Chapter 3
Three
Nova
What the hell just happened?
I tried calling Ashton. Usually, we do a video call before bed, especially on Friday nights when he’s done working with Dante.
It’s almost midnight, and the call wouldn’t connect to video. Audio was spotty. I could barely hear him, only a few words here and there. Nothing that made any sense.
I tried calling Luca.
No answer.
I’m pacing the length of the living room. Liam is glaring at me.
“Something is wrong.” I feel it, deep inside of me.
Harper is already in bed, and while I’m worried about Luca, too, I don’t want to wake her. She has Zeke, and she’ll be up early with him in the morning.
Which leaves my only one option, telling Liam everything I know.
Which isn’t much.
“I’m sure Ashton will call you back.”
“That’s what I thought twenty minutes ago. I’m worried. Should I call Dad?”
Liam shrugs and turns off the television. “Can’t hurt.”
Sighing, I rub my temples. He doesn’t know about Ashton and me dating. That’s the only thing holding me back from reaching out to him.
But what are my other options?
I dial Moreno, my father, and he doesn’t immediately pick up.
When it goes to voicemail, I try again.
“I’m kind of busy right now,” Dad finally answers, gruff and annoyed.
“Is Luca okay? He’s not picking up, and when I tried Ashton, his phone cut out.”
There’s a silence that stretches on for far too long. “They’ll be fine. Don’t worry yourself, Nova. Goodnight.” He hangs up without another word.
“He’s hiding something!” I glance up at Liam. “You believe me. Don’t you?”
“What exactly did you hear from Ashton?”
“I don’t know. His words were jumbled. Broken apart. It’s clear it was a bad signal, but I swear I heard him say something about Luca and trouble.”
“Well, I mean, Luca and Ashton aren’t exactly getting along. That’s not news,” Liam says.
His words aren’t reassuring.
“Okay, but why hasn’t he called me back? Dad clearly has a signal. Why doesn’t Ashton?”
Liam shuts off the television and stands. “Do you want me to drive you over to prove that everyone is fine?”
“Would you?” My eyes light up, and I’m already at the door grabbing my coat and slipping on my shoes.
He grumbles under his breath. “You owe me gas money.”
We take his rust bucket of a car up to my parents’ house. It’s any wonder that the vehicle makes it all the way and doesn’t bomb out on us. The car runs loudly, like everyone can hear us coming for miles.
The minute we pull up at the front gate, I give Liam the code and the wrought-iron gate opens. He drives us up to the front entrance, and I high-tail it out of the car, unlocking the door with my key, storming inside.
I slip out of my shoes, leaving my coat on the floor. “Just wait here.” I glance at Liam over my shoulder and hurry up to Ashton’s bedroom.
“Yeah, I’ll just hang out here and look at the paintings on the wall,” Liam says as he takes off his shoes.
There’s no sense in announcing myself if Ashton is in his room and everything is fine.
But I’m worried that it’s not.
Liam hangs back at my request, and I hurry to Ashton’s room. I don’t even bother knocking. I yank open the door, but the light is off, the bed is made, his bag on his bed.
I check Luca’s bedroom next. Maybe they’re hanging out, trying to sort through things after Luca found out Ashton and I were dating in secret.
I open Luca’s door, no sign of him either. Light off. Bed made, and his bag is on his bed too.
I curse and hurry down the stairwell. “Dad! Ashton! Luca!” I’m hoping that one of them can answer what the hell is going on.
Dante steps out of his office. His eyes harden, and he flinches upon seeing me. “Nova, what are you doing here?” He looks from me to Liam, perplexed.
“Where’s Ashton? I need to speak with him.”
“He’s not available at the moment. I’m sure you can understand,” Dante says, forcing a smile.
“And my father?”
“Again, not available,” Dante says.
I step toward Dante. He may be a mafia boss, but he doesn’t scare me. “Listen, is Ashton in trouble? I have this horrible feeling that something bad is happening, and I just … I need to talk to him.”
Dante’s gaze flickers. “Why would you think that?”
I just told him it’s a feeling. Dante probably doesn’t get those. I don’t want to tell him about Ashton and me, because he might tell my father. But he’s staring at me like I’ve gone mad.
“I called him to ask him something about our assignment for Monday that’s due, and the conversation was broken apart. I could only hear a few words, but it just, it sounded really bad.”
Dante glances Liam over and then gestures for Halsey, who is coming down the stairs, to approach. “Take Liam to the study. Get him whatever he needs while I have a word with Nova, alone.”
Dante’s jaw tightens, and he ushers me into his office, closing the door abruptly behind me. “I need to know exactly what was said on that phone call.”
“Not much. I told you the call was messed up. Like the signal was bad and everything was broken apart when he was talking to me.”
