Page 83 of Fight Me Little Pearl

He shakes his head and backs away. “You’re going to regret this. You’ll miss me.”

“I miss you already.”

“Liar.”

When he grabs his luggage and walks to the door, my heart skips, and I hurry after him and wrap my arms around his back. He turns to face me and his eyes are alight with amusement.

“I’m still here; this is your last chance.”

“Valentino,” I groan. “If you ask me again, I’ll say, yes. I swear it.”

He smiles and kisses my forehead. “Then I won’t ask.”

I fall harder in love with him at that moment. “But you need to know that I’m only doing this for you. I do not want to see Matteo; I do not care about him at all.”

“Thank you, Valentino.” I take his hands. “I don’t take this for granted.”

He stares at me for another long moment before nodding. Then he turns away, but not before I catch the ghost of a smile on his face that tells me he secretly admires the sacrifice I am making for Nonna Isadora and Matteo.

I follow him down the stairs, where Vance takes his luggage and walks out. Roberto is also waiting in the living room. He looks happy that Valentino is going to see Matteo.

“Good morning,” he greets. “Good morning, Signora Barone.”

I frown. “Just call me Francesca.”

“Signora Barone sounds better,” Valentino says. “I’ll be outside with you shortly, Roberto.”

“Okay.” Roberto takes the hint and disappears, leaving us alone.

“When will you be back?”

“As soon as I have seen Matteo,” he says.

“Alright. Go well and come back safely to me.” I kiss his lips.

“I’ll see you soon.” He lingers beside me for a few seconds before leaving.

As soon as the door closes, my heart longs for him again. For a short while, I almost run out of the door to glimpse him again, but I don’t want to seem desperate. Instead, I go and sit on the armchair in the living room, contemplating my life, and how Igot here. When did I become so dependent on Valentino that the thought of a couple of days away from him is like torture?

The door opens, and my head whips towards it, hoping it’s Valentino, but my happiness deflates when I see Vance. He’s surprised to see me in the living room, which is understandable because whenever Valentino is absent, I’m always upstairs in our bedroom.

“You didn’t go with them?” I ask.

Vance walks slowly to the other end of the room. He always gives me a wide berth. Dutch does, too. It’s like they’re scared of coming too close to me. As if I carry a communicable disease.

“No, La Signora Barone.”

“Why?”

“The Boss wants me to guard the house.”

I laugh. “The house? Or me?”

Vance purses his lips and looks away from me. I know trying to have a conversation with him is hopeless, so I put the TV on and direct my attention to it.

Two hours later, I’m at the dining table having some food, when the doorbell rings. I glance at Vance. He jumps up from his chair by the window and looks at me. “Are you expecting anyone?”

I shake my head.

---