Page 72 of Promise Never

She tsks at me and turns her headslowly. “You can’t even deny it with certainty. Your heart won’t let you. Youlove my son.”

I fall quiet, unable to argue.

It’s true.

Holy shit. I love AlessandroFattore. The brother of the man that murdered my sister. Isthat as wrong as I fear it is? Is there a special place in hell for people likeme?

“Any news?” Alessandro’s deep voicestartles us.

We glance at the patio doors.

He’s wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt,hair tousled.

My heart gallops like a racehorse as hecomes over to the table, sitting across from me.

I wonder if he’s heard what his mothersaid about me loving him.

“Not yet,” Sofia tells him. “You bothget some sleep. I’ll let you know once my contact calls.”

Alessandrorubsherarm.“No, Madre. Come posso dormire quando sei così, hm?Aspettiamoinsieme.I’ll call Emanuele if your man can’t find Enrique.”

Sofia relaxes her shoulders. “Grazie,Ales. Midispiacefor keeping secrets when I told younot to.”

He clicks his tongue. “Never mind.”

I leave them to make coffee, and wecontinue the waiting game in the living room.

Alessandro sits beside me on the sofawhile his mother alternates between pacing around to sitting in the armchairshaking her feet.

My eyes start to feel heavy with thepassing hours, and I find myself snuggling into Alessandro’s side. Eventually,I give in to exhaustion, and sleep overpowers me.

33

I’d just turned into the sunroom whenI heard my mother say Tiana loved me.

I waited in the shadows, hoping she’dadmit it. But she didn’t.

Now, as I watch her sleep whilesnuggled in my arms, I’m sure that I love her.

It feels almost strange to have this emotion.Whenever she’s close, my heart swells with pleasure, and I become eager to seekher out when she’s not.

I can’t believe how much my perceptionof relationships and love has changed in the short time that Tiana’s been here.

Who would have thought that I’d fallso hard and fast in a matter of weeks when I’ve been doing well at avoidingsuch things all theseyears.

Mother makes a painful groan andfidgets in the armchair, hand still tightly clutching her phone even thoughshe’s sleeping.

She’s so riddled with fear overEnrique’s life.

I’ve always been concerned for mylittle brother since he left. But that has heightened after learning my motherknew his location all along and that he’d disappeared.

I hear the front door open. Soonafter,Runistorms through the doorway, seemingdistressed. “Ales.” His rough and urgent tone startles the otherwise quietroom.

Tiana winces and eases from my arms.

Mother straightens fast, eyes wide.“Checos'è?”

Runiraises his hand that’s holding a small box, and my pulse spikes.

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