Page 45 of Her Ruthless Owner

My brows furrow as I belatedly notice the way he's looking at me. "What's wrong, Dad?"

"It's not always about what or how much you know."

"Why do you look so sad?"

"Sometimes, it's all about the simplest things, like what you saw. What you heard. What you remember."

I shake my head. "You're starting to scare me. Is this about Mom?"

Dad ruffles my hair. "Love you, Pens."

Tears start rolling down my eyes, and even though we see each other every day—-why does it suddenly feel like it's been forever since I last heard Dad say that?

I wish, God, I wish I can say the words back.

But when my lips part, it's all too late.

****

I'M CRYING WHEN I WAKEup, but I waste no time in wiping the tears away since someone is furiously knocking on the door.

"Penelope?"

I think that's Massimo's voice?

I open the door, and it's indeed Cesare's brother standing in the hallway, and the grim set of his features makes me feel sick.

No. Please. No. Not again. Please, God. Please.

"It's Cesare."

My knees threaten to fold. "He's n-not dead—-" I would've felt it. Would've known.

Massimo whitens. "Dio, no.It's not that," he rejects right away. "Mi dispiace,I did not mean to frighten you."

My knees do give out this time, and even though I'm crying again, it's tears of relief coursing down my cheeks.

He's alive, thank God.

That's all that matters.

Cesare's alive.

Massimo carefully helps me back to my feet, and I look up at him, saying unevenly, "Just tell it to me straight."

And so he does.

Pilar is dead, and Cesare is now behind bars...as the prime suspect behind her murder.

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