Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 154525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Nico hadn’t really considered any of that. “We’re not hard launching a relationship or something here.”
“They’ll make of it what they want. I suppose what matters right now is what you’re making of it.” Salvatore cleared his throat, waiting for Carina to be out of earshot as she shooed the cat away from the vehicles again before he turned his attention back to Nico. “I expect you’ll drive safe tonight.”
“Of course.”
“And be home before three.”
“Absolutely. I know the rules.”
“You know some of the rules,” Sal responded, seriousness clouding his features. “You didn’t ask this time; did you realize that?”
Nico’s brow dipped. “What do you mean?”
“The other day, you came into the house, found me in the kitchen, and told me you were going to take my daughter to her prom. You didn’t ask.”
“I asked her.”
Salvatore breathed deeply, his lips flattening into a line. “Yes, you did. That’s a fair point.”
“And to be clear, Carina called, so I just assumed.”
“What, that I already knew?”
“I mean, yeah.”
Salvatore’s chin bobbed once, but he didn’t look pleased about it. “I want to say that I’ve noticed things between you and her. Things that could be complicated, messy...interesting to others. A problem, even.”
Nico didn’t like where this was going, and his shifted stance said so without him needing to. “Why, because I am?”
The man continued as if Nico hadn’t said a thing, saying, “Like I said, I noticed things. Natural things, I suppose, given your ages and history. Someone told me to say something, do something, or let it be nothing.”
“I’m confused where this conversation is going, Sal.”
“Three things, Nico.”
Man, this guy loved handing things out in threes.
“What are they?”
“She always returns exactly the way she left. Happy. Safe. Whole. Always.”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
Salvatore didn’t look away. “You tell me. Two—if you ever want a real problem with me, then look no further than my daughter. If there was ever a reason for her to come to me regarding you, I will be the last thing you ever see.”
Nico respected that.
More than Sal knew.
“I’d hope so,” he replied quietly. “And three?”
“What does consent mean to you, Nico?”
He had not expected that question.
“I think my history speaks for itself there.”
Salvatore shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. And you have twenty seconds to prove to me that you understand the word, or you don’t leave with my daughter.”
Nico swallowed the lump in throat, and his thoughts raced. “Uh—”
“Time’s ticking.”
“It means she calls the shots. Every time.”
Briefly, the other man’s gaze softened as it passed between his daughter in the background and Nico right in front of him. “That’s right, just like her speaking ill your way will be the shot that goes straight from my gun into your brain. And I promise, she won’t cry over it. She won’t even remember you existed when I’m done. Do you understand me?”
He did.
Nico still wondered... “So, are you saying something, doing something, or letting it be nothing?”
Salvatore sighed. “All three, I guess. Until one of you forces my hand.”
“How could we do that?”
“Do you think you won’t fall in love with my daughter?” Salvatore asked, laughing almost snidely. He stepped forward, passing Nico with a closing word on the subject. “Young man, I’d like to see you try. Please. You’re already halfway there but you’ve still got a lot of catching up to do, too.”
Nico turned slightly as Sal passed him, asking, “What do you mean?”
Salvatore paused, his head tilting toward Nico as he spoke even quieter than before. “Okay, here it is. You’re looking at the first and only man she knew loved her for her whole life. Still does. Always will. These are big fucking shoes to fill.”
“It’s just prom,” Nico muttered, trying to convince Sal just as much as himself. “I don’t even know if this counts as a date.”
Salvatore scoffed. “Unreal. Say it like you believe it next time, okay? And you still get to go through the hard parts yet. When she knows who you really are, where you’ve been and what you’ve done, who you want to be someday. After, when that’s all out in a messy pile between you, and she stays because she wants to, because she wants you...
“Every single time you look at my daughter, just know I am the standard, Nico. The way she has been my entire life from her first breath, she will expect the same from you. As she should. So, from here on out where she’s concerned, I’m going to need you to behave accordingly. Your next steps with my daughter are going to determine a lot for you. Before you take one, consider them carefully. Consider her. Consider you. Consider me.”
“Sal, I—”
“Smile, kid. She’s watching. You make sure that’s all she ever sees between you and me. A fucking smile.”
•••
Frankie twirled a circle beneath Nico’s extended arm to the track pumping out of the speakers. The same song she had been dancing to the day he found her cleaning the Supra. Her smile beamed even while her teeth found her bottom lip as she found herself close to him once again. Eyes locked, the two moved in sync in a small circle.