Chapter 19 #2
Nico stands and takes my hands in his. “You’ll call me when you get there. And before you leave.”
“I will.”
“And call me when you’re nearly here,” he adds, “and I’ll come to the door to let you in. Okay?”
“Okay.” My stomach jitters with nerves. But I force a smile as I say, “I’ll call you when I get there, when I leave, and when I’m a block away from F & F.”
Before I chicken out, I command my legs to move out of the kitchen and towards the front door. Nico follows close behind me. “And keep your pepper spray in your pocket, Soph. Not in your purse. Same with your phone and the alert whistle.”
My heart lurches. “I will.”
The front door looms in front of me, ominous and threatening.
It’s fine. It’s five freaking blocks. In Midtown. At eight-thirty in the morning. There’s nothing to worry about.
I grab my purse and slide it onto my shoulder, hoping Nico doesn’t notice my hand shaking. “Okay. I’d better go.”
Just as I reach for the doorknob, Nico stops me.
Then he grasps my shoulders and turns me to face him.
Contrition pinches his features. “I’m sorry, Soph.
I don’t mean to scare you. Just because I’m having a hard time—” He stops.
“It’s safe. There’s nothing to worry about.
It’s just me being overprotective, is all.
Go see the office space. Take lots of pictures. And I’ll see you soon.”
I hug him hard. “I know. It’s a little scary for me, too. But if I want things to be normal again…”
He kisses my forehead. “I know, Soph.” Reaching past me, he opens the door. “Now go, before I carry you into the bedroom to have my way with you.”
My heart jumps, but not from nerves this time.
“Later,” I manage in a choked voice. “And make sure you’re still wearing that suit.”
The sun hits me as I step back out onto the sidewalk, bringing along a fresh burst of optimism.
This could really work out.
Garrett, the realtor who showed me the office space, follows me out and locks the door behind him. “I think this could work for you, Miss Shaw,” he says. “The location is fantastic, and with the amount of square footage… I’m not sure you’ll find anything better at this price.”
“It’s very nice,” I agree. And I mean it.
The photos online actually matched up with real life, which I know from experience is more often the exception than the rule.
The space wasn’t too noisy, the windows let in plenty of sun, and while the bathroom was a little on the dingy side, it’s nothing a good cleaning and fresh paint won’t fix.
“Well,” Garrett replies with a ready smile, “we could probably get the paperwork signed today. And—” His voice dips conspiratorially. “I heard there’s a lot of interest. So if you wait…”
“I understand.” Pulling my coat around my body, I shiver as a sudden gust of cold air hits me. “I’m just not sure I’m ready to decide quite yet.”
He nods. “I get it. But rental spaces like this, right in Midtown, are hard to come by. By waiting, you risk losing out.”
“True. But I have someone I’d like to discuss this with first.”
Even though Nico said he would support me no matter what I choose, I wouldn’t make a decision without talking to him.
First, because if I rent this place, he’s going to be paying for part of it.
And second, I know he’ll want to check out the building to make sure it’s safe—which, for all my proclamations of independence, I don’t mind in the least.
“Fair enough,” Garrett says. He holds out his hand. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Shaw. Call me when you’ve made a decision. Or if you’d like to keep looking, I’m sure I can line up some more places.”
I shake his hand. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
Once he turns to leave, I pull out my phone to shoot Nico a text.
Just finished. The place looks pretty nice. I took lots of pictures. But I still want to think about it.
Moments later, his reply appears.
Good idea. It’s better not to let the realtor push you into making a decision too quickly.
Before I can respond, another text comes in.
Not that I’m telling you what to decide. I’ll support you no matter what.
I grin at the phone while I type my response.
I know. We can talk about it later. I’m heading back to F & F now.
Three dots blink for a second.
Okay. Text when you’re close. Love you.
My heart flutters, just like it always does whenever Nico says he loves me. It’s funny, because he’s said it plenty of times, first when we were in high school, and more recently. But it still hits just the same—this overwhelming mix of joy and gratitude.
As I start walking down the sidewalk, I text him back.
I love you too. Can’t wait to see you.
I know it’s been less than two hours since I left him. But after living with Nico for nearly two months now, I’ve gotten used to him being around. Even when he finally went back to work at the office, I was right upstairs, so he could pop in to visit any time.
