Page 109 of Tainted Ties

Aurora

Jumping back into work in what seemed like forever had become a form of therapy for me—an outlet to focus on other people’s troubles rather than my own.

It had been over two weeks since Enzo and Sofia had come into our lives. They continued to stay at the manor after further discussion.

Angelo Bianchi didn’t know that Enzo was alive, and we intended to keep it that way until we had a set plan in place.

Ricardo informed us that Angelo was in hiding. The team was out searching for him and if I knew one thing, it was that Roman wouldn’t give up his hunt until my father was six feet underground.

“Are you still with me?”

Irina’s voice brought me back to the present.

Glancing down at my laptop screen, her perfectly groomed brow arched in question.

We had finished a meeting with a potential client and decided to stay on the video call to catch up.

“Yes, sorry. It’s been a whirlwind of chaos these past couple of weeks.” I shrugged a shoulder.

“I know,” she sighed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me.”

“Don’t apologize. I was a wreck, and nothing could have helped me come out of it.”

“Except for Enzo.”

My smile was pained. “Except for Enzo,” I agreed. “I thought I lost him, Irina.”

That familiar swell of emotion built inside of me. No matter what, my brother never gave up on me. He dealt with the cards he was given and helped me in his own way.

He had done what he needed to do to survive.

“But you didn’t. He is with you,always.Maybe not in this moment because he’s probably doing sinister things to that redhead.”

That visual twisted my features into a grimace.

“Sorry, but it’s true. From what you’ve told me, they definitely have something going on.”

“Doesn’t mean I want that image in my head!”

I had gathered absolutely nothing about Sofia in the short few weeks she’d been here.

The girl was reserved and the only time she appeared somewhat stable was when Enzo was around.

“Anyway,” she drawled. “Before I go, I need to tell you something.”

My heart dropped to my feet. I hated that sentence because it usually led to nothing good.

Irina’s expression didn’t ease my concern either. She twirled a strand of blonde hair around her finger, gnawing at her bottom lip.

“Spit it out!”

Then her face split into a huge smile. “I’m visiting you this summer!”

I suppressed my excitement and scoffed. “I never agreed to that.”

“Oh, uh.” She appeared worried; her brows scrunched up.

Irina’s hurt expression almost fooled me until she laughed. “That’s too bad!”

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