Ruthless Heart

“He wanted you to have a safe life, away from the Barrettis,” Agent Greggs continues. “So, imagine my surprise when I heard you were back in town. On Nero’s arm, no less. His apparent fiancée.”

Fuck. They have been watching closely.

I stare straight ahead, refusing to show my emotions. “Why am I here?” I ask. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the Impressionists, but the company isn’t ideal.”

Agent Greggs sighs. “I’m here to help you, Lily. I know you would never come back to New York or be seen with him without a hell of a good reason.”

“Maybe I just missed the pizza here.” I say flippantly, masking my clammy hands and pounding heart. I have one eye on the door, terrified that Kyle will walk in and see us together.

Terrified Nero will find out and exact a merciless price for my betrayal.

Agent Greggs reads my mind. “Look, whatever Nero has roped you into, whatever threat’s he’s making, we can keep you and Teddy safe.”

“I don’t need help,” I lie stubbornly. I don’t trust Nero…

… But I can’t trust the FBI, either.

A group of foreign tourists enters the room, chattering loudly. Agent Greggs leans closer, dropping his voice. “Nero’s a dangerous man, Lily. You know that. The FBI’s been working on the Barretti organization for a long time. We’re going to take him down, and you can be a part of that. Don’t you want revenge for everything they put your family through?”

I pause. Yes, I do. Desperately. But not if it means putting Teddy at risk. Right now, Nero’s given me his word that Teddy is under his protection off at college and no harm will come to him.

The Feds can’t give me the same guarantee.

“I’m not sure what you think I can do for you,” I say vaguely. “I don’t know anything about the Barretti business.”

Agent Greggs narrows his eyes. “I don’t believe that for a minute. You’re a smart woman, Lily, and right now, you’re closer to Nero than anyone. Under the same roof.”

“So, what, you want me to spy on him?” I retort.

“Perhaps,” he nods. “Help us build the case against him, and destroy the Barretti organization, once and for all.”

I see someone who looks like Kyle walk in and freeze in terror—before realizing, it’s just another hulking guy. But it’s a warning—I’ve stayed long enough.

I get to my feet. “Why should I believe anything you tell me?” I ask Agent Greggs in a low voice. Even if the Feds and I share a goal—getting free from Nero Barretti—I don’t know if I’m better off without them. “You swore to my father that his testimony would bring down the whole syndicate, but here we are, ten years later, and all it ever did was tear our family apart.”

He grabs my arm to stop me from leaving.

“Think about it,” he says urgently. “Cooperate. Because we can be your friend… Or we can be your enemy. It’s your choice.”

I shiver at the threat and wrench my arm away.

“Don’t hold your breath.”

I exit the museum,and climb in the back of the waiting car, shaken by the encounter—and just how complicated my life is getting.

First Nero wants me dead, now the FBI are circling too, trying to turn me into an informant to help with all their plans. It feels like I’m walking on a tightrope over a shark-infested pool. One wrong move, and I’ll go tumbling down.

But if I can keep my balance…

I take a deep breath. As tempting as it is to have some backup, go running to the Feds and let them take care of everything, I’m not that naïve anymore. My goal is still the same as the moment I laid eyes on Nero in Vegas: Keep my brother safe, and stay alive myself.

Whoever gives me the best chance of that will be my temporary ally, no matter what.

“Nero says to pack, he’ll meet you at his office,” Kyle says, when we pull up at Nero’s place.

I nod, glad I have a little more time to pull myself together before facing him. “I won’t be long.”

I head upstairs to the apartment, Kyle following with the bags. I head straight for my bedroom and close the door, pulling out the card the female agent gave me.