Page 24 of Promise Never

He shakes his head. “Why would he? He’s probablynot even hiding in Messina. It won’t work.”

“It could,” I insist and divert from his gaze as Iadd, “He checked me out that day. He’ll show up if I go there alone. It’ll beunexpected, and I’m sure that will make him curious. Plus, you can rule outwhether he’s there or truly in Agrigento.”

When I steer my focus back to Alessandro, hegrunts and looks at the water.

I watch the way he scrunches up his face indeliberation.

“Fine,” he pretty much growls and straightens tofull height, putting on his shoes.

“I’ll need a sexy dress,” I tell him.

He pauses on me and huffs. “I’ll have someonedeliver that tomorrow. We’ll put your plan to work the day after.”

“Don’t you need my size?” I ask before he leaves.

Alessandro casts me a sidelong glance with ashameless cocky smirk on his face. “I studied every curve the night at theclub.” He veers around the pool, taking the stone path towards the back of themain house.

Meanwhile, I’m unable to move, skin on fire fromhis bold statement. No matter how I try to subdue it, I can’t stop myself fromfeeling aroused.

11

“It’s all true,” Mother says, setting a folderbefore me on the desk. “The background check confirms it. I’d already believedher, but I had to make sure.”

I open the folder, pausing on the photo of Tiana.

Her captivating almond-brown eyes induce a strangepull, promising warmth inside. Truthfully, I wouldn’t mind experiencing thatinstead of the coldness.

“She’s twenty-six,” Mother goes on, sitting on thecouch. “So only a year younger than you. That’s good.”

I snap my head up. “Don’t get any ideas.”

She waves me off and keeps going. “Several fosterhomes. She and her sister must have gone through it.”

“This feels invasive,” I murmur, flipping thepapers without reading anything. It’s as if I’d rather Tiana share the detailswith me. “I’ve already upset her by accusing her of lying.”

Mother sighs. “This sort of thing is normalwhenever we’re dealing with someone new. You know that.”

“Sì.” I pause on thepolice report about her sister’s murder. Trinity King suffered greatly thatnight. I can’t imagine the agony Tiana felt when she came onto the scene.

“Tiana’s sister was just as alluring. I can seewhy my animal of a son would fixate on the woman, killing her when she rejectedhim.”

“He never did handle rejection well.” My stomach churnsfrom reading the details. I close the folder and place it in the desk drawer.“Tiana’s right. He was a monster.”

Mother looks down at her lap. “I often wonder whatI could have done differently. Perhaps I’d—”

“You did your best,” I assure her. “Luca wasjust…Luca.”

“Well, I suppose it’s useless to think about thatnow. He’s gone, and like his father, he’s left a trail of destruction for us toface.”

Tiana consumes my head, making me slump back inthe chair. “Nothing we do will lessen Tiana’s pain. But at least I can try tokeep her safe.”

Mother tapers her eyes, searching my features forsomething. “She has a guard around her heart. So do you, just not in the samesense. Maybe…”

“Mother,” I grumble.

She raises her hands while straightening from thecouch. “By the way, are you going to tell me what happened the other night?Runiand the others are evading my gaze. I know somethinghappened, Ales.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle. Please, do notworry.”

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