She rubs her lips. “But you wanted him to suffer for the rest of his life.”
“And he did,” I reply. “But his pain is not worth yours. He’ll never hurt you again, Tesoro.”
Her hands drape around my neck, a tired smile adorning her face. “Thank you.”
“No …” I wipe the tear off her cheek. “Thank you for reminding me what truly matters in this life.”
I lean closer and closer until our foreheads touch, and it feels like there’s no one else around but us. “You matter to me more than anyone or anything else. Your safety … that’s all I could ever wish for.”
“But I don’t understand…”
I raise a brow. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m in love with you,Stella. And I’m pretty sure you’ve fallen for me too.”
She frowns in a suspicious manner. “Who told you that?”
A laugh erupts from deep within, and I let it all out, the weight finally dropping off my shoulders. “You did.”
She folds her arms. “I never said a damn thing.”
“No, but your lips sure did, Tesoro,” I quip.
She grabs my face with both hands. “Shut up.”
The kiss that follows makes up for the filth that just left her mouth almost instantly, her mouth on mine so divine I could perish now and not give a care in the world as long as she’s with me.
This … this is heaven.
“Ti amo,” I whisper.
Her lips tear away from mine. “What?”
Suddenly, my brother clears his throat. “I don’t mean to interrupt you two lovebirds, but there’s a whole-ass fight still going on down there.”
Stella’s lips tear away from mine, and she narrows her eyes at him. “Who are you?”
He makes a gesture with his hand. “I’m Angelo—fucking—De Silva. Hasn’t he told you about me?”
“No.”
He rolls his eyes. “Of course. Figured you’d be terrified of losing her to my charms.”
“Wow,” she murmurs. “You two definitelyarerelated.”
I laugh. “Is it that obvious?”
She nods with a cheeky smile. “Very.”
“I actually helped him find you. You’re welcome.” He makes a cutesy, fake bow to antagonize me. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Agostinis to butcher. It was very nice to make your acquaintance.”
“Thank you for helping Matteo,” she says.
“See? She knows how to say thank you,” he says, making a dirty face at me.
I roll my eyes and laugh as he waltzes off. “Always the center of attention wherever he goes.”
“He could never steal my eyes away from yours,” she says, biting her lip.
“Smooth, Stella. Very smooth.”
