AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, he resurfaced and was sending me dead flowers and crap.”
“Rose! How could you not tell me?”
“You have your own stuff to worry about, I didn’t want you freaking out when you’re so far away.”
“You’re my best friend, it’s my right to freak out about that stuff!”
“Thanks, Stel, you’re the best, and I really do miss you like crazy. I can’t wait for you guys to come back.” I go on to tell her bits and pieces of what has been going on, leaving out the worst parts for when she returns, and we can talk in person.
“So, you and Dante have grown close?” The disapproval is still clear in her tone.
I’m a big fat chicken so I decide to ease her into this whole me-and-Dante thing and choose not to open with the fact that we’re kind of engaged, and he’s been begging to impregnate me ASAP.
“Yes,” I murmur.
“How close exactly?” Damn, she’s got that mom tone down pat.
“I’m pretty much completely in love with him.”Way to keep your cool, Rose. I want to smack myself when the words dribble out like verbal diarrhea.
“Seriously?”
“Yup.”
“And Dante?”
“Yeah, he’s pretty much gone off the deep end too.”
An unexpected laugh rings out on the other end of the line. “Dante in love?” she finally rasps out. “I thought you guys would just be fucking by now.”
“Thanks a lot, bestie.”
“I’m sorry, I’m going to need a minute to process this. You know Dante and I haven’t had the best history and—”
“No, I don’t know what happened between the two of you because you never told me.”
“And he didn’t?”
“Nope.” I pop the P for emphasis.
A long minute of silence surges between us. She finally releases a breath, and anxiety rushes my nerves. “Dante saved our lives, as you know. It’s hard for me to reconcile that man with the man that almost assaulted me.”
All the air catches in my lungs, and my head starts to spin. “Dante would never—”
“He swore he was only trying to scare me. He thought I was involved with the Red Dragons and that Bo had sent me to spy on Luca. Nothing happened because Luca came home, but….”
“He still tried to attack you….”
“Umhmm.” Another long pause, and my heart rails against my ribcage. “I’ve forgiven him, Rose, and the more I learn about Dante, the more I understand how much he loves his brother. He just doesn’t know how to go about it the right way. I choose to believe he was telling the truth, and he would have stopped before things got out of control. He’s going to be my brother-in-law, and I couldn’t live with that otherwise.”
I take a minute to process her words, really let them sink in. After all the shit I’ve been through with my uncle and now with this stalker, I’m not sure I can handle this. All the happiness I felt a moment ago whooshes right out.
“I’m sorry, Rose. I should have told you a long time ago. I never thought you two would get involved.”
Fuck, I’m an idiot.
“Rose?”
I heave in a breath. “Yeah, still here.”
