Page 17 of Escaping the King
Not at all.
I probably knew more about the crime family life than she did.I knew it all.And I wish there was some way to bleach my brain of it.
“Would you stop worrying?”I offered her my hand, and she reached up and grabbed mine.I pulled her up.“I do have a lot of questions.And I also have a few words for Carlo and Nick.”I gave her a sad smile and hugged her in tight to me.“They lied to me, Evie.And they need to apologize for that.They should have told me the truth about what they were involved in.”
I felt her body begin to shake next to mine.“I'm sorry, Giselle,” she sobbed.“I didn't want to lie to you.Can you ever forgive me?”Her voice cracked, and she sounded so, so distraught.
“Of course, I forgive you.I'm not blaming you for anything.This wasn't your information to tell.”
She cried in my arms for a few more minutes until we heard the front door open.
“Oh, crap.”She sniffled and pushed away.“Let me clean myself up and then I'll meet you guys in the kitchen.”
And then she hurried off to the bathroom.
I walked out of Dani's room and down the hall.Carlo had an armful of bags.
“We each ordered one thing,” I said quietly.“How come you have a billion bags?”I questioned my fiancé and smiled, even though I felt sad.
This was the last time I'd ever greet him after coming through my door—or any door—ever again.
He glanced at me with a sheepish look and shrugged.“I couldn't make up my mind.So I ordered extra in case we don't want to cook tomorrow, either.”
I giggled softly and followed him into the kitchen.While we unpacked the many bags, Eve walked in.“Oh, it smells good,” she whispered, knowing that Dani was still asleep on the couch.
Carlo stopped dead.His hand was frozen in mid-air, holding a box of food.“Have you been crying?”he asked in a firm voice, not taking his eyes off her.
Oh, boy.
Leave it to Carlo to notice every detail.I personally thought Eve did a great job of hiding her little sobfest.
Her semi-puffy eyes shot right to mine.
I frowned at Carlo and said, “That's kind of rude.”
His angry eyes glared at me.“What's rude is if one of you doesn't immediately tell me what's going on.”
That was rich coming from him.
“We were getting sentimental going through Dani's clothes.So many are too small for her now.And Evie's taking some of them for Ari.We got a little sentimental, that's all.”
Eve nodded and said, “We're chicks, Carlo.We get mushy about things like the first swimsuit Giselle ever made for Daniella.”
Carlo looked us both up and down.I couldn't tell if he believed us or not, but it didn't matter.He gave up and didn't question us any further.
Eve sauntered up to me and stole some naan bread out of my hand and ate it.When Carlo turned his back, she mouthed, “Thank you,” to me.
And after that, we sat down and ate some of the best curry and rice I'd ever tasted.
4
Giselle
Carlo was sound asleep.I'd tired him out on purpose.
Well, for two purposes.
The first reason was because that would be the last time I'd ever make love to Carlo.And I wanted to make it count.
