The glass shatters as it hits the floor, the sound like a gunshot in the middle of the deadly silent room.
Everyone’s eyes snap in my direction, and when Gio’s find mine, all I can see is a deep, overwhelming concern.
He’s by my side in an instant, shoving past my creepy customer to catch me before I can hit the floor. “Are you okay?” he asks, his powerful arms snaking around my waist, holding me up as if I weigh nothing.
I look at him, wide-eyed, chest heaving. “You called me Stephanie,” I whisper. “That first night. God, you’ve known all along.”
He’s staring at me like I’ve just returned from the dead.
Maybe I have.
My vision blurs with tears as a lifetime crashes down around me. Not just the name. Not just the place. Everything.
I remember the love. I remember the loss. I rememberhim.
And as all the emotions come crashing down on me, I shove Gio away.
25
GIO
I see it hit her—the memory, the recognition.
Stephanie’s face twists from shock to horror in the blink of an eye, and she sways back from me like the ground’s just been ripped out from under her.
I move toward her instinctively, my arms tightening around her, but she shoves me away with both hands.
My heart stops.
“Stephanie, I?—”
Her eyes are wild. “Don’t call me that.”
She’s breathing hard, chest rising and falling, and the look in her eyes is pure betrayal.
Not fear. Not confusion. Not anger.
Betrayal.
“I can explain,” I say quickly, taking her hands.
She rips them away. “Explain?” Her voice cracks. “Explain what? That you’ve been lying to me this whole time? That you knew who I was and you said nothing?”
Before I can answer, a voice slithers to us from the door of the shop. “Well, this is a wonderful new development.”
I’d almost forgotten Kenji was here.
We both freeze, then turn to look at him.
He’s standing with one hand on the door, smirking like he’s just discovered the world’s greatest secret.
“It’s good to see you’ve finally found a woman again, Gio.” He says it like it’s a game. Like Stephanie’s a pawn he’s just learned is back in play. “Rumor around town was that you might die single.” With a dark chuckle, he steps back across the threshold and gently closes the shop door behind him.
It wasn’t just an observation.
It was a warning.
A promise.
