Page 44 of Captive Vow (Mafia Marriages 2)

While I have no idea what she’s visualizing, it’s apparent that she’s attentive, and her mind is no longer on the situation.

Quietly, I sneak back to the sofa and sit beside Moreno.

“And you two are happily married?” Ellie asks. “I only ask because sometimes fighting in the home can lead to—”

Moreno cuts her off. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer as he scoots toward me. “Yes, everything at home is wonderful. Isn’t it?”

“She’s been mute for as long as I can remember,” I say. It’s not a lie, not even in the least bit.

I glance down at my hand on my lap and realize we didn’t come into this particularly planned. I’m not wearing a wedding band.

Is that why Moreno had been fuming earlier about Serene’s ring? Had he intended for me to wear it to the appointment?

No.

That wasn’t possible. Not with his outburst earlier at the house.

“Has there been any sudden changes in Nova’s behavior or at home?” Ellie asks. She’s got a pad of paper out, and she’s scribbling down notes as we speak.

Ellie’s situated across from us, but only a few feet away. Our conversation isn’t hushed, but Nova doesn’t seem to notice or care about us being in the room anymore.

“Nothing,” Moreno says.

It’s a lie. Can Ellie see through his charade?

“I want to help Nova, but the more you tell me, the better I can be equipped to determine what might be going on with your daughter,” Ellie says. “Anything either of you tells me will be kept in the strictest of confidence.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Moreno says.

Ellie nods and puts her notes away. “Do you mind if I talk to Nova?” she asks.

“Have at it,” Moreno says and gestures for Ellie to approach Nova.

Ellie is soft-spoken and steps out from the chair, kneeling at the table. She grabs a pink crayon and a piece of paper.

“I like your picture,” Ellie says.

Nova glances up at the woman before averting her eyes back down to the drawing. There’s a faint smile quirking at the corner of Nova’s lips like she’s trying not to grin at the compliment.

I see it.

Does Ellie see it?

What about Moreno?

* * *

“Six hundred dollars an hour for that?”

“Technically, it was an hour and a half,” I offer as we head back out to the car. I’m buckling Nova into her car seat. “And the first appointment is always more money.”

He shoots me a look. “How would you know?”

“What? Do you think I’ve never seen a therapist before? My life isn’t rainbows and butterflies.”

He snorts under his breath. “Could have fooled me.”

I roll my eyes and shut the back door after Nova is secure in her seat. Yanking open the passenger side, I plop into the seat and give him a hard stare. “You should watch what you say.”

---