Page 108 of The Devil Can Be Kind

The view was so beautiful, it made it hard to remember the heartbreak that I had left inside.

I heaved in a deep, calming breath and looked up at the stars.

I knew that Marco would grow bored and move on to someone else. I had already made my peace knowing that my time with him would be fleeting, and that soon enough I would be relegated to the sidelines. I just hadn’t anticipated that it would beso soon… Could he be sleeping with us both?

The question weighed in my stomach like a rock.

“I thought I might find you out here.” The gentle words reached my ears at the same time as I heard footsteps approaching.

I was surprised to hear that the voice belonged to Eliyana La Torre. I turned and gave her a small smile as she approached.

She stopped beside me, resting her forearms on the stone and looking out across the gardens as I did. A small shawl was wrapped around her petite shoulders, shielding her from the slight chill in the air.

“It is a beautiful venue,” I offered, trying my best to keep my voice light.

“It is indeed.” She leaned in a little closer to me and then lowered her voice as if disclosing a secret. “Though it is a little ostentatious for my liking.”

I grinned. “I think I would have to agree with you on that one.” Her gentle laugh was as musical as her son’s.

A few moments ticked by before I spoke again.

There was something I needed to say to this kind woman, but I was struggling to find the right words.

“I owe you an apology, Mrs. La Torre-”

“Eliyana.” She insisted.

I smiled before continuing. “Eliyana. In fact…I owe you a great deal more than an apology.” I couldn’t keep my voice from trembling as I continued. “What my family did to yours was unforgivable and disgusting. I am truly, truly sorry.” I couldn’t help it as tears lined my eyes, remorse weakening the walls I so frequently built up.

Delicately, she took my hand and squeezed it affectionately. I was surprised to find her gaze held not an ounce of judgment or resentment.

“You are not to blame, cara mia. Your father must shoulder that responsibility alone.” She patted my hand comfortingly.

“Marco is very much like his father.” She continued after a thoughtful moment. “He is just as strong-willed and as practical as Manuel ever was. Loyal almost to a fault.” She gave a sad chuckle. “When my Husband died, part of Marco and myself died with him. It destroyed us and Marco wasn’t ready to become the Don to this family. Back then, all he wanted to do was play football and race around in his cars.” She smiled at the thought.

“But he didn’t have the luxury of time or choice. Today, he is one of the most feared Dons Sicily has ever known, hardened and ruthless like no other because he has had to be. But underneath thattenaciousexterior…my son still exists. And I think you have seen him too.”

Images of us eating McDonalds in my car flashed across my mind. Him doing donuts around the parking lot, just because I told him he couldn’t. Play fighting in the pool this morning because I’d pushed him in… The boy within Marco didn’t come out very often, but beneath all his cold indifference, that boy was there. Ihadseen him.

“You care for my son, don’t you?” Her question was more rhetorical, but I nodded anyway.

It was strange for me to feel so trusting of someone I had only just met, and yet not one part of me felt ashamed to admit my feelings to her. In fact, it was freeing.

“He cares for you too, you know.”

W-wait, what?

She laughed at the surprise on my face, “I know my son well enough to know the signs, cara mia. Did you know that he extricated some of his cousins for believing you should be killed when your father refused your ransom? It caused quite the stir.” She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. “That’s when I knew you were something special.”

My brain refused to process the words she was saying, and I shook my head in disbelief. My thoughts flashed to the brunette inside and I internally compared myself to the other women he must have available in his life. There wasn’t even a comparison.

She chuckled gently, understanding my skepticism, “My son has had manyfriendsin his time, but he has never defended and fought with his family over one before. Only you.”

I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing.

But what if she was wrong?

The consequences would have been too painful to bare if she was… butcouldshe be? She was Marco’s mother and knew him better than anyone else, or at least knew how toread himbetter than anyone else did.

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