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"Take me on a date. Show me what it's like to bejusta couple. In love and not caring about anything else that happens in this world."
"Anything," I relent. "Anything for you, pretty girl."
FIFTEEN
RAFAELO
With all ourstuff packed and ready to move, I let Noelle know I'll be downstairs to organize everything with the moving company.
She's busy sorting through some last-minute items, so she only gives me one airy kiss before she resumes her focus.
Amused, I head down, my eyes on the phone as I await the call.
Unfortunately, due to the location of the piano, we'd decided not to try to take it with us. What Noelle doesn't know is that I've already gotten her another piano—a highly coveted one I'd purchased at an auction a few weeks back.
"I didn't realize you were still around.” I note Cisco at the bottom of the stairs.
He's wearing a blue suit, his expression guarded as he measures me carefully with his gaze.
"I wanted to see you off," he smiles, slowly, but it doesn't reach his eyes.
I nod, reaching the landing. Looking around, I count the suitcases, making sure everything is ready. Only some of Noelle's stuff is missing now, and she promised she'd call out when she's ready for me to take it down too.
"That's kind of you," I give him a brief smile.
Easily distracted, I'm back on my phone, waiting for the call from the moving company. It's only when Cisco comes closer that I look up to find him regarding him with an odd expression on his face.
"A word outside?"
My brows shoot up in surprise, but I shrug it off.
"Sure."
He opens and closes the front door behind us, stepping at the edge of the veranda as he takes a cigarette out, lighting it and staring into the distance.
"Be careful," he finally warns.
I frown, tilting my head in question.
"About?"
"My sister. She's…"
"If you're going to tell me she's not well again, then I think we've already had this conversation," I cut him off, my body tensing as everything in me gets ready to defend Noelle.
It makes me sick to my stomach to think about how she's been treated by her own family. She'd been sold to an abuser and then she'd returned home to receive a similar treatment. Maybe they hadn't beaten her, but they'd certainly laid blows to her psyche.
God, but just the thought of my sweet and pure Noelle in that hell that was thehaciendathreatens to get me all worked up.
And it'sthem.Her own family had allowed that marriage to take place.
My hands ball into fists as I barely control myself from telling Cisco all I think about him and hisfamily.
"Oh, no. Noelle is very well. Thanks to you, she's doing much better," Cisco gives a sarcastic laugh. "That's not at all the issue."
"Then?" I narrow my eyes at him.
He turns, coming towards me as he pops his cigarette in his mouth, his hands on the lapels of my coat.
