Page 21 of Promise Never

I back up into the laundry room as he reaches thedoorway. He’s wearing the shirt and joggers from the gym last night.Bloodstains are on the shirt.

“Did you kill him?” I blurt, pulse spiking.

The muscles in his jaw twitch, and he stepsforward. “Did you meet Zeno more than once?”

“No. Why? What happened?”

Alessandro growls and moves closer, backing meagainst the washer. He rests his hands at my sides, and it’s frustrating thatmy body is heating up.

“I hate liars, Tiana, especially when they fuckwith my family’s money.”

I wrinkle my brows. “What are you talking about?”

“Tell me the truth,” he snarls in my face, hotbreath doing things it shouldn’t. “Do you know where Zeno is? Is it all an act?Did Luca kill your sister? What game are you playing?”

Anguish bubbles in my veins.

“You asshole!” I push at his chest. “Fuckingasshole!” My eyes start to tingle. The fact that he’s questioning the existenceof Trinity and what that monster did to her hurts me. “It’s not a fucking act!My sister’s dead!” I shove him back. “The blood that was pooling out of her wasreal. The cuts all over her body were real! It all fucking happened!”

His expression shifts to remorse as he observesme.

It takes a second for me to realize I’m crying infront of him—aFattoreof all people.

Trembling, I turn my back to Alessandro and fightto suppress the emotions.

“Midispiace,” he saysin a calmer voice. “Sorry.”

I wince from his gentle hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t touch me,” I grate, voice rasping from theburn in my throat.

He moves his hand. “Zeno’s men attacked my storageunit last night. I’m just frustrated. I’m sorry I lashed out at you. Thosegoods are how my mother and I stay afloat.”

I sniffle and glare at him over my shoulder. “Byselling drugs?”

He huffs. “Judge us all you want, Tiana. We dowhat it takes to survive. My father didn’t care for education, and so tradinggoods, even drugs, is all we know.”

Wiping my cheeks with my palms, I face him fullyand lean against the washer.

Tingles erupt on my skin when Alessandro’s eyesfall to my chest, moving to my bare stomach, then to my shorts as if only nowrealizing my attire.

He doesn’t even attempt to conceal his pleasedexpression, Adam’s apple bobbing as his gaze trails down my legs.

I harrumph and hug my chest, causing him to lift hishead quickly.

“No,” I answer his previous questions. “I don’tknow where Zeno is, and I only saw him once. The dealer back home found him forme somehow.” I shrug before adding, “My focus was only on Luca. I didn’trealize I was falling into a web.”

Alessandro rakes his fingers through his messyhair. He looks exhausted, shadows beneath his eyes. “Perhaps that dealer ispart of it. Give me his information.”

“He doesn’t stay in the same place for too long.But I’ll tell you what I know.” I nod at his shirt. “Whose blood is that?”

He sighs before answering. “One of my men thatguards the storage unit. They’re all dead. I didn’t reach in time.”

“Sorry.”

The washer starts its spin cycle. It’s rattling,and in turn, causing my boobs to shake a bit.

Awkward, I move away, dodging Alessandro’s eyes.

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