Page 36 of His Vicious Desire

“He was fifteen years old.”She nods at my shock.“I was wondering if I should be calling the police instead of taking money from a kid.Until I realized he was mafia, and no one would appreciate that.I considered walking away, except I couldn’t do it.In the end, I’m glad I stayed.”

“Why does Nico never leave his house?”I’m curious.

Her face is one of pain.“He’s badly scarred.A horrible accident.Those damn glass tables.”She shakes her head.“It’s bad.He doesn’t want anyone to see him.So at turns Dario and Gaetano spend time with him to keep him from becoming a complete shut-in.I go in and clean for him and shop as he needs two times a week—the same as I do for Gaetano.”

“How sad.”

“Very.”

It hits me.If she knew him before… “Did you know his wife?”

An eyebrow goes up high.“I did.That girl.”She shakes her head.“The worst thing that happened to him.She didn’t just ruin his life—she ruined him.A girl, that’s all she was and wanted to be.”

Damn.I have a feeling that if the dead woman were here, Estelle would do some damage to her.

“You will need to be patient with him.She really fucked him up.”

I shake my head, face red.“It’s not like that.He doesn’t want me…” I shrug, pretending I’m not hurt.“To Gaetano, I’m a pain the ass kid.He’s helping me because it helps my brother.”

Her smile almost overtakes her face.“Okay, if that makes it easier to get through the time you’re spending here.”

“It’s true.Gaetano, he, um.And that’s okay.I mean, I’m not interested in him either.He’s bossy, and rude, and mean, and he’s a…”

Chuckling, she begins putting things back in the fridge.“And he’s kind to those he cares about, is extremely loyal, thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent—that degree might have taken longer to get but he got it with honors.”

“Wait, Gaetano graduated university?Did he go to UNLV?”

“He did attend UNLV.When he was fifteen, he got his GED so the state would leave him alone about not going to school.Then when he was basically ordered to marry, he decided he should get his degree.It was more about hoping his wife would follow his lead, since he wanted her to do something to occupy her.She hated school.Gaetano liked it enough he quickly went from part-time to full-time.The problem with the mafia is that it’s not really a nine to five?—”

The front door opens, and we both drop our eyes, both sure Gaetano wouldn’t like us talking about him.He appears in the doorway of the kitchen.

“Hi, Estelle said you would be feeding me the best burrito ever.I can’t wait.”

Those black eyes flick between me and Estelle.A nod is all he gives.He looks around the kitchen.“Have you eaten?”

Swallowing hard, I shake my head.“I only woke up two minutes ago.”

“Two minutes?”An eyebrow goes up as he looks to Estelle.

She laughs and throws the washcloth she has in her hand.“Get on with you.Do you need me to cook you breakfast this morning?”

“No, I’ll do it.What would you like, angel?”

“A refried bean burrito and cheese, please,” I murmur as I escape the kitchen.

Gaetano

Every fucking day Dario calls and asks if Bianca is gone.When I tell him she’s not, he swears and hangs up on me.Between him and Sandro calling and checking up on me after I text him that I’m feeling better, and if he should need me, I’m available, the guilt is eating away at me.Especially as I watch Bianca shrink day by day.

It doesn’t matter that I know it’s the right thing for the both of us, I hate hurting her.While I accepted long ago I could never be a source of joy, I don’t like being a cause of pain.

When I see her going to bed without taking gummies, I’m angry, aware she’s pushing it to see if she still needs them.Her sleep is shit, but she does make it through the night without giving in.

I stew as I try to figure out how to call her on it without admitting how I know.She’s barely out of the bedroom when I get a call.I’m intent on sending it to voicemail when I see it’s Sara.

Fuck.She hasn’t called me often.If she’s calling, she needs help.I don’t want to answer in front of Bianca.Then again, maybe it’s better if she thinks there’s more to the call than there is.

“Yeah,” I answer.

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