Page 34 of Promise Never

“Enrique was always in his own world. He wanted noparts of the family business. Father called him the weakest. And physically, hewas.” He breaks to heave a razor-sharp breath. “Enrique got sick a lot as aboy. No one could figure out what was wrong. He just grew out of it.” A smileplays at his lips as he says, “Yes, I miss him. He was tolerable.”

“Pfft. Geez.”

He pinches his brows as he asks, “Who taught youhow to fight and handle a gun?”

I drink some water before answering. “A formerspecial forces guy that teaches women self-defense. I paid him for tougherclasses, and he pretty much showed me how to be a killer.”

His head goes up and down slowly as if impressed.

Becoming nervous from his gaze, I lower my eyes tothe food and resume eating.

“What were you doing before everything changed?”

That question propels my mind back to the days,months, and years before my world crumbled.

“Uh, I worked as a receptionist for a financial advisor.I hated my job, but it paid my half of the bills.”

“Your half...” His voice falls at the realization.“You lived with your sister.”

“Yeah.” I pause in memory. “You know, she had bigdreams. She planned to launch her fashion brand. She was always designing.”

“And you?” he asks. “What did you want foryourself?”

“Adventure,” I reply, surprised by how easy it isto tell him. Even more shocking, I think I’m smiling.

Alessandro is quiet. I feel his eyes on me,burning a path to my most vulnerable side.

“Keep going,” he urges, sounding so curious.

I close the nearly empty container and lean backin the chair. “I couldn’t do much growing up. I always felt confined.Somy dream was to go on adventures. See the world. But Ithought my sister would be with me.”

“She is with you,” he rasps. “In spirit.”

My eyes begin to water. “I don’t want that. I wanther. Alive.” I straighten and wander to the edge of the pool, forcingdown the tears.

Silence dawdles around us.

“I’ve never felt a loss as deeply as yours.” I wincefrom his voice right at my back. I didn’t realize he’d gotten up as well.

“Aside from my mother,” he continues, “I’m notclose to anyone—never was. When my father died, I’d felt nothing but reliefafter the initial shock.”

Aghast, I turn to him. “Damn. That’s cold.”

Alessandro shrugs nonchalantly. “He was a cruelman. It was the same for Luca. I’d never even considered taking revenge—theexpected thing. My first thought when I’d heard the news was, he’d gotten whathe’d deserved. Then I...” He steers his gaze to the pool.

“You what?” I’m so intrigued by him.

He sniffs. “I went to a club, met prostitutes,and, well, I don’t need to elaborate on what I did after. I enjoyed myself.”

I harrumph and touch my neck, feeling discomfortfrom not only the bruising but crazily, from what he’s divulged. It shouldn’tirk me. Yet, I can’t repel the jealousy.

“Are you hurting?” Alessandro questions, snappingme out of my thoughts. “You’re rubbing your neck.”

“I’m fine.”

He angles his head, eyes narrowing. “Or perhaps you’rebothered by what I said about the women?”

“What?” Heat floods my cheeks, and I blinkprofusely. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not interested in you.”

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