Page 64 of Sins and Secrets

The person he would have become if he had never been forced into this life.

Sometimes I wonder why he took the mafia over when his father and brother died. It could have been his mother’s pushing. She seems like a delight — though I haven’t had to deal with her since Alessio kicked her out.

Did she tell him that he had to do something he hates? Or was he raised to believe that the mafia is all he would ever be able to do?

Laughter sounds on the boardwalk to my left. I look over and see a young couple running together, their towels slung over their shoulders. The man tosses the woman over his shoulder when he catches her, spinning her around.

Someday, I’m going to have something like that.

I just have to figure out the rest of my life first. I need to leave the mafia and start building my resort. There is a life that I want and I’m not going to get it by falling for Alessio.

The worst part is that I know it’s a risk. When he smiles at me or plays around with me, I feel like things could be different between us. It’s easy to believe that there could be something more than just casual sex.

But there can’t be. We have an expiration date.

As soon as the contract is up, I have the rest of the money, and Papa is able to move, I’m leaving.

Even as I wish I could stay…

I glance around the rest of the beach, trying to distract myself from thoughts of the future. I’m not going to ruin my last day in Miami by thinking about all the things that could be. For the rest of the day, I’m going to try and enjoy myself.

My heart skips a beat when I see a familiar face standing in the parking lot. I rub my eyes, glancing at the same spot again, but Paolo is no longer there.

Maybe he wasn’t there to begin with. Maybe I’m seeing things.

I take a deep breath and try to slow my racing pulse. As I try to calm down, I count the waves crashing against the shore.

“Something wrong?” one of the men asks as he appears beside me.

“Just thought I saw someone but they’re not there.” I shrug and sit down in the sand.

“Alright. We’re going to go get a coffee from the stand right behind you. We’ll be able to see you if anything happens. Just wait here. Got it?”

I nod and pull my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. “No worries about me going anywhere. If I finally get some time without the two of you following me around, I’m going to take it.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “You sure are Arturo’s daughter. I hope that he gets better soon.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, looking at him over my shoulder. “I don’t recognize you.”

The man shrugs and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Shane. Used to go to school with your dad before he dropped out. Knew your mom too. Hell, I remember when they found out they were pregnant with you. I got locked away after that. I’m sure that you are his pride and joy, though. He was so excited to be a father.”

“Well, thank you for saying that.” I smile and nod to him, watching as he and his partner walk to the coffee hut.

It’s close enough that I can see them as they stand in line. Shane nods to me before looking around. The other man says something to him as they step forward in line.

I turn and focus back on the ocean, trying to soothe the nerves running through my body. Everything about my life right now is twisting out of control. Papa is doing a bit better. Being in Alessio’s home and watched over is pissing him off, but that anger is fueling him to work harder to speak properly again.

“You know, I was waiting until the two of them would be stupid enough to leave you alone,” Paolo says as he sits down beside them. His shoulder brushes against mine and cool metal presses into my bare ribcage. “If you alert them or reach for your gun, I’ll shoot you right here and now.”

“Good to know that this is going to be that kind of conversation,” I say as I glance at him. “What are you doing here? You’re really stupid enough to follow Alessio to Miami?”

“Thought that it might be time to add a little more tension to the game we’ve been playing, don’t you think? I mean, I tried to get to your father, but Alessio already had him moved. Smart, on his end. I thought that he would have forgotten about him now that he has you.”

“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean.” My stomach lurches. For a second, I consider throwing sand in his eyes. It might give me enough time to pull my gun and shoot him.

There isn’t enough time, though. If Paolo was new to wielding a weapon, it would work. He’s been using a gun for years. Fighting for even longer. He would shoot me before I ever got a hand on my gun.

“I can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re trying to figure out a way out of this, but it’s not going to happen. You don’t have to worry, though. I’m not going to kill you right now. I just want to leave Alessio a little message.”

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