Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Nevio motioned at the holes he’d put into the cardboard as if this was for a cat or bunny. “It was only for a few minutes. I put him in there in the parking lot across the street, then walked over here. I didn’t want to risk anything on the premises.”
Carlotta approached us with obvious curiosity and peered down into the box like I still did. Her eyes widened comically, and she slowly turned her head toward me. “There’s a baby inside the box.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Nevio said, but his voice was less cocky than usual. His hair was tousled, and he was sweaty. It seemed like being alone with a nine-month-old was too much for him.
Carlotta still stared at me, her eyes growing even wider. “There. Is. A. Baby. In. The. Box.”
I bent down and carefully picked up Battista. He briefly stirred but never opened his eyes as I pressed him to my chest.
“What’s going on?” Carlotta asked, her eyes narrowing on Nevio who shoved his hands into his pockets as if it wasn’t his job to explain the situation. If he thought his job was done here, he was very wrong. I would help him and Battista, but he would be part of this. He wouldn’t just keep on living as if nothing had changed.
“I have another box with his things in the car. I’ll pick them up,” he said and left the apartment without another word, leaving me alone with a very upset Carlotta.
She flung her arms up. “Aurora! What is going on? You’re my best friend, but if Nevio kidnapped this kid, I won’t just stand by and watch.”
“He didn’t kidnap him, Lotta, I swear.” I sighed.
Carlotta stared at the little boy and shook her head.
“You can’t tell anyone about this,” I told her. “Not even our families. No one.”
“He’s not yours, that’s for sure,” she said and her lips thinned. “I know only one person who’d mess up like that and then ask you for help. Fits that he’s the one who brings him here in a cardboard box.”
I shrugged. Of course, there was only one possible suspect in this case.
She moved closer and looked at Battista, who I cradled in my arms so his peaceful face was on display. “He’s Nevio’s son, isn’t he?”
I nodded because I didn’t want to lie to Carlotta. I needed her help with this. “Yeah. He found out about him yesterday. His birth mother dropped him off with Nevio because she doesn’t want to take care of him.”
Carlotta’s expression twisted with contempt. “I’ll never understand how a mother can abandon her child.”
I shrugged. I didn’t know the exact circumstances. What made me angrier than the fact that the woman had decided to give away her son was the fact that she hadn’t taken very good care of him before then.
“And to hand him over to a madman like Nevio?” Carlotta shook her head and scoffed. “He’s the last person I would put up with the task of watching a helpless child.”
“He’s not that bad.”
“He is. And he’s irresponsible.”
That was true. Nevio lived for the thrill. Of course, he took responsibility when it came to the Camorra, but many of his tasks were directly linked to activities he loved: torture and killing.
Carlotta lightly touched Battista’s small hand and her expression softened. She loved kids and would definitely help me with him. When she looked back up at me, her expression was less gentle. “Why is he here?”
I grimaced.
Carlotta threw up her arms again. “Rory!”
“Nevio doesn’t want his family to know about this. He didn’t even tell Massimo and Alessio yet. He has nowhere else to take him. And he knows he’ll be safe with me. It’s just until he’s figured out another solution.”
Carlotta pressed her palm against her forehead, slowly shaking her head. “You should tell on him, Rory. I know you think you need to help him to unleash his humanity, but we both know that won’t work. He’s a mess, and you should stay away from him.”
“You never said it like that before.”
“Because I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, but this is about more than just your feelings, Rory. This boy needs a family.”
“I know,” I said. “But he lost his mother already. I don’t want to rob him of any chance to have a father. If I tell the Falcones about this, Nino and Kiara, or Remo and Serafina are going to adopt him. It’ll be easy for Nevio to pretend this isn’t his problem, to just let others become caregivers for his son, but if I care for the kid for a while, Nevio will always know it’s only a temporary solution, and he’ll eventually have to step up and own up to his responsibilities.”
Carlotta shook her head. She couldn’t seem to stop. My own disbelief over the situation was still strong so I understood her only too well. “You know Nevio, do you really think that’ll happen? How is this going to work? You’re starting your internship with the doc in a few days, but a baby needs twenty-four-hour supervision. If you don’t want to tell anyone, that leaves only us. I’m not even going to take Nevio into calculation.”