Page 138 of Storm and Sea

“It’s Signore Vincenzo to you.” Then, his eyes found Marina. “You have a guard dog. I have to admit, I’m rather disappointed. Can the fox not fight for herself?”

Marina bristled. “I don’t! He isn’t!”

She was so done with this conversation. Her head hurt where the ice had hit her.

“Alvise, stay the hell away from me and my family,” she yelled, hating how her voice wavered. “I’ll die before I ever work for you. If you come near me again, you’ll regret it.”

But the threat sounded hollow even to her own ears. And it must have been just as pathetic to Alvise as his smile stretched ear to ear, revealing perfect teeth.

“I look forward to it. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, my dear.” Alvise’s eyes turned to the stranger, running up and down his physique, appraising him as he did with all things. “How far you’ve fallen.” Then he turned on his heel and was gone.

Marina shook as if she were standing naked in a winter storm. Today was too much. She had to get home.

“Are you okay?” the stranger asked.

And like a delayed firework, Marina exploded.

“You!” she shouted. “You had no right to interfere!”

His eyes went wide in alarm. “I’m sorry, I thought he⁠—”

“Thought he what? What was he going to do? It doesn’t matter because I can handle myself. I don’t need Prince Charming to come running to my rescue. I’ve dealt with Alvise before, and I’ll keep doing it so long as I call this island home!”

When did the tears start falling? Why was she yelling? But now that she’d started, she couldn’t stop.

“I’m not one of your playthings. Alright? I’m not an obedient dog you can call when it’s convenient, or you’re bored. I’m not your personal ray of sunshine, okay? I can’t be summer and sunflowers every god-damn second of every day! You can’t string me along, promise to care, then disappear the moment I stop smiling like your perfect little doll. I deserve better than that!”

Her voice echoed in the alley. At what point did she stop talking about him? When had the tears and the betrayal morphed her words, directing them toward…Marina didn’t want to think about her mother. Not now. Not when she was trying to be angry at this stranger.

She was certain the entire block was listening at this point, but she didn’t care. The man rested his hands in his pockets and at least had the decency to look ashamed. If he noticed that her words weren’t entirely directed at him, he didn’t say anything.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Marina balked. “That’s it?”

He nodded. “That’s it. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I’m— I’m not done being angry,” she admitted, her body trembling with it. The day’s emotions spilled over, tipping her already brimming cup after years of keeping it from overflowing one drop at a time.

“Don’t stop on my account. Get it out.”

“You—” she struggled to come up with something. “You have no right walking around like this. Like you own the place.”

“That would be correct. I don’t own the space we are currently standing in.”

She bristled. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means you are right.”

“Yes, I am,” she snapped.

“Feel better?”

“Not really.” But somehow, his words had doused some of the fire in her body.

“Can I ask you something?” he said softly.

“Sure.”