Nero: Made Men novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: The Lie

"He put me out this morning," I said.

The hall went so quiet I heard a candle sputter.

Behind me, Nero stopped breathing.

"In the loft," I said. "He told me it was over, that his father had a test, and I was the price. I begged him not to."

I made my voice crack on the last word, and it wasn't hard.

"I'm the one who wouldn't go. I put on your dress and sat in your row because I thought I could change his mind in front of you."

I looked at Sal.

"So there. I've been put out. Thirty men watched me take it. You can have your Sunday."

Nobody spoke.

Sal's smile slid sideways.

"A pretty story, signorina," he said.

"Ask him," I said. "Ask your Don's son if he said it."

Aldo turned his head slowly toward Nero.

"Is it true?" he said.

Nero stared at me.

I held his eyes and begged him with everything in my face.

Say nothing.

His jaw worked, once.

He said nothing.

"Silence is an answer in this hall," Aldo said, very quietly.

I did not wait to hear the rest.

I picked up my skirt in one fist and walked down the middle of the floor, between the long tables and thirty pairs of eyes.

I didn't kneel.

I walked out of the back door on my own feet, and I let it bang behind me.

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