Page 121 of Die for You

Lenny’s cell rings, and he hesitantly ends the kiss with a groan. Lettie is with Nico, but he would call me if anything were wrong. No one calls Lenny to chitchat.

“What’s up, Romeo?”

Lenny’s face changes within an instant.

He hangs up and curses under his breath. “Fuck. We have to go.”

“What’s happened?” I barely get the question out before he’s leading me down the hill to our car.

“Opal Imports is on fire. It’s arson.”

I gasp. “How does Romeo know?”

Lenny doesn’t stop, and he doesn’t change his tone as he replies, “’Cause he found bodies inside. The fire is to conceal the crime.”

I mirror his earlier comment as I fumble through my purse to find my phone. I call Nico and hold my breath until he answers.“Just checking in,” I casually say in Italian, not wanting to rouse any suspicion.

He details his evening and that Lettie is safely sleeping.

But I have to be certain.

“Can you go check on her?”

“Why?” he asks in Italian, but I can hear his steps as he walks to her room.

“Just please go. And hurry.”

He picks up the pace, and I hear her bedroom door squeak open. “She’s sleeping. She’s safe.What’s going on?”

He always speaks quickly when worried, and now is one of those times.

“Just please, don’t leave her alone until I get back.”

“Valentina—”

“Please, Nico. Promise me.”

He hears the urgency in my tone.

“Okay. I promise.”

“Thank you.If anyone knocks on the door, don’t answer. Just stay there until I get home.”

I hang up, unable to explain anymore.

I’ve tried to keep Lettie and Nico safe, but now I see we’re not safe wherever we go.“Who the fuck would do this? Gianna is gone.”

Lenny shakes his head, as puzzled as I am.

We get to the car and take off toward the store. He knows better than to drop me off at home. We do this together because bad things always seem to happen when we’re apart.

Lettie is safe. And I trust Nico.

The drive takes half the time it should. We are confronted by fire trucks and police. Police tape surrounds the smoking remnants.

This is bad. A detective in a brown raincoat sees our car and flags Lenny to park off to the side.

“It’s okay. He’s on my payroll,” he assures me, pulling up away from prying eyes.