Page 45 of Promise Never

I pluck two glasses of wine from the passingserver and hand one to her. She accepts but doesn’t drink, waiting for me tospeak.

“Domenico is known asportatoredimorte,” I explain. “The bringer of death. Grownmen would quiver at his sight. They knew if he was coming, then they werealready dead. He’s softened since his marriage and even more now that they’vehad a child.”

“Sothe man’s family madehim less of a killer. That’s a good thing.” She clicks her tongue and drinksher wine.

I snort. “Love made him weak.”

“Why are you against love?” She angles her head asif trying to unravel me with her piercing gaze. “Did someone break your littleheart?”

That pulls a short sarcastic laugh out of me. “I’dhave to give my heart to someone first.” I chug a bit of the wine beforetelling her, “That has never happened, and I am not against love. It’s just notsomething I crave.” And yet, it feels strange saying that to her.

An odd look fills her earth-tone eyes before shelowers them and drinks more wine.

I shift in the spot at a familiar prick in mystomach.

Wanting to escape the overwhelming sensation, Itell her, “Stay withRuni. Do not wander off.”

Tiana rolls her eyes at me. “Where will I go? Intothe ocean?”

“Just stay put,” I growl under my breath, thenmake my way to Pietro as more guests arrive at his event. He introduces me toassociates and pulls me into talks of business.

My mother would appreciate securing more deals,and I am paying attention. But I cannot stop myself from looking across theroom at Tiana every so often, and there’s no denying the onslaught of worrywhen she’s not at my side.

All the walls I’ve built and maintained for yearsseem to be falling apart since our first encounter.

How did this woman manage to dismantle so muchwith a simple glance in such a short time?

I would pull her over, but I’d hate to cause herany discomfort in explaining who she is and how she ended up in Sicily. Andlying to these men isn’t wise.

It’s a relief when the conversations wind down toleisure talk. I use the opportunity to return to Tiana’s side as she’s nibblingon an appetizer.

“Midispiace,” I say.“For leaving you alone.”

She shrugs a shoulder. “Why are you apologizing?You made it clear you’re here for business. Besides, it’s not a big deal if youleave me alone, Alessandro. We’re not….” Her voice falls, and she turns to setthe empty plate on the table.

I glimpse couples swaying in the middle of theroom to the relaxing Italian music.

Something forces me to say, “Dance with me.”

Tiana pivots with a surprised expression. “What?”

“Come.” I tow her to the dance floor, draping myarm around her back while still holding the other.

It takes a second for Tiana to relax. “Um, why—”

“Because I feel like dancing. Don’t you?”

“Not really,” she scoffs, even though she startsto sway with me. “I hate slow dancing.” That sounds like a lie.

I narrow my gaze on her. “Or is it that you justdon’t want to give up control? When you dance, that’s often the case. You don’tlike when someone else leads you.”

She peers down at my chest as if it’s still toohard to stare into my eyes.

“Does it still bother you a lot?” I ask softly, sono one else hears. “That I look like him?”

Tilting her head back, she meets my gaze again andswallows hard. “Alessandro, it’ll always bother me. Maybe not as much as thefirst time we met. But it always will.”

I draw a long and deep breath. “I never used tocare when people said that to me. But for some reason, you—” I fight againstthe words that want to come out.

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