I gaze at her sadly. We used to be such good friends and understand each other so well, or at least try to understand each other. “They don’t enjoy danger. They like hard work, and when they’re not working, they relax with each other. Our favorite thing to do is eat Chinese food together. Cassius is ambitious and kind. Vinicius is a great talker and teacher. Salvatore loves his family and friends. Lorenzo keeps us safe and healthy. What we have together makes me happy.”
Nicole’s eyes widen as she listens to me recite their best qualities. “Can I ask you a question? That hazel-eyed one, he said some things about the five of you.”
I can guess what the question is. All week, she’s seen how four men have been affectionate with me. “You mean Vinicius. Yes, they’re all my lovers.”
Her expression is more baffled than ever. “But…how? Why?”
I hold up my hand with its dazzling diamond engagement ring. “They asked, and I said yes. They’re a package deal, those four. I wasn’t sure if I liked all of them at first, but they grew on me. Now, I couldn’t imagine being with just one of them.”
“But how can you like them? They’re horrible, violent men.”
“For heaven’s sake, Nicole. They’re not Batman villains. They run this city how they want it run and they look out for their own. What my father did, killing my mother in front of me? They would never do anything like that. They wouldn’t use me to take revenge on my father because that’s not part of their code.”
I think back to the night we all played poker together. I was upset that I couldn’t help them take revenge on my father. At the time it broke my heart, but it showed me how much I mean to them. I’m not a pawn, I’m part of them.
“They’re extraordinarily good at looking out for themselves and each other, and extraordinarily handsome.” I pluck at blades of grass and let them fall through my fingers. “It’s okay, you don’t have to like them. But I would like you to try and understand why I like them.”
Nicole wrinkles her nose. “Don’t they want their own girlfriends?”
I laugh. “They hate the idea, actually. They’re very protective and they’d go insane with worry if they had to keep me safe on their own. They share Coldlake, and they share me. We’ve got each other’s backs.”
Nicole’s expression softens when I say protective. Lately, I don’t think she’s felt very protected by the people who are supposed to love her. “Do they get jealous? Are there fights?”
“They banter and wind each other up like old friends do. They all have very different personalities and backgrounds. It shouldn’t work, but it does because they all have respect for each other.”
Nicole glances around at the high walls. “You mean that? They won’t use you like your father used you when he promised you in marriage? Like…” She takes a deep breath. “Like my father used me?”
I shake my head. “Not in a million years.”
Her lower lip trembles, and she whispers, “You’re lucky.”
“I am lucky, but not only for that reason. I’m lucky every time they touch me. Every small thing they do for me and the sweet things they say. Most of all, I’m lucky for all the ways they’ve grown and helped me grow and how they’ve opened their hearts to me.”
Nicole takes a deep breath. “All right, I believe you’re safe here, but I don’t belong. I’ve decided to go home.”
My gaze snaps back to her. We explained to her last week that the Black Orchid Killer could be after her. “What? Are you sure?”
She sits up straighter and her lower lip firms. Suddenly, she looks more like the Nicole I know and love. “It’s dangerous, but Mom needs me. Dad’s put her through hell, yet again, and I should be with her.”
I’ve always loved Mrs. De Luca and I know how much Nicole adores her mom. If it were me, I wouldn’t want Mom to be alone and worrying about me, either. “I don’t know if the others will agree, but let’s talk to Lorenzo about it.”
We find Lorenzo in the lounge, a notebook open on his knees while he writes, his tattooed hand moving across the page.
“Lorenzo?”
“Princess,” he murmurs, without looking up.
“Nicole wants to go home.”
Lorenzo closes the notebook and stares at Nicole. She gazes back, her expression determined and her gaze unwavering. It’s the first time she’s been near him without shaking in fear.
He gets to his feet. “Fine. Let’s go.”
“Really? I thought you were going to argue with me.”
His gaze flickers to Nicole. “She’s not doing us any good and it’s pissing me off to have her in my house. Nothing personal, Nicole. Those pictures of you brought back a lot of bad memories.”
She gives him a tight smile. “I just want to put everything behind me.”
Lorenzo gives her a dark look. He doesn’t get the luxury of putting everything behind him while he’s still living in it. “Meet me in the garage. I’ll be there two minutes.”
“That man doesn’t sugarcoat anything, does he?” Nicole whispers as we head downstairs.
“Not a thing.”
We’re waiting by Lorenzo’s Mercedes when he strides toward us, something in his hand and his gaze fixed on Nicole.
“This is a silent panic button,” he says, holding up a small object. “It’s got a tracker. If you’re abducted, hit it, and keep it on you. Stick it in your bra or something. He probably won’t kill you right away which will give us a chance to find you. We’ll be coming as fast as we can. Us, and everyone who works for us.” Lorenzo stares at the device in his palm for a moment. “Screaming and crying won’t do you much good. If you talk a lot and ask questions, he’ll, uh,” Lorenzo trails off and swallows. “Slow down.”
He thrusts the tracker at Nicole and she takes it from him. “Who’s tracking it?”
“Me.” He holds up his phone. “With this.” He shows her the new smartwatch that’s replaced his broken one. “And this. If it goes off at any time, I’ll know.”
She gives him a tentative smile. “Thank you.”
He frowns at her and darts a look at me, like he’s not sure what to do with her gratitude. “Yeah, okay.”
“You really think he’ll try and kill me?” Nicole asks.
“Maybe. I don’t know how that asshole’s mind works, but it would piss me off if someone tried to copycat me and didn’t even finish the job.”
“Lorenzo…” I say softly, seeing Nicole turn pale.
“Just being honest,” he mutters.
Nicole closes her hand around the tracker and nods. “I’ll remember your instructions.”
He jabs a finger in her face. “I’m not doing this for free. I want something in return. If you find out where your father is, call a bar in the west called Strife and leave a message for me. De Luca doesn’t know it, but he could help us catch this killer.”
“You won’t hurt Dad, will you?”
“No one’s going to hurt Mr. De Luca,” I assure her.
“Depends how long he takes to show up. I’m losing my fucking patience,” Lorenzo says as he turns away and gets in his Mercedes 4WD.
I sit in the back with Nicole as we drive through the streets. Twenty-five minutes later, we pull up outside her house.
She sits forward to talk to Lorenzo. “Thank you for protecting me this past week. I’m grateful for what you’ve done. You and Chiara.”
“Yeah, well. It’s good you’re in one piece. Try and stay that way.”