Page 97 of The Taste of Deceit

I look away from her.

I knew this moment was coming the second Michael called Luca this morning. I never imagined it would look like this. I thought I’d have time. Time to figure out how to tell her. Time to soften it somehow. Instead, she’s sitting in front of me with swollen eyes and a broken heart, and I’m about to make it worse.

“Oh my God,” Katie breathes as she pushes herself off the bed. “You know.”

“Katie.” I reach for her.

She jerks away before I can touch her.

“Get the fuck out.”

“Katie, please—“

“Get the fuck out of my room!”

Her voice cracks so hard it barely sounds like her.

“Please, listen to me.”

“What?” she screams.

I reach for her hand anyway. She shoves me back with both hands.

“What could you possibly fucking say?” Tears stream down her face as she shakes her head at me. “You knew what Michael is.”

My throat closes.

“And if Michael’s in the mafia...” Her breathing turns ragged. “...then Luca is too.”

I can’t make myself look away from her.

“Am I right?” she screams.

Every part of me wants to lie. Just this once. Just long enough for her to breathe. But I can’t do that to her again.

“Yes.”

She staggers back a step like I’d hit her.

“Oh my God.”

Her hand flies to her mouth, another sob ripping through her chest.

“How long?” she chokes out. “How long have you known?”

I squeeze my eyes shut.

“A month.”

The words barely leave my mouth before something in her completely breaks. Her knees give out beneath her.

“Katie.”

She hits the floor hard, another sob ripping out of her as she folds in on herself.

“How could you do this to me?”

My own tears spill over as I drop to my knees in front of her.