Page 86 of Now and Forever

“The locked wine cellar. Was that because you had a child living here?” The pieces were falling into place.

He nodded again before knocking on the door.

Contessa opened it, her gaze going from Dario to me. The coolness I’d experienced when I first arrived was back. “Mr. and Mrs. Luciano.”

I gave her my biggest smile. “I’d like to meet Jasmine.”

Contessa’s expression softened.

“After all,” I said, “she lives here, too.”

Contessa gasped for breath and wiped a tear from her cheek. With a nod, she opened the door farther. Sitting on the bed was the girl I recalled from the wedding. She could very well be my sister. I tried to ignore her injuries and concentrate on her flowing red hair and bright blue eyes.

Jasmine stood. She was similar in height to Camila, a few inches shorter than I am. Trim and petite. Despite all Dario had said she’d been through, I sensed a strong young woman.

“Hi, Jasmine,” I said. “I’m Catalina. We met briefly at the wedding.”

She nodded. “Do you want me to leave?”

I gave her credit for her direct and to-the-point question.

“No.” I shook my head. “I want to get to know you. It seems that I moved into your home.”

Jasmine’s gaze brightened as she turned to Dario. “I can stay?”

I turned to see my husband behind me, his arms crossed over his chest as he nodded. “Welcome home.”

Jasmine rushed toward Dario, wrapped her arms around his waist, and held him tight. Her face was buried in his suit coat. “Thank you.”

My heart may have exploded as I watched his aloof armor melt away. Slowly, he moved his arms, pulling her into his embrace. The man who claimed he was incapable of love obviously loved. Jasmine lived with him for most of her life. She’d seen under Dario’s tough-man mask through the eyes of a child. No matter what he said, he had a heart.

Jasmine turned toward me. “I’m sorry if I’m cramping the honeymoon.”

My smile grew. “Not cramping it at all. I have a sister your age. She was here for a few days, and I already miss her. I hope we can be friends.” I looked around the room at the neutral décor. It was nothing like Camila’s bedroom back at the home where I grew up. “Dario said this used to be your room. Where are all your things?”

“I took some to New York.”

“The rest are in storage,” Contessa volunteered.

“Let’s get them out.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Contessa’s smile. I reached out and gently brushed Jasmine’s swollen cheek. “Are you all right?”

“I look horrible.”

“No, you’re beautiful.”

“I was scared he was going to kill me, like they did Josie.”

Dario’s stance straightened. “Why would you say that?”

“Because.” Her big blue eyes filled with tears. “I remembered. That’s what he told me.”

Tension grew like static electricity sparking around us. “What did he say?” I asked.

“He said that strays should die, and I was just like my sister—a stray.”

Rage radiated from Dario as his tone deepened. “The man who attacked you called you a stray?”

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