Page 13 of Diavolo

He shook his head in disagreement. "You saved my life. I am in your debt."

A sullen mood settled over Elyse. "I was only doing my job."

She knew it was time for them to move on. Her days with her beautiful brown-and-blue-gray-eyed companion were coming to an end. Indefinitely. A longing for something more, something she couldn't express in words, bloomed with desperation, but she didn't dare act on it.

As though the man had fallen into the same mindset, he inquired, "Will we see each other again?"

"I don't think so."

His gaze sharpened then. At first, he didn't give a reply, but Elyse could tell from his indignant expression that her answer had displeased him.

When the man broke his silence, he said, "I hope you are wrong,angelo.I would like for our paths to cross again."

She grimaced. "The universe may have different plans."

"Then, at least, give me the bullet."

Elyse's eyelids fluttered in surprise as she repeated, "The bullet?"

His eyes—those beautiful, eerie, mesmerizing eyes—never left hers as he replied, "I want it. To remember you.Always."

"Very well," she agreed softly. "You can have it. If it's so important to you. Wait here."

Elyse disappeared into her bedroom for a few minutes and returned with the bullet. His life had almost been stolen by this small scrap of metal. As she placed it in his hand, his fingers wrapped gently around her wrist. He pulled her toward him, and she let him.

"I will never forget what you have done for me," he murmured in her ear."Grazie."

"You're welcome," she whispered back.

Then, the man's grasp on her wrist fell away. Elyse missed his touch instantly. She found herself worrying about him as well. "Stay safe out there, okay?"

"So youdocare for me."

Elyse bristled slightly. "Just don't die right after I saved you. It'd be a shame for my efforts to go to waste."

The corner of his mouth quipped. "Would you save me again if someone else tries to kill me?"

"Maybe."

"I would gladly take another bullet," he professed, "if it brings me back to you."

His charm was disarming. But she got the feeling that the man rarely said what hereallymeant.

"Your bullshit truly knows no bounds," Elyse returned with a laugh. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

A knock sounded at the door. It was probably Stefano. Her chest drew tight. Had it been ten minutes already? With a downcast expression, she asked, "Is this… goodbye?"

He nodded. "It appears so.Arrivederci, Dr. Romero."

Yet, Elyse noticed with a touch of intrigue, the steady, contemplative manner he was looking at her didn't feel like afarewell at all. Instead, it reminded her of a seasoned chess player, carefully plotting out the moves that might turn the board in his favor.

It left Elyse with a strange fluttering in her heart.

4

Two months afterheleft, shit took an abysmal nosedive. Money, as always, plagued Elyse, trapping her anxiety in a nightmarish loop. Elyse could barely sleep even though exhaustion clung to her like a soul-sucking parasite. She ate very little and spent even less on day-to-day expenses, skimping and saving whenever possible.

Before Elyse lost her job at Sawyer Memorial, she was bringing home five figures a month from her six-figure salary. But five figures didn't amount to much after taxes carved out their sizable share. The monthly rent for her shoddy one-bedroom apartment in Queens was nearly $3,000. Bills and expenses averaged out to be $1,000 to $2,000 a month. Elyse owed almost $150,000 of debt in student loans, and the monthly payments ate away another sizable amount of her earnings. Whatever remained of her paycheck always went to Stefano and Mikey. Elyse had only paid off half of her father’s debts so far, and it’d take another four to five years before she was in the clear. The Mancinis were growing impatient, demanding everything within the year. A few months ago, Elyse managedto negotiate a longer grace period. The Mancinis agreed to give her more time to pay back what was owed in exchange for free round-the-clock medical services.

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