“I won’t let you.”
My heart sank. Was he going to keep me here against my will? Was he planning on meddling with my life again?
He must’ve read the wariness on my face, because he gripped my upper arms and said, “No, I won’t let you leave because I’ll do anything,anythingto make you happy with me.”
“Anything?” I scanned him from under the curtain of my lashes, the familiar warmth of his gaze filling my body.
“Anything.”
“You must have some red flags.” I smiled.
“When it comes to you? No.”
“That’s not possible.”
He shook his head. “Trust me when I say, Tierney, that where you’re concerned, I’m color-blind.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Tierney
“It’s sogood to finally hang out again.” Lila picked a grape from the charcuterie board and popped it into her mouth with a content sigh. “It’s been ages. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Because you haven’t.” I chugged half a glass of champagne, chasing it with a piece of cheese. “I was busy running away from your brother, screwing him, getting shot in front of him, and then moving in with him.”
I left out the other juicy parts, like our showdown with Stefano last week. No need to add screwing her brother in front of a dying mobster to my list of never-ending adventures.
Sofia nodded, her eyes big as saucers. “You’ve certainly been busy. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Doing something normal, after weeks of living life in the fast lane, was a relief. When Sofia picked up the phone and called to ask if I’d consider joining her and Lila for lunch, I did not hesitate. I appreciated her seeking out my company and including me, especially when I knew she had a lot on her plate right now.
“So tell me why you forgave him,” Lila urged, reaching forward to pat my knee.
She was glowing and looking so much happier than when I first saw her. She and Tiernan brought out the best in each other.
“He was extremely persistent,” I sighed. “And you were extremely overbearing. It was the perfect storm.”
“I wasn’t overbearing. I was looking after you!” She swatted my knee, turning to Sofia. “Tell her I’m not overbearing, Sof.”
Sofia squirmed in her seat, turning red. She was painfully shy and sweet; it was hard to imagine her with a man like Luca, not to mention a man like Jeremie. “You can be a bit…much,” she admitted softly. “But it’s coming from a good place!”
“Totally,” I agreed.
“You do look good together.” Sofia beamed up at me, taking a sip of her herbal tea. Her pregnant stomach was starting to show. I didn’t want to ask her anything about it because it was clear her marriage was a shit show, and I wondered if the new baby—or Ciro—were even the fruit of a consensual relationship. Knowing Luca, I wouldn’t put it past him to take what wasn’t offered.
I wanted to broach the subject, but I didn’t want to embarrass her, either. If she’d come to me, though—if she gave me any sign of distress—I promised myself I’d finish her husband with my bare hands.
“You think so?” I asked.
Sofia nodded. “The way he looks at you reminds me of all the romance novels I used to hide under my bed so my mama wouldn’t find them.”
“Why? Were they dirty?” I wiggled my brows.
Sofia giggled, shaking her head. “Not too dirty, no. I think she didn’t want me to read them because she didn’t want me to have any expectations regarding marriage and men.”
“That’s horrible.” Lila’s light brows scrunched. “My mama was the same, though. She wouldn’t let me read any romance books, only clean love stories with morals.”
“Please,” I sighed. “I didn’t even have a mother. So I win. Sort of.”
