Page 67 of Corrupted Memories
I work my jaw back and forth, not enjoying the comparison. Most days I admire how smart she is, but she’s too quick to connect the dots on others.
“The world changed, we had to adjust. There was an understanding that I would be the forefront face in Manhattan,” I explain.
“And now that you have the tattoo?” she asks, glancing uncertainly between us.
I shrug, trying not to allow my anger about that night to show in my expression. Arthur will pay for how he forced our hand, but she doesn’t know that. “The London timeline probably needs to be moved up.”
Her eyes narrow, her mouth opening before Nico cuts her off.
“Now that we’re all out in the open with our secrets, you gonna tell us why you ran during college?” He waves his fork at her before shoving another bite in his mouth.
We both stiffen for different reasons. Gianna has already told me about that night, but I never got a chance to tell Nico. Nor have I gotten a chance to further divulge what happened that night with her, and I know the full details will upset her.
Nico notices our silence, leaning back in his chair. “What?”
“She told me before we got summoned, and we haven’t had a chance to discuss it further,” I say, drawing out a warning for him to tread carefully.
Gianna sits down, her fingers fidgeting on the table. “I saw something that upset me that night.”
I clear my throat. “She saw me dispose of that man following us.”
Nico’s eyes widen. “The one her brother sent?”
My face falls into my palm with a groan. I should have expected him to clarify, because Nico fails at being discreet about anything. For a man so smart, he can sometimes be the most oblivious at reading the fucking room.
Gianna jerks as if she’s been hit. “What? What are you talking about?”
I reach over for her, but she pulls her hands away and crosses her arms over her chest.
My tongue drags along my lip and I nod. “Remember I told you that we’d have a discussion that you wouldn’t like?”
Her chest starts to rise and fall faster, her face paling. “Stop speaking in riddles. Tell me what you mean.”
“Your brother—or someone in the Famiglia—sent a man to stalk us, or kill me.”
She’s shaking her head before I finish. “No, no, no. You’re lying. He wouldneversend a hitman.”
Nico sighs. “He would, Gianna. Your father is rather high in the ranks?—”
“My father is dead!” she cries out, tears lining her eyes.
A pen drops and I realize we’ve left out a crucial part of Matt’s connection to the Famiglia, of her connection to Famiglia. Nico glances at me and I nod solemnly.
He swallows roughly. “Fair enough. Your biological father is?—”
“Bio—what?!”
I stand up, pulling her out of the chair before she can object. My hand cradles her head, shushing. “Calm down, Gianna. Nico is going about this the wrong way.”
Her eyes shift between mine, manic desperation to understand making them darker.
Nico clears his throat. “We should move to Sebastian’s office. I can show you, Gianna. I’m not trying to hurt you.”
She swallows, looking toward him. “Show me what?”
“Your brother, his involvement with the Famiglia. It’s deeper than we explained. When we were in college, I believed men were aiming to hurt me, which they were. But I thought it was my father’s enemies, not your brother trying to get rid of me.”
Gianna sucks in a breath, her voice shaky. “Like his security team?”
