Page 10 of Promise Never

I’m about to return to the front when I notice thebackdoor is partly open.

I go out to the yard.

My nerves calm when I see her standing at the edgeof the pool. I don’t know the woman or her sister, yet I feel a sense ofresponsibility because of what my murderous brother did.

“I brought water,” I say at her back.

Tiana doesn’t flinch. She must have known I wasbehind her. She’s so aware.

“Why didn’t Luca kill you as well?” I ask, movingto her side.

She swallows hard and hugs herself as if cold.“I’d just reached the apartment. I only saw the side of his face as he got inhis car. He didn’t see me. I guess it was too dark.”

“How do you know it was him?”

She pivots, leveling me with a vicious glare.“Because Trinity used her last breath to name her killer.”

Pain consumes her appearance. I almost expect herto shed a tear, but it seems anger has hardened her shield.

“I know it won’t bring your sister back—”

“Don’t say it,” Tiana interjects through clenchedteeth. “I don’t need your sorry.”

She squeezes her eyes shut and flushes out afrustrated breath. “You look so much like that fucking monster.” She marchesoff into the house.

Holy shit. That wounds me.

Well, all right, Tiana King.

I’ll deal with ZenoCostantiniand get her out of here. The sooner we part from each other, I can releasemyself of the need to make amends for my brother’s brutal act. And I won’t havethis unease because she cannot stomach my face.

5

I feel so tormented in this bed—in his guesthouse.

Trinity is probablyside-eyeingme from heaven.

How can I stay in the home of the brother of themonster that killed my sister?

It reeks of disloyalty.

I could try to escape, butFattoreguards are all over, and I peeped electrical wires at the top of the walls.Soclimbing my way out isn’t possible.

On the other hand, this might be the safest placefor me, considering ZenoCostantiniwants me deadbecause he feels like it.

With no mission, I suppose it is best to lay lowuntil thatsnake’sterminated.

I don’t even know what’s next.

I never planned beyond my quest for revenge. Therewas no thought of what I’d do should I complete my task. Maybe because I didn’tthink I’d survive.

Now I’m in limbo with no purpose since all mydreams had vanished thenightI found my big sister ina pool of blood.

My eyes start to tingle as the memory rushes myhead, and my throat burns from fighting back sobs.

Clenching my fists, I force down the painfulemotions until they’re locked in the box again. And I breathe deeply beforestraightening from the bed.

Dawn’s gray hue is seeping into the room.

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