“And that brings us to the other thing,” Jake announced.
“What thing?” Sia turned to her boyfriend.
Jake glanced to me, and his shoulders rose slowly before he said, “Our landlord.”
“What?”
I fought against squirming in my seat. Sia read body posture like no other. If I started fidgeting, she’d know immediately something more was going on. I tried to keep a stone face.
“Cole Mauricio,” Jake said.
“Who?” The ends of her mouth dipped down. “That’s the name of this building.”
“We met him last night, too,” he added.
“I’m confused.” Sia’s gaze skirted between the two of us.
Jake was waiting for me, but I shook my head. I was smack in the middle of this “other thing,” but I wanted no part of talking about it. I looked at the elevator with longing. I could escape. I just needed a valid reason to go. Jake could explain all of this without me here, including Liam’s connections to Cole’s rival family. But when he started talking, I didn’t have a good enough excuse. I had to sit and listen, and Jake loved telling her everything.
By the end, her mouth was on the floor. “No fucking way.”
Jake’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “He’s our landlord, Sia. The head of the Mauricio family owns this building.”
“But you aren’t sure?”
“I’m mostly sure, but we can dig it up. There are public records.”
“Whoa.” She leaned back in her seat, fanning herself. “Addision, you had no idea?”
“About Cole?” My words were out before I could stop them. Shit. I hadn’t meant to say his first name, like I knew him. “I mean—what?”
“About Liam and his grandmother.”
“Oh.” The knot that had twisted in my chest as Jake talked loosened slightly. “No. I had no idea, but it makes sense.”
“Yeah. He didn’t like his family, and you’re right. He kept you away from them for so long. That does make sense. A lot makes sense now.”
I nodded, silently hoping she wouldn’t start in about Cole, but I knew that was senseless. He was powerful, elusive, mysterious, dangerous, and wealthy. He’d be Sia’s new project for months, and Jake looked just as excited. He should’ve been scared. Cole was in the mafia. What if someone did something to our building to get back at him?
“You’re okay living here?”
Sia voiced my question, but she directed it at Jake.
Surprise flashed over his face. “What do you mean?”
“The mafia is a big deal. Like, a really big deal. Aren’t you scared something could happen?”
He shrugged. “I was pissed at first, but I’m not in the mob. The guy’s never here, or I don’t think he’s here. This building’s been fine since it opened. What are they going to do? Hurt the building’s shut-in? I think we’re the furthest thing from being in danger. All the security makes sense now, too.”
Jake’s response was weird. Sia narrowed her eyes, so I wondered if she thought the same.
“Besides.” Jake gestured to me. “She’s a Bertal, and she’s living here.”
“I’m not a Bertal.”
“Basically.”
My mouth opened. “I am not. Liam’s parents aren’t either.”
Jake snorted. “I hate to break it to you, but they are. Mauricio himself alluded to that last night. They’re still in, Addison. They just haven’t brought you in.”
“Jake,” Sia said softly.
“What?” he asked.
He didn’t get it. This wasn’t real to him. But Sia was concerned. So was I, more than they knew. Whichever way I turned, I was headed toward someone in the mafia. My own money had come from the mafia—something I hadn’t let myself think about. I didn’t know how I felt about that, or how right it was to keep the money. I’d have so many problems if I gave it back. I’d have to move out, and I really would need the money from selling the house.
I felt a headache coming on. No. I would stop worrying until I knew more. Until things went past the point of no return.
They already are, a voice said in my head.
“I have to go.” I stood abruptly.
Concern clouded Sia’s face. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Uh, I just have to go.” My hand flicked between them. “You guys seem like you need to talk anyway. This is couple stuff.”
Sia stood up with me. “You live here, too. Do you feel safe?”
In Cole’s arms, yes. Outside of them? Still yes. But as we went to the elevator, I lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. This place seems separate from that life. We would’ve noticed something by now if it wasn’t, and there’s also Dawn. If something iffy was going on, she’d know.”