Her Last Night in the City Chapter 07

Days turned to months. I moved into a small apartment near the hospital. Nico paid the rent, but I found a night shift cleaning offices.

Nico was always around. He’d pick Luca up from school in that car with the ridiculous stickers. He’d take Luca to baseball games, buy him things Luca never asked for. Luca would come home, toss the new toys in

a corner, and hold on to me like he’d never let go.

One Friday, Nico showed up without Luca. He stood at my door holding a folder.

“I need to talk to you,” he said. “About Elena.”

I let him in. We sat at the small kitchen table.

“She pleaded guilty,” he said. “Fraud, theft, conspiracy to commit murder. You and Luca. She gave up other names too. Other families, dirty dealings. The FBI’s involved now.”

I didn’t react. Whether Elena lived or died meant nothing to me.

“The Costa family is under federal investigation because of her cooperation,” he continued. “Natalie, I might

lose everything.”

He looked at me, something raw in his eyes. “I deserve it. But Luca shouldn’t have to suffer for what I did.”

“What do you want me to say?” I finally spoke.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I just wanted you to know I’m not the same person I was.”

I stood up. “Luca has a therapy appointment at ten tomorrow. If you want to take him, be here at nine.”

He held my gaze for a long moment, then left.

That night I stared at the black card he’d given me and couldn’t sleep.

In the end, I opened a savings account in Luca’s name and deposited half the money. The rest I donated anonymously to the children’s ward at the hospital.

Luca’s birthday came around again. He was stronger now, healthier. He still had scars, but he ran faster than

any other kid.

Nico threw him a birthday party at a fancy hotel. This time, kids from Luca’s class came. Clowns, magicians, and a bounce house packed the whole garden. Luca laughed, but I could tell he was overwhelmed.

An hour in, I found him hiding behind a potted plant, tearing at a gift’s wrapping paper.

“Too loud?” I asked.

He nodded. “Dad doesn’t get it. I don’t want any of this. I just want to go home and play with my LEGOs.”

Nico walked over holding two plates of cake. He looked exhausted. The federal investigation had worn him

down. His suit was still expensive, but his eyes were empty.

“I talked to the doctors,” he said quietly. “They said Luca’s doing great. The new medication is working.”

“Yeah,” I said. “It really is.”

“Natalie,” he said. “I’m getting out. Out of the family business. I’m selling everything. I’ll still support Luca, but

I need to figure out who I am without the Costa name.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Would it be alright if I took Luca to a movie next week? Just the two of us. No party, no gifts. Just a movie.”

Luca looked up at me.

“If Luca wants to,” I said.

Luca thought about it. “Can we get popcorn?”

The first genuine smile I’d seen from Nico in years broke across his face. “Of course, kid. All the popcorn you

want.”

As they left the party, Luca turned back and waved at me.

I waved back.