Page 118 of Die for You

Lenny gives me a puzzled look, while Lettie happily waves. She’s on her behind as she’s clearly fallen while trying out her skates. She has a helmet and knee and elbow pads on. All the things a reasonable parent gives their child.

Nothing is amiss here other than me being psychotic.

“What’s the matter?” Lenny rushes over, gripping my upper arms. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I reply, pressing my face into his chest as he cradles me tight.

“Mamma?” Lettie asks, a look of concern on her beautiful face.

Wiping away my tears, I nod. “Si,cara mia.Mammajust missed you, that’s all.”

Lenny sees through the front I’m putting on for her. Thankfully, Lettie buys my story.

“Lenny taught me how to skate. But I fell. But he said you can stay up if you don’t fall,” she says in English with her cute Italian accent.

“He’s right.” I kiss her forehead, brushing back her soft hair.

Nico comes up the driveway, finished for the day.

“Papa!” Lettie screams, waving hysterically.

Lenny stands behind me, comforting me in his arms. I feel like an idiot, but I could have sworn something was wrong.

“Ciao,bella. How was your day?”

Lettie tells Nico all about her day. But he sees my face and reads that something is wrong.

I nod subtly that it’s okay.

He thankfully reads my facial charades.

“Go withPapaand show him your other presents,” I suggest, as I need to talk to Lenny.

Nico takes her hand and helps her sit so he can take off her skates. Lenny and I walk down the stairs and take a walk. It’s safer this way because I don’t trust that the walls don’t have ears.

When we’re far enough away, he asks, “What’s happened?”

“I don’t know how to say this without sounding crazy…but I feel like something is wrong.”

He arches a brow with a mischievous grin.

“Not helping,” I quip with half a smile. “Do you feel like we’re being watched?”

He arches the other brow this time.

I playfully slap his arm in response.

“I would hope not. Not after the things I’ve done to you.”

“Maybe I’m just insane. Look at my family tree.”

Francesco is still on probation. I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt after he saved Lettie, but he still betrayed us. So I’m watchful.One wrong move and he’ll be joining Mommy dearest.

Lenny draws me into his arms. “You’re exhausted and running on the defense. It’s what we’ve done our entire lives. It’s hard to accept that a happily ever after does exist for us. That’s all it is. No one is watching us. Our house is under twenty-four-hour surveillance. Romeo is the RoboCop of bodyguards.”

He’s right. I don’t even know he’s there half the time.

I run my fingers through my hair. “Iamexhausted.”