Page 31 of Twisted Knight

Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t—“I’m a scientist, Dom. I believe what can be proven—maybe we should experiment.”I’d said it. At least I could take comfort in the fact that my tone still sounded amused. This could very much be put on the count of banter. But I knew the ugly truth, deep down. If that man was to enter my room in the middle of the night, I would not send him away.

He threw me a look that seemed to be part longing, part sadness, not really something I expected after basically throwing myself at him.

“Why don’t you go to the store and pick stuff for Cassie. I’ll put the bag in the car and meet you there.”

“Okay.” I took a couple of steps off the sidewalk before turning toward him. “You’re okay, right?”

“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?” He smiled, but even if I barely knew him, I knew it was fake. “I just need to make sure I blame the new sugar delivery on you so Luca won’t kill me like he threatened to do.”

I nodded and turned around. He was hiding something; of course he was. He was hiding many things, in fact, but somehow this one bothered me because even if I didn't admit it to myself, I didn't like to see him preoccupied. I could not ask Cassie about it; she was already worrying much more than she should.

As for Luca, what could I even ask? It could bring nothing up, and then Dom would be upset with me for looking into him.

I sighed, walking into the colorful store, the smell of sugar hitting my nostrils and somehow making me feel a little better.

I looked out the window to see Dom close the trunk of his car and go to the front, ripping the note from under his wiper and reading it before tightening it in his fist and putting it in his pants pocket.

I’ll discover your secret, Dom,I vowed as he crossed the street to come meet me.And maybe then I’ll tell you mine.

Chapter Seven

DOM

“Did you want to see me?” I asked, entering Luca’s office.

He nodded, leaning back on his chair, a glass of scotch in his hand. It was funny how eighteen months could make a difference. I knew that this was Luca’s first drink of the day, his way to unwind for a while from the pressure of his capo role and the risky pregnancy of the love of his life. Before I would have wondered how far he had been down the bottle because the further he was, the meaner he got.

He gestured me toward the seat across from him.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”

I froze. I was doing a lot, and some of it I knew he would not approve. Especially the notes I’ve been receiving. I wanted to tell him; I should have told him. The note at the airport was one thing. It could even be a fluke or just someone trying to stir shit, but here it was home, our safe haven, and the note was much more specific, much more real. ‘Innocence thief’, but he was so worried about everything, how could I add to his worry? It would make me a bad friend and a bad consigliere.

I would tell him, I tried to convince myself. Once the babies were here, I’d tell him.

“What are you talking about?”

“Everything you're doing for me; you’re taking on much more than you should have.”

I relaxed in my seat. “I’m your consigliere, Luca. This is what I’m here for.”

He gave me a small smile. “No, not that much. Matteo told me you’re going to work with him in New York, and I know how you feel about him.”

Weirdly enough, the more time I spent with Genovese, the less I disliked him. He was still a crazy psycho—nothing would change that—but somehow it was not such a hardship anymore. “To be fair, it’s not that bad. I’m even planning a girls’ night. I’ll braid his hair; he’ll paint my nails.”

Luca chuckled. “Is everything okay, Dom, really?”

I sighed, looking away for a second. Luca was not an idiot. If he asked that now, it was because he knew the truth, or at least part of it. He was attuned to me.

“I’m not certain,” I admitted. “Matteo is hell-bent on burning the world to the ground to find the rat, and I agree we need to find him.” Even more now than before, I thought as the nameless notes came to the front of my mind. “But he is getting deeper into the Russian and Albanian world, not a scene we’re familiar with.”

Luca nodded, tracing the scar on his cheek idly. “Normally I would agree; these are troubled waters at best, but this is Matteo we’re talking about. He’s as smart as he is cunning and probably more vicious and dangerous than any of them.”

“He is something.”

“He’ll keep you safe.”

“I don’t need him to keep me safe.”

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