Page 46 of Texting My Mafia Savior

Nico:I’m almost twice your age, Arria.

Me:I hate to remind you again, but I’m a fully grown woman capable of making my own decisions.I don’t need Dad telling me who I can and cannot care about, and I don’t need you using your age as an excuse. We’ve got enough roadblocks without adding that one.

Nico:That’s the truth.

“You’re smiling,” Mom mutters, almost like an accusation.

I tuck my phone away. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” she says, breathlessly. “It’s nice to see you smile. It’s nice to see you able to forget, just for a little while.”

“I haven’t forgotten about Aunt Lucy,” I tell her.

“You don’t need to sound defensive. Really, I mean it. When we lived in California, I always secretly hoped for you to find some friendly boy and smile like that as you texted him. I’d see other girls in cafes, at the library, wherever, and I’d think,Why doesn’t my Arria let herself experience that happiness?”

“You just didn’t expect it to be with your brother-in-law.” I sigh.

“He’s not exactly appropriate, is he?”

I shake my head. Mom doesn’t seem as outright hostile to the idea as Dad, but it’s not like she’s all for it, either. “No, not really.”

“Not,” Mom says quietly. “His age. His relationship with the family. Thatyou, little lady, seemed all eager to go traveling before you got wrapped up in this. But I have to be honest; seeing you smile like that feels like a dream come true.”

Mom’s voice cracks. Her eyes glimmer.

“Mom, pull over.”

She pulls up at the side of the road and cries. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her in for a hug. She gasps and clings tightly to me.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper.

“He’s given so much. Years of his life to keep Lucy safe. I know why she wants to repay the favor. But I can’t stand the thought of her giving herself to that sick, evil man. I can’t bear it.”

“Nico will find a way,” I whisper, even if I probably shouldn’t. I’ve got no way of knowing if that’s true. But I know one thing. I trust him.

With Dad working late, Mom, Nico, and I sit at the dining table for dinner. It’s so difficult being in Nico’s physical presence without completely losing my mind. I think he’s going throughthe same struggle, sitting upright, his forearms seeming to swell in his tight-fitting shirt like the fabric’s going to tear. His hair glimmers in the light. His green eyes look anywhere but at me.

“This is delicious, Sandy, thank you,” he says.

“Burger and fries, can’t go wrong,” Mom mutters. “How’s work, Nico?”

He laughs darkly. Mom laughs with the same quality. They don’t have to explain why they’re laughing when nobody’s made a joke.

“We’re all trying to force some normal dinner scene,” I mutter. “But we all know it’s impossible.”

“Yeah,” Nico says, glancing at me for the first time. His entire body stiffens when he catches my eye. He looks away quickly as if he can’t let his gaze linger too long. Warm tingles dance over my body. It’s like he’s going to turn into an animal again, just like he has every other time our lust has exploded. He won’t be able to stop himself.

“You’re seeing the lawyer tomorrow,” Mom says.

Nico sighs. “We’re going to rush through the divorce.”

“And then a wedding,” Mom mutters. After a pause, Mom says, “What happens if Dominic and Enzo die?”

I gasp. “Mom. You can’t ask Nico to do that.”

Mom takes another sip of her wine, her eyes glassy with intoxication and sadness. “It’s a fair question.”

Nico thinks for a moment. “There could be a mafia civil war. Their lieutenants might come after me for revenge. But thenagain, they might not. It all depends on the fallout—on who ends up in charge. It would be unpredictable.”

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