Page 24 of Make You Mine

I nod to the glow in the sky. “See that moon?”

With her head still on my chest, she peers up at the full moon, nodding against me.

“No matter how far apart we are, just look at that moon and know I’m somewhere looking at the exact same moon, thinking of you and loving you from wherever I am. You don’t know how many nights I’ve talked to the moon, wishing it was you.”

Her lips find mine, molding us together. The perfect fit of love and desire. Just like the first time I made love to her in this exact spot at the beach.

When we finally pull apart, my whispered words flutter across her beautifully flushed face. “I’ll love you for eternity, Ashley Castrovinci.”

The crash of her cup to the floor snaps me back to the present. Even though the memory is bittersweet, unlike the last time I saw her singing this song, her eyes are hollow, her lips are dry, and the light from her beautiful face is nowhere to be found.

“What are you doing here?” she whispers, and I see the way Rebecca is watching, concerned about Ashley’s reaction.

“Mrs. Santini, are you okay?” Rebecca asks, stepping toward Ashley until she looks down at Nori’s protective stance and reconsiders it.

Hearing her last name out loud has the color draining from my own face now.

“Yes, sorry.” Looking between the two of us, she recovers quickly when she notices my bag.

“Is Vito okay?”

Rebecca may believe Ashley’s words to be genuine, but I know her better than that. She’s covering up for her misstep; she gives less than two fucks about Vito’s well-being.

My phone chimes, and it's a text from Luca, who’s outside protecting the perimeter today.

Luca

You have about fifteen minutes until he and his convoy are back.

“I actually may not have time for that coffee.” Lifting my phone in Rebecca’s direction, I tell her, “I know Vito probably shouldn’t be left for long either. Thank you for the offer. Maybe tomorrow.”

She smiles gently. “I’ll get back to him. Thank you. I’ll give you a call if I have any issues with his IV.”

“Sounds great, thank you,” I say to her as she walks out.

Making my way over to Ashley, who remains frozen like a deer in the headlights, I ask, “Where is your broom?”

She points to the closet off from the kitchen, still not turning to fully look at me.

Ashley stands in the same spot as I clean up her empty glass.

“Do you want me to make you a coffee?”

“No, I’ll do it. You should leave Trent,” she rushes out, tone devoid of emotion. Her demeanor is even more standoffish with me today than it was last week.

“I don’t want to leave. I came here to see you.”

Nori doesn’t growl as I step closer to her, but he doesn’t leave her side either.Good boy.

I gently grab her arm, trying to pull her toward me, but she resists. “Are you officially working with Trevor now?”

“Yes,” is all I say. I try to look into her eyes, but she refuses to meet my gaze.

“Then no… You came here to complete a job for my husband. Maybe there’s more to it, but I wouldn’t know, would I?”

I place both my hands on her shoulders, this time turning her toward me. “That’s not fair. I’ve tried talking to you. That’s why I invited you to the hotel. Why didn’t you co…” The words die on my lips when I brush the hair off her shoulder to get a better look.

Bruises. Fucking handprints, semi-covered by make-up, encapsulate her neck.

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