And it all led back to The Nest, a local bar in the worst part of Las Vegas, and also, the same business owned by Nova Inc.
I wouldn’t put it past them to use Nova Inc. as an empty shell company to help them acquire businesses around Las Vegas and most of Nevada to not raise any red flags with us, or with the authorities. And it might have worked, too. Had I not seen the car in front of the Gambinos’ house, Romeo wouldn’t have been able to uncover Nova Inc. as one of their companies.
Romeo and I were in the parking lot of the bar, waiting for the car’s owner to come out. It had been about an hour, and there were still no signs of anyone coming out to claim the car.
Romeo was silent in the seat beside me.
He and I were more similar to each other than we were to any of our brothers. We were both quiet, not caring much for words unless it was necessary.
It was nice.
When I needed company but also peace and quiet, I looked for him.
But while I was quiet, I wasn’t reserved like my younger brother. He kept everything bottled up inside him, and out of all my siblings, I knew him the least.
I glanced over at him. “How are you doing?”
He shot me a look. “What is this? A therapy session?”
I cracked a smile. “That’s not it, and you know it. Just thought I’d check on my little brother.”
“You know there’s only a two-year gap between us.”
“Still makes you younger.”
He shrugged. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. You’re starting to sound more and more like Massimo every day.”
“I don’t see how that’s a bad thing.”
“We already have one neurotic control freak. We don’t need another one.”
I laughed. “He’s not that bad.”
He raised his eyebrow at me.
I grinned.
“How’s Isa?” he asked.
“Good. She still has nightmares. I wish there was a way for me to erase the memory of that night from her mind.”
He nodded like he understood. And I supposed, to an extent, he did.
“Do you feel like it’s worth the risk, then?” he asked.
“The risk?”
“Of falling in love.”
“Who said anything about love?”
“Bullshit,” he said. “You’re either lying to me or yourself. Or maybe you’re more delusional than I thought if you don’t think you’re in love. I saw the way you looked at her back at that bar.”
“How did I look at her?” I asked curiously.
“Like there isn’t a line you wouldn’t cross for her.”
I stared straight ahead out the window. “I suppose you’re right,” I said quietly.
