Chapter 99 -
Nia did not want to talk about Leo. Did not want to think about him or the way he had kissed her or the way he had pushed her away. So she changed the subject.
“Why are you really here, Micheal? And do not say it is because Rosa sent you with food.”
Micheal’s expression shifted. Became more serious. “Okay. You want the truth?”
“Yes,” Nia said.
“The truth is that Alex being dead changes things,” Micheal said. He sat back in the chair, his usual easy demeanor falling away to reveal something harder underneath. “And not in a good way.”
“How does it change things?” Nia asked. “Leo already told me the Don’s ultimatum still stands. That I am still leverage even though the person I was supposed to be leveraging is dead.”
“You are not just leverage anymore,” Micheal said. His voice was gentle but firm, like he was trying to make her understand something important. “You are a witness.”
Nia stared at him. “A witness to what? I did not see Alex die. I did not even know where he was.”
“No,” Micheal agreed. “But you knew him. You dated him for a year. You might know things about his life, his connections, his activities that could lead us to whoever killed Andrea.”
“I do not know anything,” Nia insisted. “How many times do I have to say that? I did not know Alex was involved with the Cimmera. I did not know he was seeing Jordan. I did not know anything about what he was doing.”
“But someone thinks you do,” Micheal said. “Or they think you might. And that makes you dangerous.”
The words settled over Nia like ice water. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, suddenly cold despite the warmth of the room.
“Dangerous to who?” she asked quietly.
“To whoever killed Alex,” Micheal said. “Think about it, Nia. Alex is dead. Executed, according to the coroner’s report. Professional hit, no witnesses, no evidence left behind. Someone wanted him silenced. And if they wanted him silenced, they might want you silenced too.”
“But I do not know anything,” Nia said again, more desperately this time.
“They do not know that,” Micheal pointed out. “All they know is that you were Alex’s girlfriend. That you are being held by the Cimmera. That Leo is using you to try to find Andrea’s killer. From their perspective, you are a liability. A loose end that needs to be tied up.”
Nia’s hands started shaking. She pressed them against her knees, trying to stop the trembling. “You are saying someone is going to come after me.”
“I am saying it is a possibility we have to consider,” Micheal said. “And Leo knows it. Why do you think Matteo has not left his post outside your door in three days? Why do you think security has been doubled around the mansion? It is not just to keep you in anymore, Nia. It is to keep other people out.”
“Other people who want me dead,” Nia said flatly.
“Other people who might see you as a threat,” Micheal corrected. “Which is why you need to eat, you need to stay strong, and you need to stop hiding in this room like you can avoid reality.”
“I have nothing left to give them,” Nia said. Her voice broke on the words. “I do not know who killed Alex. I do not know who killed Andrea. I do not know anything useful or important or worth killing someone over. I am just a person who made the mistake of dating the wrong man.”
“I know,” Micheal said softly. “But the people who might come after you do not know that. And they will not stop to ask before they pull the trigger.”
The casual way he said it, like murder was just another Tuesday activity, made Nia’s stomach turn. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold together pieces that felt like they were breaking apart.
“So what am I supposed to do?” she asked. “Just wait? Just sit here knowing that someone might be planning to kill me and hope that Leo finds them first?”
“You are supposed to trust us,” Micheal said. He leaned forward again, his eyes intense. “You are supposed to trust that we are not going to let anything happen to you. That we will keep you safe until this is over.”
“Trust you,” Nia repeated. “Trust the family that kidnapped me. That is what you are asking?”
“I know how it sounds,” Micheal said. “But yeah. That is exactly what I am asking. Because whether you like it or not, we are the only thing standing between you and whoever killed Alex.”
Nia wanted to argue. Wanted to point out that she would not need protection if Leo had not dragged her into this mess in the first place. But she was too tired, too scared, too overwhelmed by the reality that her life was in danger from people she did not even know.
“You should eat,” Micheal said, gesturing to the tray. “Rosa made your favorite. Chicken and rice with that sauce you like. And there is fruit. And bread. And probably enough food to feed three people because Rosa cooks like she is preparing for the apocalypse.”
Nia looked at the tray. At the carefully prepared meal that Rosa had made with her in mind. At the care that had gone into it even though Nia was just a prisoner, just a pawn, just another complication in the DeSanto family drama.
“I do not think I can,” she said.
“You have to try,” Micheal insisted. “Please, Nia. Just a few bites. Anything. Because you are scaring Rosa and you are scaring me and you are probably scaring yourself even if you will not admit it.”
Nia reached for the fork with trembling hands. The chicken smelled good, warm and savory with that hint of garlic Rosa always used. She took a small bite, forcing herself to chew and swallow even though it felt like ash in her mouth.
“Good,” Micheal said encouragingly. “That is good. Now another one.”