Page 37 of DeLuca: The Devil

“That’s my favorite.”

I go back to stroking her palm, “I know, baby.”

“Dom?”

I glance into her face, “Yes?”

“Were we happy?”

What a complicated question and not one I want to answer. I know I broke her heart when I told her I was giving her the freedom she had once craved. If I tell her the truth, she’s going to shut me out.

“Mostly. You loved me.”

“Mostly,” she repeats.

Natalia comes barreling into the room like the world is on fire, “Gia! Oh my God. Gia!”

My wife’s wounded face lights up when she sees her friend. Jealousy doesn’t even describe how I’m feeling. I want to be the person to do that for her. But I’m not sure I ever was.

“I’ll let you two visit for a few minutes. I have calls to make.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

GIADA

“I want to hug you, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

I smile so wide at seeing my best friend, my face hurts, not that it takes much right now.

“Dom touches my hand.”

She sits in his vacated seat, “I bet you were happy to see him.”

“I don’t remember him, Nat. I remember you but not him. He said we’re married.”

Her expression shows how shocked she is, “Oh babe. You don’t remember him at all?”

Sighing, I say, “Not at all.”

“He says I loved him.”

She gives me a sad smile, “You did. Head over heels even when you wouldn’t admit it.”

“So, we were in love then.”

I know Natalia well, so I know from the look on her face that she’s hiding something from me.

“We weren’t?”

She chews on her lip, which is her tell, “I don’t want to cause trouble.”

“Tell me. Nobody else is telling me anything.”

Nat places her face in her hands and groans, “You’re going to get me killed. Yes, you were in love with him. I think you fell in love with him fast. But did he love you? No, he didn’t. In fact, he told you he never would.”

“Enzo said my father promised me to him so why did Domenic marry me if he didn’t love me?”

Reaching out she grabs my fingers lightly and squeezes, “It was all some mob war. He was trying to get to mob daddy and knew they’d both be pissed if he married you and took your virginity.”

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