I sank down beside Dad who sent me a questioning look. I gave him a nod to indicate everything was good, though that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
I was bound to marry Cressida, and quite possibly falling for Greta Falcone.
It was past midnight when a knock sounded at my door. I hadn’t turned off the lights yet as I’d expected Alessio to show up. He slipped in, dressed completely in black and with an equally black balaclava in his hand. He was obviously on his way out with Nevio and Massimo. The steel covered tip of his combat boot gleamed freshly polished.
Bear lifted his head and growled but I shushed him. Alessio came over to my bed and perched on the edge. He regarded me, his honey-blond brows dipping in a V. “Explain to me what I saw today. Don’t give me any of this Amo saved Momo bullshit again. I know the fucker and he probably kills puppies in his dreams.”
I pursed my lips at Alessio’s assessment. He always tried to be unemotional and logical but sometimes his temper burst through.
I put my book away. “Amo and I were sitting on the sunchair.”
“I really don’t know how it could have happened but you seem quite adept at lying and sneaking away so I have to ask. Did you have sex with him?”
Shock washed over me. “I have never even kissed a boy,” I said.
I didn’t miss the flicker of relief on Alessio’s face, though I couldn’t see why the state of my hymen or kissing state was cause for an emotional reaction. “You were getting cozy with Amo today.”
“I didn’t get cozy with him. We talked, that’s it.”
“Amo doesn’t just talk to girls, and you, Greta, aren’t anyone. Amo’s probably getting cold feet because of his wedding and looking for an easy lay.”
My cheeks grew hot. “And you think I’d be one, an easy lay?” Maybe it was true, because I could imagine sleeping with Amo.
Alessio sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fuck, if I knew. Yesterday I would have said no. You usually can’t even stand when strangers are too close. I don’t know what’s going on, that’s why I’m here.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
Alessio didn’t look convinced. “I know you never get the chance to meet someone because of Nevio and the rest of us. You’re Greta Falcone. You can’t just pick a guy. But Amo really is the last guy you should give a second glance.”
I didn’t say anything but Alessio kept staring at me. I’d given Amo more than just a second glance but he didn’t need to know that.
“Alessio, I won’t see him again.”
As the realization settled in the pit of my stomach that this could very well be the truth, a sense of loss overcame me, which was strange, because how could I miss something that I had never had?
“Okay, this is the third time you’re zoning out on me today. What is wrong with you?”
I focused on my best friend who stood in front of the biker hanging from chains in the ceiling of our holding cell. He was one of the few surviving supporters of the man who’d kidnapped my sister years ago. Maddox had caught him with Primo’s help yesterday and killed another. Blood was dripping down the guy’s face and chest. He’d passed out.
“Nothing.” I sheathed my knife and went over to the sink in the corner where a bucket with cold water waited for instances like this.
Maximus stepped back as I flung the water at the guy. He jerked, his eyes flying open but then they rolled back again and he sagged forward once more. As future Capo, torturing wasn’t the top of my priorities but with bikers I gladly made an exemption.
“Should I get adrenaline?”
I nodded absentmindedly but my mind was far away. Thousands of miles to the west. I could barely focus on anything else than the girl I’d left without a goodbye two weeks ago.
“Do you want me to continue without you?”
“No,” I snapped and took pliers from the table in the corner. Maximus injected the adrenaline into the man’s veins and soon he stirred.
My phone rang with a reminder. I took it out of my back pocket and glanced at the screen, then froze. It had struck midnight and my phone reminded me that it was May 15th, Greta’s birthday.
“Who’s G?” Maximus asked with a curious glint in his eyes as he stepped up beside me.
I had completely forgotten that I’d put the reminder into my phone shortly after I’d left Vegas’ two weeks ago. I wasn’t sure why the fuck I’d done it. But back then I’d just wanted to remember Greta’s birthday.
Maximus wiped his hands and leaned against the wall beside me. “That is a look I’ve never seen on your face.”