Page 59 of His UnBearable Touch

Valerio

His soulmate.

He said the words to her before. She’d heard them as a whisper, as a groan, and mumbled again and again like a prayer as he’d held her in his arms.

Oh yes, she was ready to go back to him.

And it was a huge relief that the card was from Valerio. Since she’d gone to stay with Jane there hadn’t been any new messages. She was beginning to think it was all some kind of a weird dream. Lance was in Geneva. She was safe from him. And whoever had tried to make her scared, they’d obviously given up. All she had to do was get ready for the concert and prove that she’d taken her life back and found her way even with all the hurt that Lance had caused her before.

Picking up her base compact she flipped it open and took out the applicator.

Allegra looked up at the sound of a knock on the door. “Come in!”

The door opened and she heard someone take a few tentative steps inside.

“Hello?”

“Oh hey, sorry. It’s Zack. I um… well, you looked up and I thought maybe… anyway, sorry.”

Allegra laughed. “Old habits die hard I guess. I still turn toward sounds like I’m expecting to see who or what is there. Don’t worry about it.” The moment passed easily for her. “Did you need something?”

“Not really. I was just coming to see how you were doing. You’ve been a little, I don’t know, sad?”

Allegra’s laughter faded a little. “A little, but I think I’ve got it all figured out now.”

“Ahhh,” he sighed, “so I guess you’re still with that guy, huh?”

“Yes,” she shook her head, “as long as he hasn’t changed his mind, I’m all his.”

“Yeah, well I doubt he’s changed his mind. The way he looks at you,” he cleared his throat, “he’s all about you too.”

“Zack, I-”

A knock on the doorframe interrupted them.

“Hey, Zack. What are you doing here?”

“Hey, Linda,” Zack’s voice tensed up a little, “I’m stopping in to see Allegra. What are you doing here?”

There was a little huff of sound, a scuff of a shoe on the carpet. “Ever since they brought you in, you’ve been a pain in my neck, Zack.”

“Whoa?” Zack’s laugh was a little strained. “Way to bring a guy down, Linda.” His voice was clearer when he turned. “Woodwinds, never quite as popular as the strings.”

“Why don’t you go and bother someone else, and leave the girls alone to chat.”

“Chat? You two?” Zack chuckled. “I don’t see what the two of you would have to talk about.”

“Girl stuff.”

That got a reaction and Allegra heard Zack back up through the doorway. “Hey, you don’t have to push. Jeez! Okay, fine! You do your icky girl talk and I’ll see you later, okay, Allegra?”

“Sure, Zack, I-”

The door closed shut.

* * *

Salvatore and Natale walked her father to the door of the penthouse. She reached out a hand and touched his arm. “Papa, are you sure you don’t want to stay with us?”

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