Darkest Sins (Perfectly Imperfect #9)

“A year.”

“Christ.” She shakes her head. “And how often do you two see each other now?”

“It depends. In more recent months, he’s been dropping by the vet clinic and following me home twice a week. But, we’ve also hung out on the roof and talked. Or just sat there in silence and watched the sky. A lot of times, I’ve spotted him lurking across the street or around the corner, but as soon as I do, he vanishes.” I grin. “I think he intentionally let me see him those times. The truth is, I’m fairly certain that more often than not, I don’t even know he’s there.”

“That’s . . . twisted.”

“I know. It’s also the most healthy relationship I’ve had with anyone since I can remember. Excluding you, of course.”

“You know nothing about him. How can that be a healthy relationship?”

I turn onto my stomach and prop my hands under my chin. “Have you ever met anyone with whom you could talk about the things that you can’t discuss with other people? Even though you don’t know much about that person?”

Zara’s body suddenly goes very still. “Maybe.”

I spring up in bed. “What? Who?”

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

“You know you can tell me anything, Zara.”

“Not in this instance.” She goes back to her sewing. “So, how did that dinner go?”

I narrow my eyes at her. She’s obviously avoiding the subject. Maybe she has feelings for someone she shouldn’t. A man who’s not from the Family, or maybe someone much olderthan her? Considering I was just thinking that there are some things I’m not willing to share, I decide to let her have her secret. For now.

“It was nice,” I say. “But after we were done, he asked what I wanted in return.”

Zara’s eyebrows arch in question.

“He has this weird notion that nothing is free. So, I asked for a kiss.”

“Was it good?”

“It was like I’ve been living in a vacuum, and then, when his lips were finally on mine, I breathed fresh air for the first time in my life.” I close my eyes and sigh. “He had to go on a trip—couldn’t tell me where—but he returned this morning. Or maybe last night.”

“How do you know?”

“He left me flowers.”

Zara snorts. “Men. You should have told him that you and the flowers don’t get along.”

“I did. He cut off the stamens, Zara.”

My sister’s head snaps up from her sewing, and the surprise is clear in her eyes.

“He brought me back a magnet,” I whisper. “From . . . Budapest.”

Chapter 18

“Is something going on?” Dania asks as we step out of the movie theater and head toward the car and driver my dad insisted I use. My own car is in the shop to fix a failed fuel pump, and I won’t have it back for two more days. And Dad has been somewhat paranoid since last Sunday when I refused to marry Alvino, so he demanded I have one of his men drive me around instead of using taxis or rideshares.

“Nope. Just the don being his protective self.” I shrug.

The driver opens the back door for us when we approach, and as I look up to thank him, I notice it’s not the same man who drove me here.

“Where’s Pio?” I ask.

“A family emergency,” he replies. “Your father sent me to take over, Miss Veronese. I’m Gerodi.”