“And I’m glad Nora has you,” she said. “I’m trusting you with her heart, don’t let me down.”
Too stunned for words, I slipped into the bedroom. Nora was curled up on her side, in a fitful sleep. She whimpered and I wanted to go back to that building and kill my brother all over again.
Fuck.
My brother.
It was going to take some time to wrap my head around that. But until Tommy dug around to unearth my father’s secrets, I knew answers would have to wait.
“N-no,” Nora cried, and I rushed to her side.
“Ssh, Gattina. I’m here. I’m right here.”
“E-Enzo?” Her eyes flickered open. “You’re here.”
“I’m here.”
That settled her and she slipped under again. I quickly removed all my weapons and stripped down to my boxer briefs and climbed in beside her. Even in her sleep, Nora gravitated to me, nestling her body in the curve of mine. Slipping an arm around her, I closed my eyes and focused on the sound of her breathing.
And before long, fell into a dreamless sleep.
When I woke up, it was to dark brown eyes staring at me.
“Hey.” She smiled weakly. The usual fire in her eyes had dimmed and her skin was pale. And fuck, if it wasn’t a stark reminder of what had happened.
“Hey,” I replied over the lump in my throat. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I was kidnapped by a psycho… again.”
Heavy silence filled the space between us.
“I am so fucking sorry, Gattina. I keep thinking that if I’d have just—”
“Don’t.” Nora pressed her finger to my lips. “Nothing you say or do will ever make me think any of this was your fault, so I’m asking you… no, I’m telling you, don’t.” She pinned me with a hard look. “Maurice, is he—”
I couldn’t lie to her, not now. Earlier in the building had been different. But Nora was safe now.
She was here, and she was safe.
But it’s too late. He already ruined her.
“He didn’t make it.”
“God, no…” Her pained sobs were like a knife to the heart.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so fucking sorry.” My hand curved around the back of Nora’s neck, anchoring her to me while she broke apart.
“I can’t believe he’s gone,” she murmured through the deluge of tears.
Panic had me in a chokehold. I didn’t know how to do this, to be who she needed. Not when I was the source of her pain and anguish.
Nora cried and cried. She cried until there were no tears left to cry and her breathing slowed. When I was certain she was asleep, I slipped out of the bed and pulled on my clothes.
It was early, a little after six, but I found Nicco sitting at the breakfast counter, nursing a coffee.
“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked, joining him.
“Figured someone should keep an eye on you.”
“I told her about Maurice. I had to.”
“I know.”
“How do you do it, Nic? How do you live with yourself knowing that you’ve pulled her into our world?”
“You just do. Love isn’t fair. It doesn’t play by the rules, E. It’s emotional warfare and Arianne conquered me. She fucking slayed me until I knew I would never be able to let her go.” He took a long sip of coffee. “So now I spend my days not worrying about what our love will cost, but how to protect it.”
“You’re a better man than me,” I murmured. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget watching him—” A lump got stuck in my throat.
“You need to focus on Nora. She’s going to need you over the coming days.” He levelled me with a dark look. “She needs you, Enzo.”
I heard his words, felt them attack my heart like bullets.
Nora needed me.
But it was me who had gotten her into this mess.
Me who had put her in the firing line.
Vinnie wanted to make me pay for killing our father. He wanted to take something from me, the way I’d taken it from him.
I leaped up. “I need to get some air.”
Nicco let out a heavy sigh. “I’m begging you, don’t do this.”
“I’ll be back,” I said, but I could tell from his grim expression he didn’t believe me.
As I grabbed my keys and walked out of his apartment, I wasn’t sure I believed me either.
Chapter 30
Nora
“Nora,” Arianne peeked her face around the door. “I brought you something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said.
“Oh, Nor. You’ve got to eat.” She left the plate on the dresser and came over to me.