I let out a faint chuckle. "I’ve been asked that so many times now. I don’t even know what to say anymore."
Rick didn’t share in my amusement, so I stifled my laughter and forced a smile instead.
"I’m perfect."
His expression softened, and the look in his eyes made my heart race.
"N-Not convinced, huh?"
"Yeah," he answered.
"Well, join the club. Apparently, no one believes I’m fine. They keep asking me over and over. I swear, the next person who asks is gonna make me wish I could sew their mouths shut."
Fuck, I ranted there. But Rick didn’t look offended by it. If anything, he let out a soft laugh like I had told a joke.
"Then I hope my mouth doesn’t get sewn cause I kinda need them."
"Sorry..." I shook my head, briefly closing my eyes. "I shouldn’t have said that."
"No no, it’s okay. I understand how all this must be overwhelming for you. Trust me, I’d be more concerned if you don’t feel like mutilating everyone in this room."
I snorted loudly. And it gained a few eyes toward my direction.
I cleared my throat. "So, um, are you here as a detective? I mean, your badge kind of gives it away." I pointed to the badge clipped to his belt.
"Should you even ask me that question?"
He looked slightly offended that I had thought that way of it.
"What else am I supposed to think?" I countered. "My grief isn’t stopping you from doing your job, is it?"
"I should apologize for how I acted a few days ago."
"Yeah?"
"I got hot-blooded and crossed the line..."
There was remorse in his eyes, and I knew he meant every word he said.
"It’s okay..." I murmured in reply.
"Let the badge not bother you. I was in the middle of work before I came here. Even though my partner was heavily against it."
"Why did you go out of your way to come then?"
"I’m here as a... friend."
I swallowed a thick lump down my throat. "Friend?"
"We are friends, aren’t we? I mean, um, we haven’t quite defined our relationship, and you’re married." He eyed my ring. "The only possible relationship is that."
"I see..." I replied a bit nervously, especially as he used the word relationship one too many times as though he was trying to hint at something.
Or maybe I’m just paranoid?
I probably sent signals two years ago when I was at the hospital. I mean, he did seem like the hottest man I have ever met at that time.
Coming from a girl who’d forgotten she was actually a Don’s woman and had no idea she was even in a relationship.
I was flirty, and it seemed like that signal was still working for him.
"Yes, we’re friends," I said with a nod. "The best definition."
He nodded slowly as though he hadn’t expected me to emphasize it strongly.
"Which is why I’ll do everything in my power to find your father’s killer. It may be my job, but it’s personal now."
I don’t like the sound of that.
"I want us to cooperate, Ana. So if there’s anything at all, I need you to come to me." He lowered his voice. "The autopsy—"
"I didn’t realize the cops would be attending." Julius came out of nowhere and stood beside me. "You should at least have some semblance of consciousness that this is a private time."
"U-Uncle," I began, but I couldn’t finish the rest of my words.
"I may be in charge of the case, but I’m not here for that." Rick looked at me. "I’m here as a friend."
"A friend? I didn’t realize my niece was friends with a detective."
"Um, Rick, you must be thirsty or something. Please help yourself."
I thought he was gonna linger because it seemed like he would, but thankfully he got the message I was trying to avoid this confrontation.
He nodded curtly. "I won’t be far. If you need me, I’m one call away."
I smiled in return, and the moment he left, I dropped it and pinned Julius with a glare.
"That was uncalled for."
"Did I do something wrong?" He asked innocently, and it forced a scoff off me.
"Anastasia," he began sternly. "The only people in the force you should call friends are the ones in our pockets."
He cast a glance at Rick. "That one doesn’t look like he’s in anyone’s pocket. I think he’s actually here because he cares about you. An interesting fellow."
I didn’t realize Julius had a sense of humor, and here I thought he had stick up his ass.
"Firstly, I don’t need your... options. Second... There’s no we. And calling me your niece? I thought the point of you telling me you weren’t blood-related to my father was not to keep appearances."
"Yet you called me uncle," he opposed.
I clenched my teeth. "Apologies.. Julius. Next time I’ll keep it in mind that you’re no uncle of mine."
I didn’t miss the darkened look in his eyes, but I brushed it off as nothing as I got straight to the point.
"If you’re my father’s sworn brother or whatever. Why did you introduce yourself as a Morri?"
"I was waiting for that question. Though, I didn’t expect it’d be sooner."
I fixed him with a pointed stare. "Are you saying you did that on purpose?"
A ghostly smile crossed his lips.
"What’s really your last name? Tell me."
He placed a hand at the small of my back, catching me slightly off guard. He guided me toward a corner near the window.
His eyes swept across the room before settling on me, and I instinctively took a step back. We were far too close for my liking.
"You’re the last Morri, Anastasia," he began, voice a bit low and deep.
"So?"
"We can’t let them know this. It makes you even more vulnerable than you already are."