Page 35 of Heartless Union

Her mouth drops open. “I’ve always been a supportive friend. You want supportive? Leave your husband, and I’ll be there for you.”

“But I am asking you to be there for me now.”

“Sorry. I can’t. I don’t agree with what you’ve done.” The way she can sound so cold breaks my heart. Years of friendship just washed down the drain. But the more I think about it, the more I realize Ashley has always been this way.

I’m more alone than I realized. And it started long before I ever met Rocco.

“I’ve got to go,” I say, getting up before my tears can escape.

I cry as I walk back to the subway. I couldn’t take Rocco’s car with me when I left, and my car is back at my dad’s.

I should go see my father. At least with him, I’ll get a warm hug.

I arrive at my house—I stumble when I think about it like that. This is my father’s house now. It’s no longer my home.

I’m heading up to the door when a man says my name. It’s vaguely familiar.

I turn around and see Dante, the man from the wedding. He was with his father, Carlo, when they told Rocco they were going after his dad.

“Yes?” I ask, keeping close to the door.

Dante keeps his distance. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was wondering if you’d pass a message on to Rocco for me.”

“A message?”

“Yes.”

“Why can’t you tell him yourself?”

Dante smiles, and I’m taken aback by how handsome he is. “Because this message would mean more coming from you. You should tell him my father and I don’t just plan on going after Leonardo. We plan on going after Rocco, too.”

My heart skips a beat as I step closer to the door. “What?”

His eyes darken. “Which means anyone tied to Rocco is in danger.” The implication being I’m included on that list. “Just wanted you to know.” He flashes another smile before walking away, whistling as he goes.

Dante’s threat is clear—he knew where I’d be. Which means he had to have been watching me. Which means he and his father must be watching Rocco’s house.

Rocco was right—there’s danger out here, and I never should have left.

I want to go to my father and warn him, but I don’t want to cause him any more stress before he dies. He deserves to be happy in his last few months.

I just have to hope that by not telling my father, he’ll be ok. He won’t get involved. Because once he knows what’s going on, he’ll do everything in his power to get involved and make sure I’m safe.

But that’s Rocco’s job now. He promised he would.

The only problem—telling Rocco about Dante’s message will mean he’ll find out I left the house when I wasn’t supposed to.

Either way, I’m in danger—from Dante or Rocco.

I have to trust Rocco won’t be too hard on me. He did say he’d never physically hurt me. I have to believe that.

With a last longing look at my father’s house, I walk away and return to my husband’s house.

The entire subway ride back, I prepare what I’m going to say.

But nothing can prepare me for stepping back inside and coming face to face with Rocco. The anger on his face almost knocks me over.

“How long have you been gone?” he asks.

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