Page 9 of Promise Never

“Whatever.” Shewrithesher arm from my grip. “I don’t need a gun to kill anyone.”

“I do not doubt that. But I’m not letting you roamthe streets of Sicily when you have no idea who to trust. I meant what I saidin the car. You’re staying alive.”

“You can’t keep me here,” she argues. “I don’tallow men to tell me what to do.”

I edge closer, regarding her beautiful face. She’sso full of fire while glaring at me, and it triggers a dirty thought.

That fury would add to the excitement if we werein bed. But her experience with Luca puts her off-limits. It’s clear as glassshe’d rather douse herself with gasoline and light a match than let me fuckher, anyway.

“I won’t let you leave.” My voice comes out in alow and daunting growl. “Not until Zeno is dead.SoIsuggest you get comfortable.”

Her reddish-brown eyes start to flutter. Then herfeatures warp with disgust, and she swivels from me.

It didn’t bother me when Solari Martelli and otherwomen who had encountered Luca—andsurvived—reacted to me in such amanner. But for some reason, the fact that Tiana cannot stand my appearancefeels like a punch to the gut.

I comb my fingers through my hair and slant toleave. “Are you hungry? I’ll bring you food.”

After what feels like a century, she blows a sharpbreath and concedes. “I’m thirsty. Water is fine.”

“Be right back.”

“I’ll only accept bottled water with a sealedcap,” she adds before I leave. “I don’t trust you not to drug me.”

“Cristo.” I throw my hands up. “I don’t drugpeople. That is your specialty.”

“Whatever.” She drops down on the sofa, and I exitand shut the door with a thud.

“Teneted'occhiosudi lei,” I tellRunibefore heading for the main house.

Grabbing water bottles from the fridge, I veerdown the passage and peek into the office. I’m far from surprised that Motheris in her favorite armchair, reading.

She looks up from the book and removes theglasses. “Seitornato. How were things in Messina?”

“Smooth.”Far from it. “The buyer picked upthe goods. The money is already in the account.”

Her head goes up and down slowly. “Buona.”

It’s better to spare her the rest. She’ll becomealarmed and worry herself sick should I inform her of the hit at the club.

I walk over to kiss her cheek, and Mother beams atme, always relieved whenever I return home intact. I suppose it’s because we’reall that’s left of our family.

She glimpses the bottles in my hands. “Are youheading to the gym?”

“Later. I’m taking these to someone in theguesthouse. I have a…friend that’s staying there tonight and perhaps for a dayor two.”

Surprise instantly veils her face. “What friend?Nothing has happened, right?” She touches my arm.

I shake my head. “Just a friend in a bind. It’snothing to do with us.Vaialetto,Madre.Riposati.”

That makes her smile, wrinkles appearing at thecorners of her eyes. “You as well.” She gently pats my cheek, and I gesture forher to head to bed.

Chuckling, Mother straightens from the chair, andI follow her out of the office, watching her climb the stairs before steppingoutside.

Runiopensthe door as I approach the guesthouse.

Tiana isn’t in the living room. Her duffel bag isstill on the floor, so I doubt she’s attempting to escape.

I set the water bottles on the coffee table andcheck the bedroom. She’s not lying down. The door to the bathroom is open withthe light off.

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