Page 12 of Sin & Secrets

“I should never have spoken with him privately. I see that now,” I tell him. “Whatever he wanted wasn’t worth someone coming between us.”

“He’s a manipulative bastard. You should have known better. You should have come straight to me.”

I bow my head in shame. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“You’re not strong enough to deal with men like Moretti. They’ll spin whatever pretty lies they want to get you into bed with them.”

“I’m sorry.”

He takes me by the arms again. “You’remine,Cas.”

I can’t stop the hiss of pain that escapes my teeth. But Claudio doesn’t let go.

“Please, Claudio. You’re hurting me.”

“If that bastard approaches you again, what will you say?”

Traitorous tears begin to prickle in my eyes. “I won’t say anything. I’ll come straight to you.”

He releases me finally, and I sag to the floor, focusing on getting air into my lungs.

“You’ve really pissed me off today, Cas.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“I’m going out. You can see yourself home.”

My eyes snap up to his. “But I thought we’d get a cab and go home together?”

“What did I just say?”

There’s nothing gentle or loving in his eyes. All I see is sheer annoyance. I look down at my knees on the dirty floor. I stay in place, pathetically kneeling on the floor and maintain my numb silence until I hear him leave. The door closes behind him with a definitive bang.

When the tears come, I’m not entirely sure who I’m crying for. Or for how long. All I know is that when Mia finds me, I’m still kneeling on the floor.

“Hey, hey, hey!” She kneels in front of me, green eyes wide with alarm.

“S-s-sorry.”

“Oh shush.” She pulls me in for a hug without any warning, knocking the wind out of me. “I’d ask if you’re okay, but it seems like a stupid question.”

After savoring a moment of her comforting embrace, I pull away, dabbing my eyes with the back of my hand. “I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed.”

Her green eyes linger, as Rocco’s had, on the tops of my arms. “Please tell me that isn’t what I think it is.”

“It’s fine, Mia. It was an accident.”

“You don’t need to defend that scumbag. Not to me.”

I get to my feet, using the time to compose myself. “I’m handling it, okay? He’s not dangerous. He’s just passionate.”

“Possessive more like,” Mia counters, her hands on her hips. “What would happen, do you think, if you broke up with him?”

Her bluntness never ceases to astound me. “I haven’t thought about it.”

“You know my door is always open, right? You don’t have to live with him.”

“You live in a studio, Mia. We’d be living on top of each other.”

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