“Looked that way.”
“You don’t believe it?”
“I don’t believe anything unless I see it with my own two eyes.”
She studied me but dropped it. “What’s she like?”
“Pretty. Young. Scared. She spit on my father at the funeral. Or tried to but missed.” I chuckled.
“Tough too, then. I like her already.”
“And full of hate for us. Rightfully so. I guess that’s where I’m torn. She can’t get out of this. Neither of us can.” I paused. “Until death do us part.”
“That’s not too creepy.” Natalie looked away for a moment.
“That’s the wording in the contract. Like a marriage contract, but different. And if I die before her, Dominic inherits her. Like she’s a fucking thing. My father has a sick sense of humor, as you know.”
Her lip curled at the mention of his name. “Do you want to get out of it?”
Her question startled me. I answered without hesitation. “No.”
“You like her.”
I studied Natalie and felt the need to correct what she said. Whether that correction was for my benefit or hers, I wasn’t sure. “I feel some obligation to her.”
She snorted.
“Besides, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t get out of it. And she certainly couldn’t. I don’t want her to hate me.”
“Give her some space and some time, Salvatore,” Natalie said, touching my hand. “She just needs to really see you, like I do. She only sees the Benedetti name right now. The Benedetti family, the one that destroyed hers.”
She was right.
“Maybe you could…”
Natalie shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I can’t be a part of that anymore.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I understand. It’s okay. I just think she needs some friends or something.”
“I’m sorry, I just—”
I touched her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
An awkward silence hung between us.
“Do you need anything?” I finally asked.
She shook her head. “No, we’re fine. We’re good.”
“You’ll call me if you do, right?”
“I promise.”
“I miss Sergio.” My eyes felt hot.
“Me too.” Natalie wiped hers before leaning against my chest. I hugged her, rubbing her back.
“Hey, I’m going to take Jacob to the beach a little later. Why don’t you come with us?”
