Page 114 of She Belongs to Me

As the camera was turned on, I glanced at Nico quickly. There was such love and admiration in his eyes that I could easily breathe.

And feel love myself.

“Ms. Christian. Would you please state your full name?” Mr. Reed asked.

So it began with one strong hope.

The end was near.

CHAPTER 31

Ten days later

Nico

A box.

One single box that changed everything.

After the fire, it had taken me two days to head to the attic. It wasn’t every day that a bubble about someone could be burst. My psyche didn’t want that to happen, even though I’d known it was necessary.

I’d found what I was looking for, the information cleverly located in a stylized false bottom of the box. Greg had known at some point I’d need to find the information, but he’d been smart enough to realize someone else could also get their hands on it.

What stymied me after all this time had passed was that he’d had no indication I would take the one box. Other than it had memorabilia he knew I’d likely want. I honestly didn’t think he’d believed he was going to be killed on the day of the christening.

But I would never know the bottom-line truth.

I’d spent hours trying to sort through his intentions, wishing I could make sense of why. What I did learn was information had fallen into his hands. That much he’d written about in a small diary he’d kept, which was dangerous in and of itself.

Some informant he used for the case had made an offer as payment. Where the man had gotten it would never be known, but it was like having the key to the city. Curiosity in this case had killed the cat. Plus Greg’s desire to succeed.

I took a deep breath and glanced at the window.

America.

Land of the free and home of the brave.

It was a saying my father had loved. He adored Sicily and would never have allowed his family to move from their home and culture, but he’d fallen in love with the United States on his first trip. I’d yet to spend any real quality time in any city. Every time I’d been here, it had been all about business.

That would change in the future. Eventually, Alexandra would want to return home. For how long or if forever, I wasn’t certain. We’d yet to discuss the future. That would come in time.

Yet the man inside of me I hadn’t known existed had hope that she would stay. Was it selfish of me? Maybe. But I didn’t give a shit. I was now more interested in family than business. Maybe too little too late.

“Nice and easy,” I told the driver. He immediately slowed as we neared the port. Both Luca and Enzo pulled out their weapons, checking the amount of ammunition.

“Remember, the goal isn’t to make this a bloodbath,” I told them.

“Yeah, well, I don’t trust the Americans,” Enzo stated.

No, he didn’t.

Was there reason to be somewhat concerned about the plan being altered without my control? Yes, but I also wasn’t a stupid man. I’d not only protected the businesses I’d been operating within the States, I’d also ensured my safe return to Palermo.

Was it part of the original requirement made? Nope. But I was that kind of man.

Protective.

It was time to live my life.

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