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It was real for me too.
All I can do is stare back at her because, for the first time in my life, I don’t know what the fuck to do.
“I signed up for the auction because I needed the money to escape,” she explains. “My father told me I had to marry Peter and I couldn’t do it. I hate him with everything inside me, and even if I didn’t hate him, in my heart, I believe he had something to do with my brother’s murder.”
A knot twists in my stomach. “What are you saying to me?”
“Not a lot of people know that my brother died in my arms or that I saw what happened and who killed him.”
I cut Henry a look as he stands up too.
“You saw his killer?” Henry asks.
“No one can find the man I’ve described a million times over.”
I wasn’t aware of any of that, but it explains why Donny is so protective of her. He was always like that anyway, but when he lost his son, he realized he wasn’t as invincible as he thought.
Hearing Peter could have been responsible for Dante’s death makes sense.
That’s how you get to an untouchable man like Donatello Ricci. You get him to trust you first, then strike when he’s not looking.
“I think Dante was only where he was because he was supposed to meet Peter there. I’ve never had any proof, just what my heart tells me, which is, Peter, set things up to lure my brother into a trap.” She dabs at her eyes with the heel of her hands. “So I couldn’t marry him, and when I thought about the reality of how my father operates, I realized that even if he didn’t choose Peter, he would marry me off to one of his other men who are just the same. I don’t want my life to be like that. I don’t want to be treated like a thing, and worse of all, I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love. I was going to leave next week and disappear.”
She’s saying that and still wants to give back the money.
I understand her. It doesn’t make it right, but I get it, so I step forward and walk up to her.
Her beautiful eyes take me in with more emotion than I’ve ever seen in anyone.
“Things aren’t what they seem with your father and Peter. You won’t have to worry about him for much longer, but I’ll let your father explain that part to you when the time comes.” She should know that so she doesn’t have to worry herself.
“What do you mean? What’s happening?”
“There isn’t going to be a wedding, At least not with Peter. I still want you to take the money and do what you need to if the time comes and you feel trapped. Maybe it won’t come to that, and your father will choose someone you’ll grow to love.” I don’t recognize the guy talking who sounds like me.
It’s even worse when I fucking realize that I sound like myself two years ago when I said virtually the same thing to Priscilla when I decided I had to let her go.
I never thought I’d have to do the same thing in this lifetime or that it would feel so much worse the second time around.
Evie shakes her head. “How can I grow to love someone when I love you.”
A tendril of shock seizes my chest, making my heart stop, and when it starts beating, it does so double time.
I never expected her to say that. It’s something different from what happened to me with Priscilla.
She looks at me for a beat, and I know the love she speaks of didn’t come to fruition over the last three weeks. What she’s talking about is older. It’s from her watching me from her bedroom window, seeing me when I never saw her.
She looks at Henry, and I can imagine he must think she felt more for me than him, but I know differently.
“And I love you too, Henry,” she tells him, and his features soften. “I can’t explain that. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to, but that’s how I feel. I know I won’t feel like this ever again.”
She returns her focus to me, and I wish I could return the sentiment.
This is where I have to think about the consequences and not be the rebel.
Usually, if I want a woman, I take her, but I know when something is off-limits to me.
That’s what she is.
