Page 26 of Twisted Knight

“You ratted me out? Nice.”

“So what?”

I crossed my arms on my chest. “Snitches end up in ditches!”

He burst into laughter, the kind of laughter that made you cry, snortle, and caused stomach cramps. He was almost bent in two laughing so hard he was gasping for air.

“God, what’s that noise?” Luca asked, walking into the room. His face broke into a wide smile as he took in Dom’s face, his eyes shining with his tears of laughter.

“She just threatened me!” He gasped in between his annoying laughs and pointed a finger at me as his laughter subsided a little. “Snitches end up in ditches, she said…” He shook his head. “Snitches end up in ditches!” he repeated, his laughter picking up yet again.

I wished deep down that he would just choke on his laughter.Asshole!

Luca turned toward me, trying to look serious, but his eyes were radiating with mirth.

“Well, she’s not wrong. Snitches do end up in ditches. But isn’t the saying ‘Snitches get stitches?’”

“Maybe,” I grumbled.Damn you, Paul Bettany!

Dom wiped at the tears under his eyes. “In Italian you say,la spia non è figlio di Maria.” He shook his head, catching his breath. “That’s the hardest I laughed in…”

“I don’t think I ever heard you laugh that hard before actually.” Luca piped up, looking at me with speculation in his eyes.

“From which Mafia movie is that from?” Dom asked, having regretfully recovered without dying. “You’re probably sharing your poor cinematic references with Cassie.”

I shrugged, turning toward the cabinet again to prepare Cassie’s tea. I would die before admitting where I'd heard that one from.

“Dai, lasciala in pace. Come with me to the office; I’ve got to discuss New York.”

Dom chuckled with a shake of his head. “Sure, I’ll leave her alone. See you later, mobster lady.”

They both left me in the kitchen, walking away and laughing together, while I prepared the tea with murder on my mind.

Chapter Six

INDIA

I looked at Cassie as she sat on the bed, propped against the bed frame, trying to balance her little red stress ball on her very round stomach.

I sighed, sitting by her feet. “How are you doing? Really?” I asked, reaching over and massaging her swollen ankle gently.

She gave me a little shrug, with a small pout that made me smile. “I’m okay. It’s just—” She rubbed at her belly gently. “Jude just came back and I'm too tired and sore to do anything with him, and now I’ll uproot him for New York for half of his vacation.”

Jude had been just as much a ray of sunshine as I’d imagined him to be, and so freaking smart too. I’d almost forgotten I was speaking with an eleven-year-old boy and seeing him with Luca—the man acted with a pride almost paternal when Jude recounted his many successes at school and how he thrived there.

“You know that this boy is wise beyond his years, right? Plus, I’m sure he’ll enjoy spending some time in the city. I’ll take him to shows and everything.” I squeezed her leg. “He knows how much you love him, and he is clearly excited to meet his nephew and niece soon.”

“Yes, I have a hard time believing the babies will be here in a week.”

I frowned. She sounded more worried than elated. “Are you not excited?”

“No, yes. I mean—” She sighed, leaning her head back, looking at the ceiling. “I love my babies. How could I not? They are part Luca and part me. I’m so excited to see them, but I’m also scared, you know? I’m going to be a mom, and the world we live in…” She stopped, looking away with shame.

I wanted to tell her that I knew the truth, that it was okay, but I had promised Luca to wait until the babies were born.

“It’s true, the world is dangerous, but these babies have you and Luca. A loving, caring mother and a fiercely protective father.” I winked at her. “These kids won the golden ticket.”

Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned more on the pillows behind her back. “Yes, I guess you’re right.” Her tense smile turned genuine, and I knew I had said exactly what I needed to say.

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