117 Blinding Rage

It was subtle at first, in the way his hands became lax around her waist, the way he stiffened at her words, and the silence that remained after.

She pulled away to look at him. "Nicolás…" 

"Who are they?" His voice was tight, his composure tightly held.

"Are you alright?"

"Who are they, Annalise?"

That was when she knew something was deadly wrong.

"The Carusos. Benjamin and Luciana Caruso."

And he set her down. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she recalled what Benjamin had told her about Nicolás knowing, now she wasn't so certain anymore.

"You don't seem so surprised," she said, her eyes searching his. "Did you know?"

"Yes,"

One word but enough to slice through her.

Her voice came out barely a whisper. "You knew?"

"That's not what matters now."