Page 29 of Promise Never

“I didn’t want to worry my mother,” he says as ifto explain why he’s letting me assist him.

“I get it.”

He hisses and grits his teeth when I apply the antiseptic.

“Sorry,” I say in a whisper.

“It’s all right. I’ve felt worse pain.”

That reminds me of the burn marks on his shoulder.

“Hm.” I wrap the bandage around his arm and secureit. “All set.”

“Wait.” He straightens before me.

A gasp seeps past my lips when he touches my neck.

“Sorry. You told me not to touch you, but….”

I wobble my head, indicating that I don’t mind atthe moment.

His fingers shouldn’t feel so good against myskin. Butgod, his touch is exhilarating, a searingflame that burns sweetly and tempts me to beg for more.

When did that start happening?

I gulp as Alessandro gently examines the area,shivering once he stares into my eyes.

“You’re bruised.” A low rumble follows. “I’ll sendfor the doctor.”

“It’s fine,” I refuse, then repeat his words,“I’ve felt worse pain.”

Rage instantly twists his face. “Someone hurt youlike thatbefore?Tell me who.”

It’s hard to deny the rush from his sheerdetermination to murder my tormentor. It damn near turns me on.

Geez. I’ve become used to violence.

I stagger back from Alessandro, letting his handfall so I can settle my racing heart.

Why the fuck is it doing that anyway?

I turn to wash my hands at the sink. For somereason, the words spill without hesitation. “Growing up in foster homes, theadults weren’t always kind. Sometimes the kids were just as awful.”

“You suffered abuse,” he mutters in a sympathetictone.

“Trinity took the brunt of it. She was my bigsister. She always protected me.” I pause, overwhelmed by the onslaught of painspewing from the dome in my chest. Yet, I can’t seem to stop. “She never toldme half of what happened to her, probably because I’d always blame myself eventhough I was just a kid. She was secretive, even in her journal… She neverdetailed anything.”

I tremble as Alessandro glides his hand over myshoulder. He eases around me to turn the tap off.

“Oh.” I back away from him. “I didn’t realize thewater was still running.”

“Keep talking,” he implores, voice calm andsoothing.

“I can’t,” flushes out on an exhale. “I shouldn’t.I don’t want to—”

“—see me as anything other than aFattore?” he finishes. “A name you hate. A name that tookthe best thing from your world.”

“Exactly.” I look at the floor. The longer westare into each other’s eyes, the more I soften to Alessandro. I cannot affordto do that. I’ll never be able to live with myself.

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