“Nero, she’s beautiful.” Elle watched Nero take a deep breath she swore was almost of relief and walk toward her. Maybe he didn’t know how to bring it up?
Nero got on the bed and pulled her toward him. “She was.”
Elle frowned. “What happened to her?”
Nero thought for a second before he answered. “She was murdered outside a grocery store when I was in the sixth grade.”
Elle took a breath. “I’m so sorry.” She knew Nero still didn’t want to talk about it, so she would leave her death at that. “What was her name?”
“Melissa.”
Elle caressed the woman’s face through the frame. “Well, she’s beautiful, and now I know how all of you turned out so good-looking.” Elle laughed and then touched the young kid’s face, who was the only one in the picture not smiling. She couldn’t imagine how scary he was now. “Even him.”
Nero forced a laugh as he took the picture frame and put it on his bedside table where it belonged. “Yeah. Lucca is… Lucca.”
Elle looked up at him. “When do I get to meet him and your father?”
Nero shrugged. “Soon.”
I hope so. The only one she really didn’t know anything about was his father; not one thing. Elle wanted to at least know something.
“What is your father’s name?”
“Dante.”
* * *
Elle and Nero hung up their art projects on the classroom wall and took a step back.
“Nero, it’s beautiful.” Elle stared at the big drawing of Kansas City. Elle was in shock Nero could draw so well. And with a pen! She had also come to realize how in love Nero was with the city. Elle couldn’t blame him; she was, too.
Nero pulled Elle to his side. “Not as pretty as yours.”
“Nero, that’s so cute. I didn’t know you could draw,” Vincent spoke behind them.
Amo laughed. “Yeah, it’s fucking adorable.”
“Don’t listen to them,” Chloe chimed in.
Elle leaned up and wrapped her arms around Nero’s neck. “Don’t listen to them. They’re just jealous.” She gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
“You’re right, baby.” Nero turned to look at the posters. “Girls love—” He paused. “Elle, could you and Chloe give us a minute? I need to talk to Amo and Vincent.”
Elle curiously looked up at Nero. She never understood the boys, even after a month of being with them. “Sure, we’ll wait at the wall of fame.”
Elle let go of Nero and went for the door, but Vincent reached for Elle and gave her a peck on the cheek. He smiled at her wickedly.
“Happy birthday, Elle.”
“Yeah, happy birthday,” Amo agreed.
Elle laughed at Vincent’s death wish. He always tried to push Nero’s buttons, but they all knew they were just friends.
“Thanks.”
Elle quickly looked back at Nero before she left, silently telling him to behave. She could tell something was bothering him, but he gave her a reassuring smile before she went out into the hall.
The art room was close to the gym and the wall of fame made of glass and sports’ memorabilia throughout the years.
“So, I’m guessing Nero found out?”
Elle looked over at Chloe’s smirking face. “Yeah, Josh told him.”
Chloe giggled. “What are we doing for your birthday this year?”
“The same thing we always do; get fat off popcorn, cake, and ice cream, and then watch a movie.”
“Good thing I already packed a bag this morning.”
“Are you ever unprepared?” she joked.
I wonder what is taking him so long. In truth, hardly any time had passed, but Elle could never wait to get out of this place. Elle’s eyes wandered over to look at the wall, just to give her something to do. The school’s football team filled up practically the whole thing. There were so many pictures of the teams over the years. Her eyes were drawn to a particular picture of a team several years back.
The football player at the end of the line-up next to the coach was what got her attention. At first glance, she thought he was a coach because of his maturity and size, but his uniform told her otherwise.
Elle’s heart started to race; she knew him. He had a slightly-younger face of one of the scariest men she had ever seen in her life. The murder.
Chloe noticed her unmoving stare. “What is it?” Chloe turned around and followed Elle’s eyes. “Gosh, he was just as scary back then,” Chloe whispered.
Huh? Elle blinked, looking at Chloe. “What did you say?”
Chloe put her finger over the glass and pointed to the player. “Lucca, Nero’s brother. He is terrifying. Haven’t you met him?”
Elle started to lose her breath, her chest beginning to rise and fall at a heavy speed. She wanted to grab Chloe and shake her.
“Chloe, that’s Nero’s brother? Y-you met him? When?”
“U-uh, after you were attacked, at Nero’s house. I met him in the backyard.” She quickly got out of Elle’s hold. “Elle, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”
“Chloe, we need to get to your car.” Elle grabbed Chloe’s jacket and started running. “Now!”
* * *
Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck-Fuck. Fuck!
Nero stared at Elle’s poster. She had written a poem on every page in excellent handwriting of all different sizes. Then she had glued them as a mosaic. The whole thing was white paper, filled with black words. It was cool to see which word stuck out at you. Nero had tried to read them, but Elle was embarrassed, saying they weren’t any good. He had caught glimpses and read a few while she was working on them, yet he had never been able to read all of them together until now.
Nero went up to the poster and ripped off a piece. She had seen them.
Nero handed the paper over to Amo and then ran his hands through his hair.
Amo quickly read the paper. “Shit.”
Vincent snatched it from Amo’s hands. “Fuck, man. What are you going to do?”
Nero grabbed the paper from Vincent, folded it up, and put it in his pocket. “I need to meet with my father. I’ll need you guys to stay with Elle. She’s eighteen now, and I don’t trust him not to make the call.”