Page 44 of A Sinner's Truth

“El is just about ready,” he tells me.

“Ready?” I question. “What is she ready for?”

“To take you to the showings. Santo asked her to give you a ride. He’s meeting you there.” Gabe tilts his head at me. “He didn’t tell you, did he?”

I shake my head. “Can you tell him I have other plans?” I try to step around Gabe, but he blocks my path.

“No, butyoucan.” He retrieves his phone from his pocket and dials a number. “Bro, your wife has other plans,” he says into the device, listening for a second or two before turning it towards me. “It’s for you.”

I roll my eyes and snatch the phone out of his hand. “Hello.”

“What plans do you have that are more important than finding our home?” Santo asks, his words slurring slightly.

“I have to go to the office. Are you drunk?” I ask him.

“No.”

“You sound like you are.”

“No, you’re not going to the office. Meet me at the first house with El. I’ll take you wherever you want to go afterwards. I don’t want you going anywhere alone,” he says.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Santo. And you can pick a house all on your own. I really don’t care where we live,” I tell him, because it’s temporary. Twelve months. After that, I’ll go back to my apartment.Back to my life.

“Meet me there. I need your help. Please.” There’s something about the way he says he needs me that has me pausing.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just… Meet me at the house,” he says and cuts the call.

I hand the phone back to Gabe, who gives me an incredulous look. “You’re good for him,” he tells me. “Underneath all that moody arsehole shit, he is a good guy.”

“I know. He’s one of the best people I know.” I’m not lying. I don’t know too many people who would have jumped in and helped me the way Santo did. Which is why, when he says he needsmy help, I decide to ditch my plans to go to the office and meet up with him instead.

“I’m really sorry,” I tell Eloise. We’ve been waiting for Santo to show up for the last twenty minutes.

“Don’t apologise for him. Something probably came up.” She smiles at me.

“I know, but you’ve wasted your time.” I’m going to kill him. I’m embarrassed—and a little hurt that he told me he needed me when it’s clear he doesn’t need anyone but himself.

“I’m going to call Gio and see if he knows what’s up.” Eloise walks towards the front door with her phone to her ear. “He didn’t show.”

I can only hear one side of the conversation, though.

“Oh, shit. Never mind. He just pulled up. You, ah, might want to meet us here or send Gabe.” She hangs up and turns to me with a sympathetic look on her face.

“El, nice place.” Santo comes staggering through the front door. “There she is! My wife. Honey, I’m home.” He holds out his arms while laughing at his own joke.

“What are you doing?” I ask, refusing to move from my spot.

“Don’t be like that,” he slurs and walks towards me before pulling me against his chest. He smells like a bar.

“How much have you had to drink?” I ask him.

“Enough.” He shrugs. “I had to see her.”

“See who?” My brows furrow.

“Shelli. I had to see her and tell her what I did.What we did.” He whispers that last part.

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