He watched Elle run out of the living room with his sister, loving the way she looked wearing his shirt. Nero had managed to win her back, panting and moaning underneath him. I love the sound of defeat.
However, he still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that he hadn’t fucked her right there. She was hot and ready, yet still he had denied his body to claim her. What the fuck is wrong with me?
He didn’t know if fucking her too early would taint her and make her think she was like all the other girls he’d fucked, or if fucking her before she learned the truth bothered him. Regardless, Nero had been given a little taste of her, and he was ready for the whole damn strawberry cake.
I really need to fucking thank Lucca. Then he remembered her lying there helpless, and he changed his mind. He understood why Lucca had done those things. Lucca had tested the water with the college kid in the diner to see if he rattled Nero. Then he broke them up, because clearly Lucca had been following them and knew he couldn’t get close to her with Nero constantly around her, which all brought them to her being snatched. It was a test because Nero shouldn’t have cared what happened to her. Elle turning up dead would be the best thing for his family, but instead, Nero had fought for her life, showing his cards to Lucca—his brother and his underboss. That could have turned out very badly for Elle and him. It still could if Lucca tells Dad.
Nero didn’t think his brother would. He wanted something to gain from the whole thing, and Nero needed to figure out exactly what that was.
Nero watched Chloe put her coat on and then walked up to her. “Could I talk to you? I need to show you something.”
“Um, yeah,” Chloe said nervously.
Before he’d even asked, he knew she wasn’t going to be comfortable with what they were going to talk about.
Nero grabbed a jacket that hung beside Chloe’s. “Here, walk with me.”
Nero walked towards his backdoor that she had gone out earlier. He opened the door for her and saw her nerves had kicked in.
“Please, it’s about Elle.”
Chloe hesitantly walked out the door with him, and then he pulled the door to a close.
Nero started walking once he was greeted with the winter wonderland. “My mom spent months landscaping this backyard. When she was finally finished, she spent practically the whole day out here.” Nero stopped to smile. “I still remember her crying when it turned cold and all her flowers would die.”
“It’s beautiful,” Chloe whispered.
Nero kept walking through the huge yard, going toward the gazebo. “It is. My mom used to stare at the backdoor, dying to escape.”
Chloe looked up at him. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”
Nero laughed. “It’s okay. I’m glad someone could enjoy it again.”
“I wish I could have seen it in the spring,” Chloe confessed.
As Nero walked up the step and took a seat on the chair, he watched Chloe take a seat on the middle of the bench. He saw her stare out into the backyard and could see the glint in her eyes.
“Sadly, it doesn’t look the same anymore. Now that she’s passed away, it’s not kept up the same and most of the flowers don’t return.”
Chloe looked back at him, the glint now gone. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Nero nodded, thanking her. It was time to move on to why he needed to talk to her, though.
“You know I like Elle, right?”
Chloe nodded. “Yes, I do.”
“Then you know I need to know everyone that has ever touched her.”
Chloe started wringing her hands. “W-why can’t you ask Elle?”
Nero shook his head. She won’t fucking tell me. “She won’t tell me.”
“I-I don’t want to tell you, either.”
Nero took a deep breath. “I thought you would say that.”
Nero raised his hand and they heard the back door to the house open. He watched Chloe see them appear. He could tell she contemplated running away. A moment later, however, Amo and Vincent joined them in the gazebo.
Amo and Vincent sat on either side of her while Chloe held her hands tightly and tried to become as small as possible. Both made sure an inch of room separated their bodies from hers.
Vincent handed Chloe a book. Chloe swallowed as she took it, flipping to the first page.
Nero watched her flip through the pages. She had clearly never seen it before, not knowing that Elle had made it. He studied her face carefully as new pictures unfolded.
When she was on the last page and there were no more to be turned, he spoke. “Now, walk me through the pictures and tell me how she got every mark.”
Chloe’s eyes danced between the boys. “I-I can’t. You all are n-not going to hurt me.”
Nero pushed his hair back, uncertain of what to do. He’d thought it would spill out of her when she was surrounded by them. She was calling his bluff, though. And I don’t want to have to—
“I think she needs some persuading, brother.” He heard Lucca’s voice from behind the gazebo and watched him walk up to join them.
Nero looked back at Chloe and saw her grip the photo album in her hands. As Lucca walked up, towering over her, Chloe slowly looked up at him and swallowed. Then Lucca gently placed his hands on the open book and started pulling. Chloe released it, letting it slide right out of her hands.
“Thanks, darlin’.” Lucca placed the book on the black, small iron table meant for iced tea and beer. Then he picked up the table and dropped it down right in front of her, making her jump from the noise.
Nero watched his brother push his chair close to the table. Nero stood up, as well, pushing his in closer. He had a feeling the two had already met. When was that?
He looked over at Amo, who was squeezing his fists, clearly not happy with Lucca’s appearance. Nero pushed his thoughts aside; he wasn’t here for that. He looked down at the book before them that was still on the last page.