Page 38 of My Merciless Don

“Good.”

Valerio hesitated, giving me a look.

“What?” I asked.

“How are you doing with all of this?”

I quirked an eyebrow. “All of what?”

He took a breath, flicking his eyes away and then looking back at me. “With this betrayal. I know the two of you got close.”

I snorted derisively, shaking my head and turning back towards the window. “What? You asking if she broke my heart?”

“Did she?”

I opened my mouth to retort and then closed it again, really thinking about it. Then I shook my head. “You know the story of the traveler and the snake, right?”

“The one where the traveler came across the injured snake, brought it home, nursed it back to health and the snake bit him?”

“That’s the one. I knew she was a snake when I brought her home.”

“So, you’re saying you had it coming because she was a con artist?”

“I’m saying we walked her right up to our systems and logged her in. So we can’t be surprised at what she did.”

“That doesn’t mean she can’t break your heart.” Valerio said softly.

“No. It doesn’t mean that. But… this isn’t the end of us. I won’t let it be.”

“She’s not Amy, you know?”

“I know. She’s a whole different ball game.” I turned to look at him, “I see who she is.”

Valerio nodded. “I see it too. I think she’s perfect for you.”

I snorted in surprise. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. You’ve been… different… since she came. You stand straighter, your eyes are brighter… she’s good for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh lord. Stop. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

He grinned. “I notice you haven’t disagreed.”

“Will you just shut up and get me that address?”

He saluted impishly. “Yes, boss.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

AUDRY

After a long shower, I changed into a pair of black jeans, a novelty t-shirt and a beanie. We packed up the apartment and got on the road, all before noon. As I watched the scenery pass by, I let myself get mired down with regret. Marco was my only connection to Amy. What if I’d blown my last chance to find out where I was from, and who I was?

You already know who you are. The voice in my head sounded suspiciously like James’s. My stepfather was not a fan of introspection. In fact, he would have been quite happy to do away with feelings of any kind altogether.

I tried my best to emulate him but really, at the end of the day, all I ended up doing is denying my feelings. That I was even acknowledging that was new for me. When James adopted me at thirteen years of age, the first thing he said was. “Forget the past. It doesn’t matter. From now on, only think about things that are of advantage to you.”

It was hard at first, but I learned fast, thanks to Benjamin. James pitted us against each other from the jump and I hadn’t been there a month when he declared that he was going to take only one of us to Disneyland and he’d decide in a month, depending on who brought home the best grades in mathematics.

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