Page 61 of Winter

She needs both of us.

Was he really suggesting they share Inca?

“That’sexactlywhat I mean,” Tommaso said an hour later as he turned the car towards the city and pulled away from the airport. “Obviously, it’s up to Inca, but if she wants both of us, I want to make sure she is given every chance of happiness.”

Raffaelo studied his brother. “Tommaso … have you been taking your medication?”

Tommaso half-smiled. “This is not that, Raff; I promise. Nor is it some kind of masochistic act of self-sabotage. We just need to think differently and not care about what society thinks. We are both in love with Inca; she is in love with both ofus. Should she choose one of us over the other—we’ll deal with that later. Until then …”

“Are you talking about sleeping with her? Both of us?”

Tommaso nodded, looking faintly surprised. “Of course. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?”

Raff turned away from his brother’s intense gaze. “So thisisabout Perdita.”

“No.” Tommaso’s voice softened. “It’s not. Come on, Raff. How many times have we taken women back to our bed?”

“Once or twice.”

“And those women meant nothing. Inca iseverything.”

And Raffaelo could not argue with his brother.

Inca lookedover to the Sakura. She could not imagine ever going back into the place she had spent the last few years trying to make a success. Not now. She felt desolate and empty. Suddenly she was grateful someone else had bought the apartment from under her. Knowing she was sleeping above the place where Scarlett was murdered …

No. I couldn’t.

Thank God for Tommaso insisting she move in with him and Raffaelo. She couldn’t help feeling a little excited that Raff was coming back from Italy. She felt like she was tumbling from a tightrope all the time now, and only Raff and Tommaso could hold her up. Someone—or someones—hated her enough to want to kill her, and if it hadn’t been for Tommaso and Raffaelo, she might have been tempted to give herself to her would-be killer to stop others dying. A part of her still wanted that.

Inca looked around the quiet police office. Olly had gone to speak to the cops working the homicide, and now she sat alone with Knox. Her friend looked shattered, and she realized he could not have slept at all.

“I’m sorry, Knox,” she said in a soft voice, and he half-smiled at her.

“Stop saying that, Inks. It’s not your fault.” He reached over and took her hand. “We’ve gotten in touch with Scarlett’s parents; they’re coming down from Everett now.”

Inca shook her head. “God. I can’t imagine.”

“Yes, you can. We canallimagine what they’re going through.”

“Yeah.”

Knox was studying her. “Did you get checked out at the hospital, Inks?”

“I wasn’t hurt.”

“Not physically, but …”

He was interrupted by the arrival of Tommaso and Raffaelo. Inca felt her face burn when she saw Raff, and his eyes fixed on hers, soft, concerned. Tommaso had heard what Knox said.

“We’ll ask our doctor to take a look at her.”

Inca felt irritated. “Iamhere, you know.”

Tommaso half-smiled. “Sorry. Look, are you free to go? We need to talk to you. Both of us.”

Knox nodded. “Inca’s been very helpful.”

Inca hugged him.