Page 12 of The Taste of Deceit

“You look amazing.”

Her smile widens.

God, she’s so fucking happy.

I glance to her left and find Michael already watching her. He has one of those rare smiles that only seems to happen when she’s around. I should be afraid of this man. After everything Luca told me, I should be horrified. Instead, he’s just Michael.

The same Michael who sat through Olive Garden because Katie wanted breadsticks. The same Michael who went bowling with us two weeks ago. The same Michael who laughs when Katie and I get drunk and start acting like idiots in his theater room.

I’m not scared of him at all. If anything, knowing what he does makes me feel safer. Because now I understand what everyone else already knows. Michael protects the people he loves—ruthlessly, relentlessly, and without hesitation.

My eyes drift back to Katie. She’s smiling at something Michael said, completely oblivious to the crisis unfolding in my head. My best friend is in love. Ridiculously in love. I can’t be the person who takes that away from her. Michael will tell her. He has to, and when he does, I’ll be where I have always been—right beside her.

Chapter 6

Luca

Sarah didn’t say a word on the way home. For ten straight minutes, she stared out the passenger window while rain streaked across the glass. She’d done a good job hiding it at lunch. She did better than most people would’ve. She laughed with Katie, gave Mikey shit every chance she got, and hugged my mom and Carmela before we left. To anyone else, she probably seemed fine.

The second we got home, she disappeared into the house. I followed a few minutes later and found her in the kitchen loading the dishwasher. She stood up when I walked over. I kissed the side of her head, brushed my hand across her back, and headed for the den. If she wanted to talk, she would.

That was an hour ago. I’ve been sitting in the den with a football game on.

“You want to eat dinner with me?”

I glance over and find her standing in the doorway, holding a pizza box with paper plates stacked on top and wearing one of her oversized sleep shirts. The thing is at least two sizes too big. According to her, no expensive brand on earth has figured out comfort the way Walmart has.

I shake my head and grin. Then, I hold out my hand.

“Get your ass over here.”

Her face lights up, and she comes over to the couch, setting the pizza and plates on the coffee table. She grabs the remote from my lap, sits down beside me, and changes the channel to Netflix.

I don’t even bother giving her shit for it.

The game was on, but I couldn’t tell you who was winning. I’d spent the last twenty minutes listening to the dishwasher run and wondering whether she was eventually going to come find me.

When she leans over to open the pizza box, her hair falls into her face. I reach over and tuck it behind her ear before she can. Her eyes flick up to mine for a second before she turns her attention back to the pizza.

A minute later, she hands me a plate.

“You’re always trying to feed me first.”

“I have to make sure you stay strong enough to protect me.”

A smile pulls at my mouth.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Baby Girl.”

“I don’t know.” She hands me a plate before grabbing her own. “You do forget to eat sometimes.”

“Maybe I do it on purpose.”

She narrows her eyes.

“Oh yeah?”

I pull her closer until she’s tucked comfortably against my side.