Page 56 of Texting My Mafia Savior

“It will take time. Months, maybe. One day, we’ll all be together, you and Nico, Rocco and Sandy, me and…”

“Giancarlo?”

“Nico told me you saw us,” she says hesitantly.

“I was so confused. I thought you were cheating on Nico. Then Nico and I kissed, and for a brief time, I hated myself. I thought we’d cheated on you, too. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

“It wasn’t cheating. We were never together.”

“That’s why he told me,” I tell her. “He didn’t want me to beat myself up about it. That’s what makes him a good man. He’s capable of bad things, lying, hurting people, but he always has a good reason.”

“Make sure you remind him of that after this,” Lucy mutters. “He’s going to beat himself up. He never enjoyed his time in the mob. He hated being an enforcer. Before you came along, Arria,he was cold, closed-off. He focused on his pro bono work, and that was it.”

“I will,” I tell her. “I won’t let him hate himself. He doesn’t deserve that. He deserves… well, love. I’m not saying from me.”

Another brittle, sad smile touches her face. “From somebody else, then?”

“No,” I snap, suddenly jealous. “I didn’t say that. I’m just not sure people can fall in love by texting. Plus, Dad’s seriously against anything happening with us.”

“Your dad’s worried about you, that’s all. Deep down, he knows Nico is a good person. I think he’ll come around. If not…”

“Are you saying I should pick Nico over my family?” I ask.

“I’m just saying that sometimes, you have to make your own decisions.”

“Do you mind if I take a shower?” Lucy asks about an hour later. “I want to wash…” she shudders, “Him, from me.”

I take her hands. “Nico told me what sort of person Dominic was. I’m so sorry for what you had to endure, Aunt Lucy.”

She clenches her jaw as tears shine in her eyes. “I won’t tell you what he did. What I will say is I hope he rots in hell, and Nico should never feel bad about what he’s done tonight.”

Lucy leaves. I text Mom, telling her I’m staying at Lilly’s. Lilly will freak out if I ever tell her what happened after the standoffin the club. I probably won’t—the fewer people who know about this, the better.

My phone vibrates. It’s Nico.

Nico:It’s done. I won’t say specifically what, but you know what I’m talking about. It’s over. I hope.

Me:Where are you?Come home.

Nico:I am home.I’m sitting in the parking lot, staring down at my hands, these hands which have done terrible things. These hands make me wonder if I will ever touch you again. I’m wondering how you could ever let me. You’re so pure, Arria, so good. I call you my angel because you’re angelic.

Me:Please, just come upstairs. Or I’m coming down.

Nico:You won’t be able to find me. I’m in darkness.

He’s not just talking about the position of his car.

Me:They were terrible people.

Then, I delete the message. Nico doesn’t want to talk specifics.

Me:Earlier,you said you were done with the savior, but that’s not true. Anything you’ve done has been because that’s who you are deep down. The world has tried to drag you into the filth over and over, but you’ve never let it. You’ve always done the right thing. Just think, Nico. You’ve earned the nickname twice in two different fields.

It feels odd calling mafia enforcing a ‘field,’ but I’m not sure how else to describe it.

Me:Twice, people have widely agreed that you’re a good person.

Nico:I don’t care about people. I care about you.

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