Page 137 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
I cut into my steak. Does Vale know about their plan to let Giorgio kill Sal? Dem would tell her, I think. I wonder just how hard Giorgio had to argue to convince my brother to let him do it.
Anger spikes through me at the thought.
That’s what he traded me away for.
My narrowed gaze lands on the man himself, and I notice he’s not eating. His eyes are on me, but they’re unfocused, like he’s retreated deep inside his head.
What is he thinking about? Fantasizing about the moment he kills Sal?
Dem and Ras continue the discussion about their plans, but I don’t care to listen anymore. I eat my food, finish my wine, and excuse myself from the table to go check on Sophia.
It takes me a few minutes to find her lying by the door that leads to the inner courtyard. She’s looking longingly through the glass.
“Want to go out there?” I ask.
She perks up when I grab the handle of the door and trots outside once I get it open.
I sit down in the same chair I used earlier when Giorgio found me here before dinner and watch Sophia sniff around the bushes. She’s limping, but her energy has returned.
My thoughts turn to my upcoming engagement. Whatever my husband will be like, I’ll handle it. Dem was right at dinner. My time with Giorgio has changed me.
I fell in love for the first time.
Had my heart broken by a man for the first time.
I haven’t quite figured out how to glue it back together, but I will.
Pulling out my phone, I tap on Imogen’s name and write one last message.
I’ll be a married soon, my friend. My groom is someone I’ve never met before. You’d be horrified. You were always a romantic. But for someone like me, I think it’s for the best. Turns out the one man that made me feel something doesn’t want me, and something tells me I’ll never find another one like him. So what does it matter who my husband is?
I tap send.
The message turns green. A second later, there’s a red icon saying it’s not delivered.
The number’s been disconnected.
I hang my head. It was only a matter of time before this happened, but the red icon feels like one blow too many. A tear slides down my cheek just as the patio door squeaks open behind me.
The sound startles me. It’s dark out now. I must have been out here for a while. I turn around, expecting to see Vale, but instead it’shim.
He shuts the door behind him, slides his hands into the pockets of his slacks, and takes an unhurried step forward. His gaze falls to my cheek. “You’re crying.”
I use the back of my palm to wipe it away. “Trust me, it has nothing to do with you.”
He looks down, shadows dancing over his face. “You read this guy’s file?”
“Matteo’s? Yeah.”
“And?”
I tip my chin up. “I liked what I saw. After all, I agreed to marry him.”
He grinds his jaw and then slowly lifts his gaze to meet mine. “Liar.”
“You don’t get to use that word in relation to anyone but yourself.”
Something akin to a growl bursts out of his throat. “You will not marry him.”
