Page 71 of Promise Never

Grasping my hand, he gives it a tendersqueeze before pressing my wrist at his mouth. “I have to go to Messina andmake sure the goods coming in aren’t fucked with.”

“Be careful,” seeps out naturally andwith more affection than I anticipated.

It results in a soft smile thatsmooths out the worry on his face a little.

Alessandro leans in for a slow andpassionate kiss. Then he stares at me in this intense way as if there’ssomething he wants to say.

My heart stutters from eagerness, butI’m partly fearful, still wondering if I should continue falling into this deepwell of passion or pry myself away despite the pain I’ll experience.

A line forms on his face as if hedetects the doubt, and without another word, Alessandro steps past me andleaves the kitchen.

32

It’s nightfall by the time Alessandroreturns from Messina. He seems exhausted.

When he goes upstairs to shower, Iwander into the kitchen for a snack since dinner wasn’t on our minds thatevening.

I’m nibbling on a sweet bun when Iglimpse Sofia through the window, sitting at the stone table on the patio.She’s been in the office all day, making phone calls—none to her cousins asyet.

Finishing the bun, I pour juice into aglass and step outside into the cool night air.

Sofia turns at my approach. “Oh,Tiana.”

“Hey.” I sit across from her.

She blows a long and stressful breath,staring all over the low-lit yard.

I notice she’s clutching her cellphone.

“You made me think you didn’t care forEnrique. Look at you. You’re worried sick.”

She sniffs. “I was upset with him. Heran off with that woman all because I didn’t like her. It was such a childishthing. But I thought maybe it also had to do with him craving independence fromus.” She rubs her forehead. “Alessandro wanted to send men after him rightaway. I told him to let Enrique go. Then I went behind his back and sentsomeone to watch him, thinking he’d eventually find the nerve to return home.Now, I don’t know if he’s on to me or if somebastard’sharmed him.”

Something compels me to reach over andhold her hand. “I’m sure Enrique’s all right. You’ll find him again likebefore.”

Sofia squeezes my hand. “I hope so. Italmost feels like the universe wants to take all my sons.” She hangs her headand sniffles. “You know, Luca wasn’t always bad. He was a sweet little boy. Buthis father corrupted him too much. I knew I’d lost him even before he burnedAles.”

“At least Alessandro turned out good,”I mutter. “He’s nothing like Luca. He’s—” I pause, shaken by the quick thumpingin my chest and how much my tummy flutters at just the mention of him.

Have I fallen?

It can’t be. I know we have someintense emotions. But love?

“Tiana?” Sofia’s sincere tone pulls meout of my thoughts.

I harrumph and shake my head.

She watches me for a moment. “Have youdecided what you’ll do once Alessandro deals with Zeno?”

I shrug a shoulder. “Your son says hewon’t let me go.”

She snorts. “And what do you want?”

“I’m not sure. I’m all mixed upinside, and I can’t think about my sister without feeling guilty.”

“Because you love Ales,” she deadpans,so sure of it.

“What?” I pull my hand away. “I don’t…I don’t….”

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