Page 101 of When She Unravels
“Bring your things here.”
“They’re Martina’s things.”
“I’ll buy you a new wardrobe tomorrow.”
She laughs softly. “What about my imprisonment?”
“Like I said, it’s over.”
Her gaze falls to my lips. She swallows. “I’ll tell you what I know about my father’s business, but I don’t know if I’ll stay.”
She will, she just doesn’t know it yet. She’s mine, and I’ll do whatever I need for her to realize it.
I go against my instincts and let go of her hand. “Understood. You’ll be more comfortable here while you decide.”
The relief I feel when she acquiesces with a small smile is palpable.
Downstairs, Ras is pacing the living room. He looks up when he hears me approach and swears. “Dem, you need to get on the phone with Sal.There’s still a small chance Nelo hasn’t been able to reach him since he’s likely getting stitched up.”
He’s angry at me. He thinks I’m fucking everything up because of my feelings for Vale.
But shooting Nelo doesn’t feel like a mistake to me, even now that I’ve cooled down. It feels like justice.
“You think I shouldn’t have done it,” I say.
“Doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is that we do everything we can to cool the situation down.”
“He shouldn’t have touched her,” I say as I take my phone out of my pocket. “Is the kitchen clean? Everything needs to be in order before Mari gets home.”
Ras lets out a long breath. “They’re cleaning it now. I told the driver to bring her back in two hours.”
“Vale is going to share what she knows about her father,” I say. That should be enough to ease Ras’s concerns about me not thinking clearly at this point because of Vale. I know that’s what he’s worried about, I can see it in his face. As much as I want to tell him off for doubting me, I can’t deny that in my family, there’s a history of people making rash and destructive decisions because of love.
But I’m not in love with Valentina. I can’t be. Attraction isn’t love. Need isn’t love. This wordless thing I feel for her… It can’t be love.
As I dial Sal’s number, my skin crawls at the thought of hearing his voice and pretending I have no idea what he tried to do to my sister. I can’t let my emotions show. He has to think I’m clueless.
After a few rings, he picks up. “Damiano,ragazzo mio. You caught me just as I was about to start my late lunch,” he rasps in a gravelly voice, courtesy of his pack-a-day smoking habit. “Chiara spent all day onrisotto alla piscatora.”
He likes to pretend we’re the best of friends, even if everyone knows it’s a charade. “Lucky you. I won’t keep you hungry for long.”
“I like to hear that. How is my favoritetopolinadoing? Has she recovered from her New York trip?”
This fucking asshole. “She’s feeling much better.”
“We’ll find whoever is responsible for what happened,” he says. “These things can take time, but justice always gets delivered.”
Don’t I know it.
“There’s been a small misunderstanding with Nelo and Vito,” I say.
“Oh? Did they visit you today like I asked them to?”
“They did.”
“Did Nelo tell you the good news? I think him and Mariwill make a beautiful couple.”
I remind myself their marriage is as likely to happen as Sal choking to death on his risotto, but his words still light a flame of fury inside of me. “He mentioned it,” I say curtly.
