Lost Your Mind novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Say My Name

We found the wedding car in a rented garage on the east side, with its hood open and two of Dario's men bent over the engine.

Nico walked in with four of his own and his cane tapping on the concrete.

"Step back," he said.

The men straightened up and looked at each other.

"Mr. Nico," said the taller one. "We were told to service it. For the bride."

"By whom?"

"Mr. Dario."

"Dario has no authority over this car, or this garage, or you." Nico didn't raise his voice. "Out."

They went.

I stood at his shoulder and looked at the long black sedan, with its white ribbon still tied to the mirror.

It was beautiful.

It was the car my father had picked out for me, to carry me to the cathedral.

In my dream, it had gone off the pier, and the harbor had swallowed it whole.

"They didn't finish," Nico said.

He was crouched at the open hood, his bad leg stretched out, running his fingers along the wiring.

"Finish what?"

"I don't know." He frowned. "Nothing's missing. Nothing looks changed. But they were here an hour, and men like that don't change oil for fun."

"Take it home."

"Giulia."

"Take it home, Nico," I said. "To your garage. Lock it. Don't let anyone near it until the wedding."

He looked up at me, and whatever he saw in my face made him stand.

"All right," he said.

By the time we got back to my father's house, the sun had gone down.

My father was at a council meeting.

The house was quiet, the staff gone for the night, only the porch light burning.

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