Page 156 of Condemned By Pain
His face softens, the tension easing slightly.
“It’s not him.”
“Then can you stop? For me?” I implore quietly.
He hugs me, burying his facein my neck. “I will... for you.”
Chapter 46
Salvario
I can do anything for her. I know this now with certainty.All that I am, all that the boy permitted me to hold, is hers alone, now and always.
I watch her lying beside me. Her eyes are fixed on the sky; she’s saying something about the stars. Her soft, giggling voice fills every cracked corner of my soul. I don’t care what she says, as long as I can hear her voice, watch her smile.
It’s freeing, losing myself in her. Giving her the reins to my life, letting her lead me toward thelight. Once I’m rid of the boy, there will only be her. No more dark nights filled with nightmares. Just nights with her beneath the stars. Mornings with her in my arms.
I let myself dream again. Of peace... with her. Of a life where I keep her happy. Always.
But it won’t be easy. Alexander Bennett has to die—for me to be free of the haunting. And I have to make sure she never finds out. If she finds out, she’ll hate me, and there will be nothing to save me from that. It would be the end.The complete and utter end of Salvario De Falco.
She turns to me. Her warm brown eyes meet my gaze. In dim light, they’re almonds. In bright light, glowing honey. And sometimes, when the light catches them just right, they’re like champagne.
“Are you even listening?” She pokes my cheek. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m listening. Keep talking.”
She smiles. “Okay, so I was telling you about when Avi and I used to make our own constellations—” She points to the sky and continues.
I pull her closer. She kisses me and keeps telling me her childhood stories. I close my eyes, listening to her voice, feeling her warmth against me.
“You’re such a liar, Salvario. You said you were listening to me.” She scolds me. That’s the last thing I hear before falling into a peaceful sleep.
???
“I feel so bad for him. He must be so lonely.” She pouts at the photo of Bruno that Antonio sent.
“Before I go back to Greenland, I’ll send him here.”
“Why? You don’t want him?”
“I like having him around, but he loves living with you more.”
“And us? When will we get to live together?” She holds my gaze, her eyes filled with longing.
“Soon. Everything will be fine soon. And then we’ll be together.”
“My family thinks you’re incapable of love. That you manipulated me into believing you love me.”
Sadness clouds her beautiful eyes. It has no place there. Guilt cinches around my chest, pulling tighter and tighter.
I cup her face in my palms. “Don’t worry. I’ll make this right.”
I don’t know how. But for her, I’ll find a way, no matter what it takes.
She hugs me, pressing her face to my chest. “I don’t want to be away from you. Not even for a day.”
I run my hand through her hair. “Neither do I, Princess.”
