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I didn’t know at the time how much my life would change. From Franco moving in to my older sisters all moving away and getting married to Franco trying to kill Antonio and Antonio having to go into hiding for five years to finally being forced to marry an old man.
But back then, I was just a little girl who had just lost her dad.
When the funeral was over and everyone had left for the reception, I took a moment to hang back and look at my father one last time. Mom, in her grief, didn’t even realize I wasn’t walking with her and the rest of the family out of the church.
I kneeled before my dad’s casket and said a prayer. “Dad, I hope you’re in Heaven. That you’re happy there. Please wait for the rest of us.”
Footsteps behind me made me stand up. There he was—Uncle Franco.
“Praying?” he asked with a smirk like he thought it was funny I was saying a prayer for my dad. His brother had just died. It didn’t make sense. It wouldn’t make sense until I learned years that he’d poisoned my father.
“Yes,” I whispered, wiping at my tears.
“You know,” he said, stepping beside me. “I’m not sure your dad can hear you.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s not in Heaven.”
I gasped. “Of course, he is.”
Franco just shrugged. “You tell yourself that.”
“Cecilia?” Emilia called out, coming over to get me. “We’re heading to the reception now.”
I stared at Franco a moment longer. “My dad is in Heaven.”
Emilia gave Franco a strange look when she got closer as she grabbed my hand. “Come on.”
I followed my sister out of the church, feeling my uncle’s eyes on me the entire way.
CHAPTER 5
Theo
The moment I take my leave for the night, I find the nearest nightclub. I can rest assured knowing the nightguard, a man named Sam, is taking care of the Moretti family.
I can’t get Cecilia off my mind. Seeing her half-naked earlier today did things to me. Things I swore I wouldn’t feel, and yet …
She’s taking up too much mental space, and I need to push any inappropriate thoughts from my mind. Cecilia is my duty, my job. She’s not someone I should be lusting after.
So, that’s why I’m prompted to the club—to find another woman to take all my attention.
I’m not exactly a club-going guy. The loud bass and chaotic energy make me uncomfortable. I prefer being alone in my apartment, reading a good book or working on one of my crafts. I have a woodworking table in my spare bedroom, and I love to make all kinds of things from furniture to practical things I might need around the house. I like the quiet of it. Just me and my tools.
But my cock won’t have solitude tonight. It needs a distraction. I need a distraction.
And I figure the easiest way to find a woman for a one-night stand is at a club, even if it’s slowly killing me to be inside a place like this.
I get a beer and settle in at the bar, watching the throngs of dancing people. They look so content and happy being around other people. I wonder what that’s like. After I got out of the military, it was easier to keep to myself. I preferred it after spending most of my waking hours for years surrounded by other men and women in close quarters.
A new song starts, one with a much faster beat, and the rhythm makes me heart begin to pound. It reminds me of the pounding of gunshots. I shake my head to clear the memories of my time at war. Of Benji dying. His face half caved in from the explosion. Of other things I try hard to not remember. Things that speak to my shame.
A woman leans against the bar and orders a cocktail. I keep her in my line of sight. She’s pretty with brown hair and great curves in a tight black dress, but my mind keeps going back to blonde hair and wedding dresses. Fuck. I have it bad for Cecilia. I can’t. If anyone knew how I feel about her, I’d be in serious trouble. She’s off-limits to a man like me, and I need to stay away.
I brace myself to talk to the brunette when she grabs her cocktail and walks away. I sigh in relief. I didn’t really want to force a conversation. I sip my beer, working up the courage to find someone else to talk to …
… whenshewalks through the crowd of people.
