I drew the comforter over me to cover up as Sandro stepped back into his boxers and went to the door. He checked the peephole.
His shoulders tensed, and he opened the door.
I caught a glimpse of Gunnar as he leaned forward and said something in Sandro’s ear.
Sandro turned and stared at me, his expression one of shock and pain.
I sat up. “What’s going on?”
He turned back and nodded at Gunnar. “Give us a sec. We’ll be right out.”
In the distance, sirens were drawing closer.
When he crossed the room, my whole body froze up. Whatever this was, it was bad. He sat down and gathered me in his arms.
I began to tremble. “Just tell me.”
His grip on me tightened, as if he could hold me together by the sheer force of his will. “It’s your mom. I’m so sorry, Angel.”
My lungs seized. I pulled back and stared at his face. “What do you mean? Where is she?”
“There was a shooting. She’s… gone.”
“Fuck off,” Sandro yells at the door. He meets my eyes. With a heavy sigh, he brushes my hair away from my face. “Where did you go?”
I pull myself out of the past. Out of the memory of the best and the worst night of my life.
Tears prickle in the back of my eyes as reality slams into me.
What am I doing?
“This can’t happen again. You’re getting married.” Just saying those words is like a cold bucket of water thrown into my face. I want to ask him why. Why Giada. But it’s not our only problem, and it really doesn’t matter.
I slide off the desk and adjust my dress back over my hips. My buzz has morphed into a dull headache, and I’m suddenly exhausted. Too exhausted to even feel the anger I should at myself, at him for dragging me back into his orbit.
He backs up and gives me space, but his eyes still hold mine, the bright need still shining there.
I move around him. “I guess we can call this our goodbye then.”
He takes in a deep breath and scrubs a hand over the scruff on his face. His mouth opens and shuts.
I turn away, and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Besides leaving him the first time. Before I reach the door, I turn back to him. I have to know. “The name of your club… The Eclipse. Why?”
His small, sad smile tells me all I need to know.
Jesus, that night, that kiss meant something to him, too.Life is just brutal. And so is love.
I unlock the door. When I open it, Gunnar is standing there, hands on his hips, looking pissed. His face softens when we lock eyes.
“Lennon… wait,” Sandro calls.
I don’t know why a stupid spark of hope flares in my chest as I turn to look at Sandro. What exactly could I hope for?Wait, Lennon, I’m not marrying Giada? I’m leaving the mafia?
There’s defeat in the set of his shoulders. “Gunnar will give you and your friend a ride home.”
Chapter 16
Alessandro
