Page 195 of Valentino

“Val, please,” I sob. “You need to listen to me. I don’t know why I hid the phone. I didn’t want to lie to you; I didn’t want you to get arrested for killing him.”

“Get. Out,” he whispers. “I never want to see your face again.”

“No, don’t say that.” I screw up my face. “Valentino, you need to listen to me.”

He turns back to look out the window; his hands go back into his pockets as if breaking my heart is inconsequential.

I stare at him for a long time, waiting for him to say something…. Anything.

Silence.

“That’s it?” I sob. “After everything we’ve been through, you’re just going to throw it all away?”

“People who know what they bring to the table aren’t afraid to eat alone.”

“And what do you bring to the table, Valentino?” I fire back.

“Loyalty.” His jaw rises. “Something that you have never shown me, Anna. Not once. Get the fuck out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

For my entire adult life, I have lived in the shadow of Ferrara. I’ve had guards watching my every move, Enrico towering over us as teenagers. People have been with us whenever we are out in public. Francesca is a Ferrara, there is a price on her head, and she needs to be protected at all times. I know that this life is something that she has no control over.

But I do.

And it’s only now that I’ve stepped back that I can see how oppressive this has been for me. I’ve only ever socialized with Ferrara people, only mixed with the in crowd, and as much as I hate to say it things have only amped up since Francesca married Giuliano.

We went nowhere alone, I was forced to have my own guards, and in the end Carlo was only dating me to get access to Francesca.

Valentino ordering the guards off me has actually been the best thing that could’ve happened, a palate cleanse and a reset on the identity I had of myself.

I don’t know how I haven’t seen it before this, but now that I have it’s as clear as day what I need to do.

Francesca comes into view and she stands and pulls me into a hug. “Oh my God, I’ve missed you so much, Anna.”

I smile against her shoulder as I hold her tight. “I’ve missed you, too.”

It’s been a month since our huge fight, and we’ve spoken on the phone, she’s apologized for not hearing me out or giving me the chance to explain.

I accepted her apology, but I don’t know if the wound she caused to our friendship will ever fully heal.

I’ve forgiven, but I cannot forget.

She holds my two hands out as she looks at me. “You look well.”

Ha, well…. I’ve been to hell and back.

“It’s the health kick.” We sit down. “I’ve been eating clean.” I widen my eyes. “Not even a glass of wine.”

She screws up her nose. “Sounds awful.”

“It really is.”

“We’re breaking it today, right?”

“Of course.”

We order wine, have a beautiful lunch, and many forced conversations, but then comes the time of our date that I’ve been dreading. “So…I have some news.”