Oblivious.
Good.
“Where did you hear that?” Moreno asks, his tone sharp.
He doesn’t deny it.
His jaw is firm and tight. He grips the steering wheel hard as we head along the gravel road for the main thoroughfare.
“From you.” I purse my lips together, considering whether I should remind him of his words,mafia prince.
His eyes flinch. “You’re mistaken.”
Denial.
Okay, two can play at that game. “You’re right. I must be mistaken.” I shift in the passenger seat and turn slightly to stare at him.
I don’t let him get away that easily with his lies.
“Just like you didn’t come into my room last night and profess your feelings toward me. That you want me, and you’re a mafia prince.”
He swallows, and I swear there’s a trickle of sweat glistening on his forehead.
“Is it hot in here?” he reaches for the thermostat on the vehicle and cranks the air.
I’m not wrong.
He shoots me a look as he turns up the air conditioning. “Don’t ever repeat what you said unless you want to get yourself killed.”
I push the vents away from me. “Is that a threat?”
Would Moreno hurt me?
Kill me?
I’ve been around him long enough that I don’t fear him. Maybe I should. I haven’t seen that wicked side of him, but if he is a mafia prince, then he’s bound to have blood on his hands.
“I’m trying to protect you,” Moreno says with a warning. “If you’re not careful, you’ll end up trusting the wrong men, and they will hurt you. That’s why I have guards accompanying us off the grounds.”
Moreno clears his throat and is quick to change the subject. “We have another appointment with the therapist this Friday.”
Great.
“And you’re expecting me to accompany you again as your wife?” I rub the back of my neck. I’m not the least bit okay with lying about being Nova’s mother.
How can we help Nova if we’re lying to the therapist?
“I don’t see another choice,” Moreno says. “Unless you want me to tell her that you’re sick this week or have a migraine. But you’re going to have to come to the next appointment after that.”
A laugh slips out past my lips at the absurdity of his suggestion. “Or you could try telling her the truth. Not your strong suit, though.”
He flinches at my remark.
It looks like I hit a nerve.
Good. Maybe he’ll consider taking my comments seriously. I don’t want to see Nova strung along when she could be getting whatever help she needs.
And it’s clear to me, having heard her humming a song and Ariella’s remark that Nova used to speak, I can only surmise that something tragic happened.