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“What is this?”
“Dante gave it to me.”
I suck in a little breath. “He came to see you?”
“Yes, last night. He told me what you did for me. Look inside the envelope.” He lifts his chin toward it.
I open it and find the contract I signed torn into four pieces. My pulse quickens at the sight.
Dante gave the contract back to me. Torn. So, I’m not bound to him anymore. Not like this.
The thought makes my heart flutter with the prospect of what will happen to us next. I guess I’ll find out when I next speak to him.
“He said when I saw you next, I should give that to you. He said you’d know what it meant.”
“I do.”
He nods and gives me a small smile. “You love him.” It’s not a question.
“Yes.”
“Then maybe love is all you need. Maybe it’s enough to keep you safe. He’ll certainly do a better job than I did.”
I blow out a ragged breath. “Where do we go from here, Dad? You’re going away for the rest of your life.”
“I don’t know, but you mustn’t be concerned about me anymore. You need to live your life now. Live the way your mother would have wanted you to. She lives in you in every way. So, live and love the way she did. Which means you have to leave me, too. Maybe someday, I’ll see you again.”
I nod and wipe away the tear that trails my cheek. “Someday.”
There’s a tap at the door. “Time’s up,” the officer says.
Dad reaches out to touch my hands and gives them a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry for everything. I’m so, so sorry, Serenity.”
“I’m sorry, too.”
He releases me, and I leave.
As I walk away, I know that everything will be different from here onwards.
I just hope I have the strength to face it.
ChapterForty-Seven
Serenity
I meet Dante at the Mandolim three nights later.
This is our first date outside of the clubs and seeing each other at our homes. It’s the first place we’ll go where we’ll be around people who will most definitely recognize us—me especially—and not for anything good.
But I don’t care.
Dante and I don’t have to sneak around anymore. We’re sitting on the rooftop amongst a bunch of other couples. It’s nice and normal. No longer secret and forbidden.
I wanted to come here for our first real date as a couple because of the sentiment the restaurant carries from the past. I loved that the owners still welcomed me with the same warmth they’ve always shown me.
Tonight, Dante is dressed in a white button-down shirt and beige pants that make him look sexy as hell. His attire is a stark contrast to the dark clothing he’s always wearing. They make him stand out more.
He sent a car to pick me up, which means I’ll be going back to his place tonight.
