Page 30 of Promise Never

“Despite that, you can trust me, Tiana.” Thesincerity in his tone makes me lift my head. “Will you?”

“No,” I answer fast. Meanwhile, part of me isalready starting to. “It’s hard to trust a—”

“We’re two different people,” he insists. “I’m theFattorethat wants to keep you safe. Alive.”

“Is that why you almost took a bullet for me?” Ihiss. “Don’t risk your life. I wouldn’t do it for you.”

He snorts. “Blood for blood, Tiana. Something mymother’s family kept as an oath. It would be fair for me to die saving you.Fattoreowes you a life after taking your sister’s.”

The seriousness in his words makes me shudder.“That’s not necessary. Luca’s dead.”

“Not by your hands.Soyou are still owed.”

I wobble my head, making my curls sway. They mustbe a hot mess after the chaos at the café. “If that’s how you feel, what aboutthe other people your brother ruined? Aren’t they owed?”

Alessandro sighs heavily. “They are, but no onehas come to collect. Just you.” Spittle slides down my throat as a slyhalf-smile forms.

“Anyway.” I harrumph and tilt my chin. “I don’twant what you’re offering. It means nothing to me if it’s not Luca.”

He shrugs. “Well, it is our way, and I’ve alreadysworn.”

Silence settles between us.

A stream of heat rocks my body when he reaches tomy neck again, trailing his fingers across my skin.

“I hate that you got hurt,” he says, his voicesounding too damn sexy.

Our eyes lock, and out of nowhere, my body beginsto ache to feel him all over.

I’m becoming more aware of how alone we are in thebathroom. Plus, he’s shirtless.

Fuck. He looks sogood.

Do they have the air conditioning on low in thehouse? “I’m…hot….”

His brows fly up. “Hot?”

I’m too horny to remain here any longer. Mycomposure is dwindling.

“I need to ice my neck.” I turn to open the door.

“Thank you,” Alessandro says at my back. “Fordressing my wound. For talking to me, even though it was brief. Perhaps we’llbecome friends in time.”

“That won’t happen.” Not only because of who heis, but friendship is far from what my pussy desires at the moment.

I hurry out of the bathroom, slowing down onlyonce I’m back in the guesthouse.

Breathing hard, I head straight for the shower,hoping that will cool the shameful heat that’s shrouding my body.

13

These lustful thoughts of Tiana are pushing me tothrow my constraints away.

God, she’s so fucking captivating.

I couldn’t stop watching her through thebinoculars today while scoping out the area.

It was too hard not to steal glances, and I can’t forgethow she reacted when I accidentally whispered that I found her beautiful.

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