“Tsk, tsk, you need to sleep better, Annie,” Nico scolds me as he walks into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table and pulling apart his handgun to clean it. This is an activity he does every morning, before leaving it at the back of the kitchen behind a large vase.

“Easier said than done,” I sigh out as I contemplate whether to cook, grab a coffee, or just relax.

Aside from Nico, I haven’t seen another soul. No one else has been in or out. The kitchen is replenished with supplies during the dead of night when I am asleep, and each morning it is like a surprise for me as I see what is new to eat or to cook with.

We haven’t left either. We don’t go outside, and I can’t stand near the windows or even open one for fresh air. Nico and I spend our time in the kitchen or the living room, and although we only have each other for company, we are not yet sick of each other. In fact, it is the opposite; I feel like I have found a brother. I now know more about Nico than I ever thought possible. He has been in New York for only a year or so, coming from Sicily, where Sebastian and Dante picked him up and helped his sister, who was battling cancer herself. Given this common history, Nico and I formed a bond quickly, and I know he has a soft spot for me, helping me more than necessary.

Together we have eaten our weight in food and devoured every last decent movie. My cooking repertoire has expanded as well, since Nico is a fantastic taste tester. Now I have to say my love of Italian cooking has grown.

“Why don’t you do your exercises, keep building your strength?” Nico suggests, his eyes flicking to me, clearly seeing my indecision on what to do this morning as he pulls out the cleaning cloth and begins polishing.

“Fine,” I sigh like a sulking toddler, and I grab the small stress ball nearby, squeezing it in my palm before releasing it again, repeating the task. The exercises are helping, doing them multiple times a day, every day out of boredom working wonders.

“Have you heard from Dante?” I ask, as my heart begins to pound at the mere mention of his name. I ask every day, and I always get the same response. Today is no different as Nico just shakes his head silently, not offering me anything.