Page 54 of His UnBearable Touch

As odd as it sounded, it felt good too.

“If you’re busy, I can catch a cab or-”

“Busy? Never too busy for you.” Natale’s voice was a rush of enthusiasm. “Maybe you’ll let us take you to get something to eat on the way.”

Allegra couldn’t help but smile at the bright tone of Natale’s voice. She was completely the opposite from Salvatore in that regard. He was a deep, dark rumbling bass and Natale was a warm-hearted mezzo, full of sharps and syncopated rhythms.

“I’m fine, thank you.” Allegra surrendered herself to Natale’s enthusiasm as she led her toward the car. “Where’s Valerio?”

“See, Salvatore? I told you she couldn’t help herself.” Natale took Allegra’s hand and set it on the frame of the car. “The door’s right here, Allegra.”

Allegra got in and moved over so that Natale could come in after her. It only took a few more seconds to get everyone inside.

“Anyway,” Natale started to speak when the car pulled away from the curb, “Val wanted us to make sure you got home safely. He and Uberto are on a plane.”

“A plane?” Allegra couldn’t help the shock that staggered her. “Where to?”

She heard a moment of hesitation in the silence of the car.

Salvatore answer the question. “Geneva.”

“Geneva.” The word settled on her shoulders like bricks. “Is that where Lance is?”

“The court ordered his parents to divulge his location.”

“Salvatore!” Natale laughed. “His voice makes it sound so much more ominous than it is.” Allegra heard a solid whack. “Try not to scare her, okay?”

“Sorry.”

Allegra heard a note of humor in his voice.

“I wasn’t trying to scare you.”

“It’s not your fault.” Her mind was already working over the bits and pieces in her head. The note said that her ‘dog’ had gone to his parents. Valerio had gone to see the Singletons. She cringed, understanding what that visit had likely been like. Before the trial, she’d only met Erik and Lana Singleton a few times when they’d come to student performances. They didn’t come to other events, the small personal interactions at school. No, the Singletons had a public image to protect. They came for the high-profile moments and that was all that mattered.

In the court, she could almost feel their eyes on her when they were in the room. She had a feeling that Mrs. Singleton hated her the most. Allegra had been the woman who had seduced her son and the woman who he had intended to perform with around the world. She was, as Mrs. Singleton had called her on the stand, ‘an interloper of the worst kind. A woman with a hippy name and rotund figure who should have thanked her stars that a man as fine and talented and handsome as Lance was had even taken notice of her in the first place.’

The trouble was, she felt that way. Felt that way.

But that was a long time ago.

That was before she woke up in a hospital bed only to find out that the rest of her life was going to be in the dark.

“Can’t you have them just turn around?” She felt a tightness in her chest. “They don’t have to go and see him. It’s not necessary.”

There was a pall over the mood in the car, a grey moody fog that she felt as if it lay over her skin. “What are you worried about?” Salvatore’s voice was cautious and she felt as if he was watching her carefully to see her reaction.

“I’m worried about Valerio.”

“Worried?” This time it was Natale who shifted over from one bench seat to sit beside her. “Why?”

Allegra felt Natale’s fingers fit between hers, offering strength. And she took it gladly. Turning toward Salvatore, she answered. “I don’t want your brothers to get hurt. Lance can seem so sweet and sincere.” She pulled her hand free from Natale and fumbled for her purse to look for her phone, but the anxiety riding her emotions made it extremely difficult to pull it out of her purse. She dropped it twice before she heard Natale’s calm voice in her ear.

“Here, use my phone.” Allegra felt Natale take a hold of her wrist and set the phone in her hand. “It’s dialing.”

The call went to voicemail and Allegra left Valerio a short message. She didn’t have to be long-winded at a time like that. Actually, she worried that a long-winded explanation would only dilute the strength of her conviction.

“If you have to talk to him, don’t turn your back on him.” When she pulled the phone away from her ear she held it out toward Natale. “Thank you.”

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