Page 8 of Texting My Mafia Savior

I have to pretend those emotions never existed.

“Thanks,” I tell her.

She spins in the chair, smiling up at me. “Try not to worry, okay? Nico is going to make sure nothing happens to you. Just please do what he asks.”

“He said I might have to apologize,” I grumble.

“They’re just words, Arria. That’s all. Just say the right words and then forget all about it. You can travel the world. Go on with your life.”

We hug before she leaves. After all those thoughts, I feel like I’m not worthy of embracing her. Once she’s gone, I lie down and pick up a book, but my mind feels too messy to read. The guilt is real.

My phone buzzes. It’s him.

Nico:I’ve met with our friend. He’s out of town for a couple of days, but he’s agreed to a meeting with you. You’re going to have to swallow your pride on this one, Arria.

Me:I still don’t like the idea,I text back.

Nico:Like it or not, you’re going to do it.

Me:Is that an order?

Why does a weird tingle dance over my body when I ask this? It’s like I’m imagining him giving me different orders. Steamy ones. In the bedroom. With the door locked. No, no, no.

Nico:If I need to make it an order from ‘The Savior’ for you to listen, then yes, it’s an order. But I don’t want to argue about this. It’s just a few minutes of discomfort, and then you can go on with your life.

Me:What was he like at the meeting?I ask.

Nico:Egotistical. Said your friend was leading him on. He’s an ass. I won’t lie. But that benefits us here.

Me:How’d you figure that?

Nico:Because it means we stroke his ego, and that’ll be the end. If he had any actual principles, or were more humble, we’d need to find another way to dance around his case.

Me:He doesn’t have a case!!!!I type quickly, getting breathless.

Nico:Easy on the exclamation marks, sassy. I’m just telling you how it is.

Sassy… I stare at the word. I even mutter it under my breath. If anybody else called me sassy, I’d probably find it offensive. There goes that tingling sensation again, the warmth spreading through my body.

Me:I’ll get myself mentally prepared to stroke the douchebag’s ego, then.

Nico:This is important.You need to make the apology believable when we’re at the meeting. Don’t go in there like a kid forced to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ You need to make him think you genuinely regret what you did. You need to make him believe you take all the blame for it.

Me:I’m not a KID. I’m twenty-one.

Nico:I know, Arria. It was just a figure of speech. You need to chill.

Me:How can I chill when I have to apologize to a man who doesn’t deserve it?

Nico:Because if you don’t,your life will get far, far more difficult. Just trust me.

Me:I am grateful, Nico. I know you don’t have to do this. It just leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.

Nico:Learn to swallow it. And make it believable. That’s your only choice. What are your plans for the evening?

I almost gasp. Probably—okay, definitely—an overreaction. But why is he asking about my plans? I can’t think of a way that would have anything to do with my problem.

Me:I’m going to try to do some reading.

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