save her from running into Harrison. ‘Yes, thank you.’

Nigel left, and Willow blinked back tears as she grappled with what lay ahead. She couldn’t allow her career to be completely derailed by her connection to Vaughn, no matter how deep her attachment to him. She had to speak her truth and face any consequences that came from it.

Why did the stage have to collapse? They had beensoclose to fixing what was broken between them. And why did the man who pulled her from the rubble have to be the one to take the blame?

‘You’re all right. Don’t let the colour scare you.’

His voice was so clear in her mind. As she stood there surrounded by the remnants of that nightmarish night, she couldn’t help but miss him.

‘Willow Elizabeth Hayes’ came Lili’s disapproving voice behind her. ‘Did you walk here?’

Willow turned. ‘I did. At a very slow and pleasant pace.’

Lili looked her up and down, then past her to the missing stage. ‘You okay?’

Willow mulled the question over for a moment. ‘I will be.’

‘I suppose I’ll have to settle for future-okay Willow.’ Lili gestured behind her to the door. ‘Come on. Let’s get out of here.’

Willow looked a final time at the cleared space beyond the yellow tape, then followed her out.

35

August 2024

The board members sat processing everything that had just been shared. Willow hadn’t been prepared for some of their questions, especially when it came to intimate details about her relationship with Vaughn. She had felt the mafioso’s eyes upon her every time she spoke, and she’d done everything in her power not to meet them. There were many sides to the story told in that room, and no one present would ever really know Vaughn’s version. Even Willow was only privy to parts of it.

Nigel had listened with interest to everything said, while Harrison had sat in a state of agitation for the most of it.

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