Page 19 of Best Friend's Brother's Surprise Baby

“Now, how about I cook some of those expensive groceries we bought?” I ask her.

“Perfect,” she says, grinning at me, and my heart lurches into my throat for reasons I can’t explain.

I think I need to be careful with Aurora Costa.

9

AURORA

Isit at the table and watch Nico cooking dinner.

“I never learned to cook,” I admit. “My father did all the cooking.”

“Can’t boil water?” he asks me teasingly.

I huff. “I can make boxed stuff,” I argue.

He groans. “Your Italian ancestors must be rolling around in their graves when you say that.”

I laugh. “Maybe.”

Nico looks around at my clothes strewn across the living room.

“You don’t clean, either?”

I pout. “I do, just haven’t gotten around to it.” I smile. “My legs still don’t work.”

He grins. “You’re lucky you’re cute.” He pauses. “I do want you to pack up all your things, keep it in one of those duffels. You never know when we’re going to have to bug out of here.”

“Do you think he’s still looking for us?”

“I need to call Dante,” he says, and leaves the burner on. “Watch that for me. Just stir every few moments.”

I can hear him on the phone out on the terrace, can see the smoke billowing out of his nostrils.

“Any news?” he asks, and then pauses while Dante answers.

I try not to listen because it makes me anxious, focusing instead on stirring the tomato sauce that Nico has been working on. It smells delicious, like onions and garlic.

He got so many fresh ingredients. I would have just gotten some corndogs and chicken nuggets, so I’m glad I’m stuck with a chef.

Nico walks back inside, his face blank.

“What’s up?” I ask nervously, stepping back from the stove.

He doesn’t answer right away, instead straining the pasta into a colander.

“Everything’s okay,” he assures me, but he doesn’t sound like everything is really okay.

“Nico,” I say in a warning tone. “Don’t lie to me.”

He looks up at me with a sigh. “They haven’t found Marco yet. Angelo and Dante have been working together to find him, but no news yet. They found his car abandoned nearby the old safehouse. He was the one following us.”

I guess I’d known that much, but it still makes my face go pale.

“He doesn’t know where this one is,” I say flatly, hoping that’s true.

“He doesn’t,” Nico assures me, pouring the sauce over the pasta and sitting it on the table. I spoon myself out a little and take a piece of garlic bread.

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