Page 68 of Promise Maker

I’m relieved Francesca didn’t wait up to see me.

Hastening to my room, I peel off the dress andshower twice, desperate to scrub away the smell of that awful place. Too bad Ican’t wash the horror from my head.

Afterward, I crawl into bed and curl up like afetus. But I can’t fall asleep, too riddled with sorrow.

Darkness eventually transitions to light, andsomeone taps on the locked door.

“Solari?” Francesca bellows. “Are youallright?”

I ignore her.

Soon, it isPaoletta’svoice calling from the hallway, telling me she has breakfast.

But I refuse to climb out of bed.

She announces that the meal is outside the door.

Sometime after, I hear shuffling in the hallway.Whoeveritis doesn’t knock and eventually leaves.

Fresh tears pool in my eyes and flow like a river.

I miss my dad terribly. I wish I could be homewith him right now.

But he’s gone, and Mathew was partly responsible.

As horrible as that is, I didn’t want the man todie like that.

What Domenico did was awful.

More tears fall at the thought of him.

I’m angry and longing for him at the same time.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Knocking makes me cringe.

“Solari, I have dinner!”Paolettaexclaims.

It’s then I realize that the room is darkening.

I roll over and clench the pillow tightly, not inthe mood to see any of them, especiallyhim. I cannot look at that man,not with the way my body feels. If I don’t face him, I’ll eventually find a wayto flush him from my system.

Yet, the desire for Domenico increases the harderI fight, and my chest is starting to ache more and more.

I recall the monster from the dungeon and forcehim from my mind, only for him to trickle right back.

He’s haunting me.

Domenico’s been haunting me since I was sixteen.

My lids finally begin to feel heavy, and I closemy eyes and allow sleep to take me away.

When I wake again, it’s a cloudy morning with thepitter-pattering of raindrops—the first rainfall since I’ve been in Sicily.

I stay in bed a while longer until evening, andthe hunger pangs become unbearable.

Conceding, I crawl from under the sheets andstraighten on my feet. A dizzy spell rocks me, and I clutch the side of thedresser for support.

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