Page 53 of Promise Never

She clasps her hands on the table,asking, “What do you think of my son?”

My eyes stretch wide. “Excuse me?”

“Set aside that he’s aFattore. What do you truly think of Ales?”

I huff and drop my head to the plate.“I don’t…think anything of him.”Lies. “Alessandro will always be Luca’sbrother. Nothing more. He’ll never be anything more.” Yet, it hurts even to saythat out loud when my heart’s a mess.

She touches my hand, making me lookup. “Something’s changed. Hasn’t it?” Her tone is soft, knowing. She gives me apartial smile and rises from the chair. “I’m sure it’s changed for him, too.”She walks out the door.

Have things truly changed forAlessandro?

Does it even matter?

We can’t be together. We just can’t.

23

My heart skips a beat when the carslows down in the courtyard and Alessandro exits. He climbs the steps to themain house and disappears inside.

He’s avoided me for the past two days.I know it’s because I pushed him away, and he’s probably trying to stay clearuntil he finds Zeno. But the yearning for him is too damn intense, which is whyI go after him.

I don’t see Alessandro when I enterhis house. He probably went upstairs to shower.

I mosey down the passage to avoidSofia if she’s in the office. I have no explanation for her should she catchme, especially when she’s already starting to read me like a book.

My feet move on their own towards theback stairs, and my pulse spikes when I hear his grunts.

Alessandro’s in the gym.

I should get out of here. But it’s sohard to quell my feelings.

Quietly, I descend the stairs andenter the gym.

Like last time, he’s at the punchingbag, going all out on the thing. He’s left his shirt on with his sleeves rolledup.

“Nothing new?” I ask softly.

Alessandro pivots.

“You haven’t updated me in two days,”I rasp.

He lingers on my appearance for amoment before he answers, “No. Nothing new.” Then he resumes throwing punches.

Something tells me he’s agitated. Isit because he wants to get rid of me? That triggers an ache in my chest. Idon’t even understand why.

Leaving is what I want. Right?

His animal-like rumbles zap me out ofmy head.

I stroll over, stopping near thepunching bag. “You seem frustrated. Is it because you can’t find Zeno? You wantme out of here that bad?” I try to seem as if I’m joking around when really,I’m so damn torn.

Alessandro stalls and looks at me. Ishiver from the intensity. “Yes, I am frustrated. But it’s not because ofZeno.” He catches his breath and drags his hand through his hair. “I don’t wantyou gone, Tiana. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop craving you. Andthat is a huge fucking issue. Because I hunger for what I cannot have.”

Nervous breaths ooze past my lips.

My chest is rising and falling deeply.

Emotions are running wild.

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