“Why do you have so many people living here?” he suddenly asked as we passed through yet another hallway.

“I don’t like being alone, I guess.” Hugo had thought it was good for me to be surrounded by people so they could protect me, and since I couldn’t go to school or college because it was too dangerous, we’d started bringing in more people. This place used to be a mini school for the children of people who worked for my family and me, but as I got older, we turned this place into something different. It wasn’t as if I needed so much space for myself.

“But you are alone.”

My head snapped toward James. “Why would you say that?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t see it. You’re their boss and you’re always going to be. If you think people here are really your friends, think again.”

“Why do you think it’s impossible to be friends with the boss? If your father didn’t have any friends, maybe that was because of his personality.” There was a slight edge to my voice, and James’ lips twitched into a smile.

“You’re getting defensive. You know I’m right.”

I pressed my lips together into a tight line. “And where are your friends now? You were never the boss of anything, so come on, tell me, how many people miss you now and are trying to come up with a way to get you out of this situation?”

“None,” he simply said.

That made me pause and frown at him. Was he trying to protect his friends because he thought I’d go after them or was he telling the truth? It wasn’t easy to make friendships and relationships—especially long-lasting ones—work when your father was a mafia boss, but there was always someone... even if they were just the children of guards or people from other families who were your allies.

“None?” I finally said. “What about a girlfriend?” This was the first time it occurred to me that James might have had someone before all of this happened. How hard was it to marry another woman, who was also your enemy, and leave the one you love behind? Not that I had any idea what love felt like, at least the kind that wasn’t familial.

“What does it matter?” he asked. “I’m married to you, aren’t I?”