shook his head. “I’m an old man—or nearly. Too many years have passed and any small relevance I had before this—it’s long gone.”
Adam clenched his jaw. “There has to be a way.”
Nik laughed, like he was going to argue again, but just then the doorbell interrupted them. With a frown, Nik pushed himself to his feet. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
“It’s probably someone with a casserole. People in small towns do that weird, funeral pot-luck shit.” He followed close at Nik’s heels in case it was this Catherine Peters bitch trying some new and fun way to make life miserable, even though he didn’t think she’d go that far.
When they got down to the first floor, Adam could see two figures—decidedly tall and masculine, through the fogged glass. He almost wanted to stop Nik, but he held back as the other man opened the door to reveal them.
Adam was almost floored by how they looked. It was like facing down a runway full of models. The man in front had soft dark curls hanging over his forehead, a chiseled jaw, and brown eyes full of mirth. The one behind stood back with some trepidation, ice blue eyes framed by heavy dark brows, and a mouth set into a natural smirk. Their look said they were designer trying to be casual in pressed jeans and button-up shirts, and the curly haired man looked them both up and down before extending his hand.
“Signor Mandroux?” His voice was accented, something heavy and European. “My name is Alessio de Rege, and I was told I could find you here. I spoke with your brother, and I’m here to discuss your composition that was submitted for consideration. I’m very, very interested.”
Adam’s heart stuttered, then for a long second, stopped in his chest. He knew now exactly where he recognized that smile from. The book Nik loved. The man Nik had spent his entire life wanting to meet. The operatic composer he’d wanted to be.
And, the opera, it seemed, had come to Nik.
Chapter 25
Vivement
Nik felt like his insides were being ravaged by a hurricane, and the very fact that he’d been able to prepare a tea tray and not spill everything on the way to the living room was some sort of miracle. He was still in shock—the deepest, most profound sort. The sort that made him mistrust anything and everything in front of him.
The kind where, as a child, he couldn’t calm down until he could put his hands on something and truly—truly—verify it was there. But he was not going to do that now. He would simply deal with the way he was reeling until something brought him back down to earth.
“Sorry this took me a minute,” he said to his guests.
Alessio de Rege was polite and kind, and a little brash and abrupt—the way Nik had always imagined he might be. His companion, a man named Ben who hadn’t said more than three words upon meeting them all, was nearby. He had a very distinct sort of cologne and had gone heavy-handed with it, it seemed, so Nik had no trouble pinpointing his location.
As usual, Adam was near, occupying the second half of the loveseat, and he eased a causal hand on Nik’s when he finally sat.
“You didn’t have to go to the trouble,” Alessio insisted, but even in the same sentence, Nik heard him raise the cup to his lips and sigh as he drank some. “We’ve had a long flight, though, so I appreciate it.”
Nik managed a smile—at least, he thought he did. His shoulders were so tense, they’d give him a migraine later, but it probably would have been worth it. At least, once he figured out what the hell was going on, because he certainly hadn’t sent Alessio a copy of his composition. It was still brailled and not nearly done.
“It’s not that I’m not thrilled to have you here,” Nik started, trying to calm his tone, “but I’m…confused. I’m afraid you might have me mixed up for someone else.”
Alessio chuckled. “If my partner were here, he might be inclined to agree with you, but I’m not often as wrong as they claim.” There was a pause, and Nik imagined there was some sort of non-verbal communication exchanged. “I attempted to email several times, but the address bounced, and we couldn’t reach your brother after he sent the video.”
Beside him, Adam went stiff, and Nik felt the same sort of shock. “I’m…sorry. The video?”
It was quiet enough to hear a