Dante sighs and leans against his desk, folding his arms across his chest. “What words did you hear?”
“I don’t know.”
“You have to remember something, or you wouldn’t be here, concerned.” Dante stares at me, and I shiver.
“I heard two words clearly. Luca and trouble.”
Dante nods and steps away from me.
“Can you tell me what’s going on? Are Luca and Ashton all right?”
“Sit.” He gestures to the chair across from his desk.
I don’t exactly feel like sitting, but I do as I’m told. My leg, however, bounces, seeming to have a mind of its own.
Dante steps around the desk, finding his own seat, his hands folded together as he places them on the desk.
“I’m not going to tell you what’s going on because it isn’t your concern. But I will say your father and my men are handling the situation. It would be best if you returned home tonight.”
“Please,” my voice catches in my throat, “you know something. I’m just … I’m worried about Ashton and Luca.”
Dante’s gaze tightens. “As am I. And I don’t need a teenage girl hanging around, causing me more grief.”
I don’t comment that I’m eighteen. While, yes, I’m still technically a teenager, I’m also an adult. That’s not a fight that I’ll win with Dante. “Sir, I’d like to stay the night. It’s late, and my father wouldn’t be pleased if Liam were to drive us back at this hour.”
Dante is silent, considering my request.
“As a favor to your father, you may sleep upstairs for tonight. I expect you to show Liam to a guest room, and it would be wise for you not to come out again until morning.”
“Of course, sir.” I stand and rush to the door.
“Nova.”
With my hand on the doorknob, I glance over my shoulder at Dante. “Yes?”
“If you remember anything else, it would behoove you to share those details with me.”
“Of course. There really isn’t anything more to share.” I hurry out of the Don’s office and catch up with Liam in the study, who is sipping a cup of tea.
“We’re staying the night,” I announce.
Halsey doesn’t look pleased. “It’s at Dante’s insistence,” I say, forcing a smile. “It’s late, and he doesn’t want us driving home at this hour.”
“I’ll show Liam to the guest room after he’s done with his drink.” I glare at Halsey, hoping he’ll get the message that he’s dismissed from babysitting duty.
Halsey nods and wanders off, which lets me breathe a sigh of relief.
“What’s going on? What’d you find out?” Liam keeps his voice low. He glances past me and I take a look over my shoulder as another guard, Nico, walks the hallway.
“Not much. Dante wanted to know what I heard when Ashton called. He seems concerned, and the fact my father isn’t home, and neither are Luca and Ashton—” I bite my bottom lip raw.
Liam smiles, but it’s forced. “Hopefully, it’s nothing. Just a misunderstanding.”
“They’re out on some mission Dante sent them on.” I stand and wait for him to finish the last of his tea before leading him up to the second floor, where the guest rooms and my bedroom are housed.
Sighing as I approach the guest bedroom, I ask, “Would you mind hanging out with me, at least until Ashton gets back?”
“Sure,” Liam nods. “Is this your room, or mine?”
“Yours, but you can come hang out in mine if you’d rather.” I shrug.
“Yeah, show me your bedroom.” Liam grimaces as soon as the words slip out. “Ashton is going to kill me. Unless, how about we hang out in his room? Do you know where he sleeps?”
Nodding, my eyes light up. “That’s a great idea. Then we’ll know he’s home.” I hurry to Ashton’s bedroom and grab a seat on the bed.
Liam grabs Ashton’s weekend bag, placing it on the dresser, making room for himself to share the bed with me.
I sit with my back against the wall.
Liam sits opposite me, stretching out while I sit with my legs tucked to my chest.
We keep the door shut, but the light is on. Anyone walking by would know we’re hanging out in Ashton’s room.
Dante didn’t say we couldn’t, he just said to stay upstairs, and what he really meant was leave him alone.
I’m following the rules, mostly.
Liam yawns and covers his mouth. “I’m not tired. I swear.”
I snort but know he’s lying. “It’s okay. You can be tired. Just … don’t sleep.”
“Gee, thanks.” Liam smirks and rolls his neck. “Toss me a pillow.”
I throw him one of Ashton’s bed pillows, and he moves to his side, putting the pillow up under his head while he makes himself comfortable. “This is better.”
“Ashton is going to have your head when he realizes the bed pillows smell like you.”
“Oh, come on. He’ll see me in here, with all my clothes on. Relax, he’s not Luca.” Liam doesn’t so much as budge. He’s comfortable, and I don’t blame him for stretching out.
That garners a smile out of me. “He’s definitely not Luca.”
We share a smile and then a laugh.
“You know who I like. Tell me about the girl you like.” I try to keep Liam awake, although he isn’t exactly fighting sleep. He just looks super cozy stretched out.
Me? I’m a ticking time bomb. Worry floods all of my senses. Talking is at least a distraction.