Page 109 of Mafia Don's Secret Twins

I nod. “I’ll go every day.”

“I’ll be there,” he whispers.

With one last soft kiss, I step away. Walking out into the garden again, I look up at the fruit trees.

I wonder how Dino’s been getting me the notes. I should probably ask him before I go. Quickly, I turn, dashing back under the shelter. “You could send me another note,” I say softly.

Dino looks at me, a frown pulling at his lips.

Ice skates over my spine as he straightens. “What are you talking about?”

My stomach clenches. “The notes. From the garden. The ones telling me to meet you out here?”

It feels like I’m grasping at straws. Like I did something wrong, even though I know I didn’t.

He rises slowly. His face darkens, and I see the hint of danger creep back into his eyes.

“I haven’t sent you any notes, Marisol.”

21

MARISOL

I haven’t sentyou any notes, Marisol.

The words still send a chill down my spine. As I walk down the path back toward the main house, I feel cold, colder than I should, even with the volume of water pouring down from the sky.

The notes were kind of cute when I thought that they were from Dino.

Now though?

I feel… dirty. Like someone’s been keeping tabs on me in a way that I not only wouldn’t want them to, but didn’t ask for.

Like someone is watching me, and I don’t know who.

I’m going to get rid of all of them when I get back to my room. I never want to see them again, and if any more notes appear, I’m not even going to open them.

I’m going to put them straight into the toilet and flush them away, so thatno one ever sees them.

Including me.

I’m halfway back to the house, but still in the garden, when I hear my name. “Marisol?”

It’s Andrei, his heavily accented voice ringing through even the rain.

“I’m here,” I say, looking at him through the water that’s still sluicing down from the heavens.

Catching sight of me, Andrei curses. He whips off his leather jacket, wrapping it around my shoulders. He swears in Italian and puts his hands on my shoulders, hustling me toward the house.

“The hell are you thinking? You could catch your death out here.”

I laugh, somewhat bitterly. “You’re turning into a grandmother, Andrei. I’m fine. I’m Brazilian, a little rain never hurt me.”

“This isn’t a little rain, Marisol. This is some kind of plague sent down from above,” he spits.

I don’t acknowledge that.

I let Andrei hustle me inside. His jacket is warm and I do appreciate it, but it feels chilly in comparison to when I was in Dino’s arms.

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