Page 70 of Poisoned Promise
“What about you?” I run my eyes over him. “You’re okay?”
“Of course, why?”
“Reese being pissed at me is a problem. Just want to make sure you’re not also secretly mad.”
“Nah. You’d know if I was. Besides…” Toph pats my shoulder. “If Reese were around back then, he’d be more understanding. He’s just got that itch to go bigger, y’know? That’s why he’s so intent on highlighting just how many families are loyal to Caterinabecauseof you.”
“Yeah…” I sigh deeply and glance back at Dove. “Shit’s complicated.”
When the ceremony below wraps up, Dove and Alex climb to their feet.
His earlier anger seems to have dissipated and he throws his arms around Dove, hugging her tightly.
It’s enough to ease the strange pain in my heart. I push up from the car as they start to walk back toward me.
Tears sparkle in Dove’s eyes and Alex’s eyes have grown red from crying, but there’s a distinct absence of anger.
“Ready?” I ask softly once they’re close enough.
Dove nods. “Yeah.”
Toph opens the rear door and Dove eases inside. Alex moves to follow but he stops suddenly, which makes me stop, and our eyes meet.
“Thank you, Felix,” Alex says earnestly. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“Yeah.” I nod quickly and tension sweeps through my chest, along with the strongest sudden urge to hug him. “It’s no problem. And any time you wanna come back, just let me know.”
“Okay.” Alex sniffles and nods. “I will.”
20
DOVE
“You have to tell me everything now.” Alex sits at the kitchen counter a couple of hours later with a half-eaten pizza slice in front of him.
“Everything?” I glance up from my own slice. “About what?”
“About you. About Felix.”
Felix glances up from his own plate with the most adorable shocked look on his face. “Me?”
“Mhm.” Alex points between the two of us. “You’re both Mafia. I want to know everything.”
“Maybe when you’re older,” I reply, picking up my slice.
“No. You can’t say that. Not after everything. My whole life is over. Mike is dead. Mary is dead. We can’t go home. I’ve seen dead bodies and I still see them every time I close my eyes. There’s no way you can’t tell me everything now.”
My heart clenches as if caught in a fist and every word from Alex tightens the grip.
He’s right.
Deep down, I know he’s right but the thought of spilling all the secrets to my son when he’s still got so much of his youth to cling to just feels wrong.
Then again, maybe it’s my own wishful thinking.
His youth likely vanished the moment he saw Mary die.
“What do you want to know?” Felix asks, then he glances at me as if asking permission.
