Page 39 of Texting My Mafia Savior

“Would it be such a bad thing?” I snap. “I know she’s younger than me. That she’s my niece, I know she’s…”A virgin. My body aches for her. “Inexperienced. But I’d never take advantage of her. I’d never lie. I’d never use her. Despite who I used to be, I like to think I’m a good personnow.”

“You were a good person then,” Lucy says with a sigh. “You wouldn’t still be here otherwise, helping me.”

“So, if the—the goddamnworld, if it was different, if it didn’t mean risking our lives, if it didn’t mean putting a wedge betweenher and her father, who’s told me to back off, would there be a problem?”

“Maybe not, but it’s not like you to live in imaginary worlds,” Lucy says.

My phone buzzes again.

Arriana:Have I made you mad, Nico?

I text back quickly.

Me:I didn’t tell your dad about us, but I didn’t need to. He knows. He asked me to back off. I didn’t say yes, but I nodded, so I might as well have. Even if we weren’t risking our lives by doing what we’re doing, we’re risking you ever having a decent relationship with your dad. I can’t be responsible for that.

Arriana:I’m not a child. I can make my own choices. I can take my own risks. Anyway, we’re just texting. What’s the harm in that?

Me:We both know this has never been ‘just texting’…

“We should try to get some sleep,” Lucy says. “We can’t do anything right now, can we? Despite what else is true about Dominic, he’s worked hard to establish himself as the sole ruler of this city. He did that by putting his fucked-up family before his personal desires.”

“True,” I say. “But that doesn’t mean he’s going to quit, Lucy. He’s going to keep digging. He will not stop until he gets what he wants. After that lie detector test…” My hand curls into a fist. “Dammit. I can’t see any way out of this for any of us.”

“It’ll seem more manageable in the morning,” Lucy says. “You’ll see. Maybe we’ll have to pay him off? Or we’ll have to—I don’t know. There has to be a way out of this.”

But she’s wrong. There doesn’thaveto be anything.

“Stay in public, busy places,” I tell her. “Tomorrow, when you go to work. No stops at a cute, quiet little cafe. No routes that avoid major traffic. If he’s going to strike, it’ll be somewhere that won’t cause a public scene. We won’t even see him coming. It’ll just happen.”

I feel sick saying this, but it’s the truth. The sick, broken, twisted truth.

“Okay,” she murmurs, walking toward the hallway. Then she pauses. “Nico, I want you to know… I’m grateful. You’ve always put others first. You put your life on hold to save mine. I’ll never forget that.”

I go to bed too, since there’s nothing else to do. If there’s going to be a war, I need my energy.

In bed, I type out a quick text.

Me:Pay for the lake house with cash.

Arriana:You’ve already told me that, Nico.

Me:I know. But I just want to make sure. Your life wasn’t supposed to be like this. You were supposed to find a job, save some cash, go traveling. Your uncle wasn’t supposed to develop an… what the hell can I even call it? An interest, I guess. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

I’m typing fast, stream-of-consciousness style, like my thoughts are pouring into the cellphone. I could stop and edit, but somehow, that would feel wrong.

Arriana:An interest? Is that what you think this is?

Me:What would you call it, then?

I stare at a patch of moonlight on the ceiling. This room feels far colder and emptier than it ever has before.

Arriana:If I answered that question honestly, I’d seem crazy.

Me:I’m a crazy, deceitful douchebag. At least you’d only be half that.

Arriana:Deceitful?

Me:I told your dad that I’d leave you alone.

---