Page 105 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
He hurries down the steps and lowers down in front of me, placing his palms on my knees. “What happened?”
“I—” I swallow. “I was walking Sophia, and she ran into the forest. I followed her. I’m sorry, I know you said not to go there, but I was worried I’d lose her. I ran after her along the path and found her at the old cottage, the one I asked you about.”
In an instant, his body grows tense, and his gaze narrows on mine.
I swallow. “I saw the grave.”
Something dark flickers in his eyes and tangles with an accusation. This is why he didn’t want me there.
“It’s your mother’s, right?” I ask, my voice dropping to a whisper.
“Yes.”
“I was curious. I…”
“You what?”
“I went inside the cottage.”
There’s a drawn-out silence.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” His words settle like flakes of ice inside my lungs.
I want to stop taking. I want to, but I can’t. Bracing myself for his next answer, I ask, “Who wrote on the walls?”
His palms tighten on my knees. “I did.”
CHAPTER26
MARTINA
The grave.The cottage. The words carved into the wall.
My hands clench by my sides, palms sweaty.
The apology was his.
Giorgio’s.
The man who’s always in control.
But people don’t do things likethatwhen they’re in control.
My throat works. “Why?”
Pain stirs behind his eyes before his gaze darts down the hall. He stands and extends his palm. “Get up. I’ll tell you, but not here.”
He helps me to my feet and leads me upstairs, his hand clenched firmly around mine. My mind jumps to worse-case scenarios.
What was he apologizing for?
Something to do with his mother?
My stomach drops. Did Sal order Giorgio to kill his mom?
The idea is so terrible, and franklycrazy, that it makes me draw to a sharp stop.
Giorgio said he also had ghosts that haunted him. Is his mother one of them?
