Page 81 of Convenient Mafia Vows

“You still … should’ve told me… I can help … you find her.”

I breathe in through my nose, hold it, and breathe out through my mouth. Watching Kyle struggling to fill his lungs always has this effect on me, like my own lungs start shutting down in sympathy.

“I saw how you were after the accident. I tried to find her.” He listens, his eyebrows lower making his eyes appear even more sunken with his labored breathing. “I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t want to admit that I’d failed. I failed you that night. I should’ve been there for you.”

“This … doesn’t change … anything. When was you … going … to tell me? After you let … Victoria go?”

I rub my hands across my stubble. It’s been a long twenty-four hours. Victoria was asleep when I went back to the apartment to shower, and as tempting as it was, I didn’t want to wake her. It isn’t until Kyle talks about letting her go that I realize that I didn’t get to finish what I was about to tell her on the Byway.

“Letting her go is no longer an option.”

The corners of Kyle’s mouth twitch into a smile. “I thought … it would take you … longer than this … to realize.”

“I’m learning.” I sit forward, resting my elbows on my thighs. “Now do you understand why I was against you and Olivia?”

“Because of … Sienna?”

“Kyle, there must’ve been something in the air that night five years ago because you fell for Sienna almost as hard and as fast as I fell for Sandy.”

“And now…?”

“And now there’s Victoria. She reminds me so much of Sandy it’s uncanny.”

“You should try … keeping it in your pants.”

I smile. At least we’re good again. “It’s more than that. She’s … I don’t know.” I’m not used to expressing my emotions, so I’m struggling to find the right words. “She’s everything I ever imagined my future wife to be, I guess.”

Kyle nods. “You look good … together. I’ve never seen … a woman … eat so much toast before.”

I can’t help laughing. “You had breakfast with my wife?”

“Someone had to … keep her company.”

“How do you feel about Sienna now? I mean now that you know she survived the wreck?” I watch him closely. Even now, it’s still my job to look out for him. Perhaps it always will be.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe you’re right … maybe there was something … in the air that night … because I could hardly … take my eyes off her. But now…” He coughs into his hands, his eyes filling up. “Have my memories … made her into something special … because of what happened?” He shakes his head. “What if… What if she doesn’t … live up to the images in my head?”

“Then it’ll be time to let it go. Just think yourself lucky that you get a second chance.”

“We have to find her first.”

The door opens again, and Cash and Bash come in, closely followed by Terry and our mom. She comes straight in, sits beside Kyle, and hands him an inhaler. His breathing eases a little almost immediately.

“Thanks, Mom.” Kyle looks sheepish, like a little kid again, and my chest swells with love for him.

“I’m not going to remind you to carry an inhaler around with you.” Mom sits demurely beside him, legs crossed at the ankles. “You’re old enough to make your own mistakes.”

“It hasn’t happened in a while.” It isn’t an excuse; Kyle is just stating a fact.

Mom inclines her head. “Now, about Sienna…”

Kyle snaps his head towards her; she has his full attention now that his lungs have some respite. “What about her? What haveyou heard?” His eyes hop between Mom and Terry, his breathing growing shallow again.

I place a hand on his arm. “Relax. Breathe. We’re still looking for her. Right?” I address Terry.

“Let your mom speak.” He doesn’t make eye contact, and my gut starts twisting.

“This revelation doesn’t change anything.” Mom glances at me and back at Kyle. “I’ve spoken to Victoria, and we’ve agreed to go ahead with the wedding reception at the Titan as planned. Of course, Dragonetti’s health problems will make life a little more difficult, but we’ll find a way around it. He needs to know what his daughter is, and we need to be the ones to show him.”

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