It’ll be tough when he has to go away on business. He’s been putting it off, asking his friends or other high-level employees to cover for him, but eventually, he’ll have to leave. Which stinks, but it’s another part of returning to normal life. Of putting Elio and Luca Caruso behind us.
Well, not entirely behind us.
Nico still has to testify at his father’s trial, as do I, though my role is much smaller than his.
Luca Caruso is still lurking in the proverbial background, but he’s stood by his word.
Nico met with him privately a couple of weeks ago to make sure they were on the same page, and Caruso swore on his sister’s life that I wouldn’t be harmed.
“Do you believe him?” I asked Nico when he returned from their meeting. “He’s a criminal, after all. How much does a promise really mean?”
“A normal criminal, I wouldn’t believe,” Nico replied. “But in the Cosa Nostra, family is very important. Especially blood ties. If he swore on his sister’s life, I think he meant it.”
Nico paused, and then he got that same look he had when he was threatening the intruders in his condo. A dangerous look. One that reminded me that he could kill, if he wanted to.
“I could find his sister,” Nico finally added grimly. “It wouldn’t matter where he hid her. And if he threatened you… it would be an eye for an eye. And Caruso? He knows it.”
Do I truly think Nico would hurt an innocent woman?
I spin the idea around while I wait at the corner for the light to change.
Nico’s not a violent man, but if someone he cares about is threatened, he won’t stand for it.
He’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, whether it’s using his computer, his company, or his skills as a warrior.
But to hurt someone who has no direct part in it?
Someone who’s only dragged into the mess because of a family member?
No. He might talk a good game, but I know he wouldn’t. Not before all this crap with his father, and definitely not now. But if Caruso believes his sister could be used as leverage, that’s better for us.
As the light changes, I join the crowd of people crossing the street. I clutch my purse to my chest, tourist-style, which I feel a little silly about, but I can’t help myself.
My counselor’s words come back to me. “It’s okay to be scared, Sofia. It’s natural. But don’t try to ignore the fear. Accept it. Then you can start working through it.”
Yes. Work through the fear. Accept that it’s perfectly normal to be nervous being back out in the world again. Anyone would be.
But there’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m four blocks from Fox & Falcon. There are plenty of people around. All the people who wanted me hurt are either in prison, or they made a deal to leave me alone.
Lifting my chin, I take a few steadying breaths and force my pace to slow.
Rather than focusing straight ahead, I let my gaze drift to the storefronts as I pass by.
There’s a new clothing store with some cute spring dresses in the window, and I have a fleeting thought of stopping in.
Though it’s only early March—not nearly warm enough for spring dresses—April and May aren’t too far away.
Maybe we’ll find a brownstone with a nice outdoor area. So we could invite people over, set up the grill, even get a dog…
A smile tugs at my lips. I’ve thought about a dog before, but I was never home enough. Plus, my apartments were all far too small. But now, it could work. I bet Knight would be happy to help us pick one out and probably help us train it.
With thoughts of spring dresses and barbecues and puppies in mind, my steps become lighter. A fizzy happiness expands inside me. All at once, the city doesn’t feel threatening, as it has for the last couple of months, but happy. Buzzy. Hopeful.
I’m feeling so good about things that when a passerby bumps into me, I’m not even annoyed. Rather than gritting my teeth and inwardly steaming about how people need to pay better attention, I’m prepared to assure them it was no big deal. That it happens to everyone.
But then I’m bumped again. This time, hard enough to make me stumble.
“Bitch.” It’s said in a low tone, meant only for me to hear.
My heart skitters nervously. In the past, I would have brushed it off. But now, it’s harder to.
I pick up my pace again, my good mood gone in an instant.
Just a rude person, the logical voice in my head reminds me. Probably in a hurry, so he bumps into you, and then has the nerve to blame you for it.
“Fucking bitch,” the man behind me hisses.
Then he bumps me again.
This time I almost fall before recovering.
The old, stubborn, take no shit Sofia wants to spin around and confront this jerk. But the new Sofia just wants to get out of here. To get back to Fox & Falcon and Nico.
Speeding to nearly a jog, I veer to the side to let the jerkface go by.
And for a few seconds, it seems like it worked.
Until my arm is gripped roughly and yanked behind me.