Page 60 of Mafioso's Muse

‘Never mind,’ Lili said when Willow went to speak. ‘The state of your hair and that ridiculous glow tell me everything I need to know.’ She took the mug from Willow’s hand, drank, then handed it back. ‘I came to see if you wanted to come for a run, but you havecompany.’

Willow leaned back against the guardrail, eyes on Vaughn, who was slowly pacing in the living room. ‘I don’t think I’ll have time.’

Lili watched her with a concerned look on her face. ‘I want to be happy for you, but I’m genuinely terrified on your behalf.’

‘I know.’ Willow passed the coffee back to her. ‘And I don’t blame you.’

Lili glanced in Vaughn’s direction before saying. ‘Did he tell you what happened to his face?’

Willow shook her head.

Lili put the coffee down on the table. ‘I don’t want to bethatfriend?—’

‘But?’

Getting her phone out, Lili searched for something, then handed it to Willow. ‘I saw this news article a few days ago. I didn’t show you because you weren’t sleeping with a mafia member at the time.’

The headline was ‘Merit Group Linked to Chinatown Shooting.’

A cold sensation washed over Willow as she read the article. The timing matched the age of Vaughn’s bruising. She handed the phone back to Lili. ‘His name isn’t mentioned.’

Lili tilted her head in a condescending way. ‘I’m not saying he shot the man, but you can’t bury your head in the sand and pretend it isn’t a possibility either.’

She was right. Of course she was right. But admitting it only validated Willow’s own fears about the relationship, and she wasn’t prepared to do that.

They jumped at the sound of the door opening. Vaughn stilled, looking between them. ‘Everything all right?’ he asked.

Lili locked her phone and shoved it into her pocket. ‘Fine. I just came to see if Willow wanted to go for a run, but it seems she’s already gotten her cardio in for the day.’

Willow pressed her eyes closed. ‘Thanks for that.’

‘I need to head off,’ Vaughn said, crossing the balcony and kissing Willow on the cheek. ‘Run if you want to run. Just be careful.’ He turned to leave. ‘I’ll call you tonight.’

‘Okay.’ Lili’s scrutinising stare remained on her. Vaughn was nearly at the front door when Willow went after him. ‘Wait!’

He turned with a questioning look.

She didn’t really know how to start the conversation or if she was even allowed to have it. ‘Are you in trouble?’

His eyebrows lifted slightly. ‘Why would you ask that?’

‘I saw an article from one of the newspapers,’ she blurted. ‘About a shooting in Chinatown.’

Nothing changed on his face. ‘You saw, or Lili showed it to you?’

‘It’s been linked to the Merit Group,’ she continued without answering him.

He hooked a finger under her chin, locking eyes with her. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Asking a question.’

‘A question you know I can’t answer.’ His eyes searched hers. ‘You have to be okay with that.’

‘I am okay with it.’

His hand fell away. ‘Ignore the media. Don’t waste your time trying to decipher truth from lies.’

‘So they’re lies?’