Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Yes, but he found me, and I’ve asked his forgiveness.”
He clears his throat. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No.” I shake my head, and lowering my head, I admit, “His uncle died because of me, and I was scared, but Angelo wasn’t angry with me.”
“His uncle?” Father Parisi gasps. “Maurizio Rizzo?”
“Yes.” I shift on the bench. “He fell to his death because I stumbled into him.”
The horrific incident flashes through my mind, and I tighten my hands into fists on my lap.
“I’m going to assume there’s more to that story,” Father Parisi whispers as if he’s scared someone will hear.
“Yes, but I don’t want to talk about it.” My eyes flit to the partitioning between us. “If that’s okay with you?”
“Of course.” He lets out a heavy breath, then asks, “Do you have any more sins to confess?”
“I didn’t feel bad when I learned that my stepbrother was killed.”
“What?” Father Parisi gasps, and this time, he opens the small window between us and stares at me in shock. “What happened? Are you okay?”
I nod before saying, “I’m fine.”
“How did he die?”
I shake my head. “I can’t tell you.”
Father Parisi stares at me momentarily, then shuts the window again. “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
I make the sign of the cross again and whisper, “Amen.”
When I step out of the confession booth, Father Parisi’s door opens, and he grabs both my hands. Giving me a worried look, he whispers, “Do you need help?”
I shake my head, and with a smile spreading over my face, I say, “I just needed absolution.” I squeeze his hands. “I’m not in any danger, and Angelo is good to me.” I take a deep breath before admitting, “I love him.”
I feel Tiny behind me, and Father Parisi quickly lets go of me. He takes a step backward but still looks worried as his eyes meet mine.
“I’m safe and happy, Father,” I say to put him at ease. “It’s all I ever wanted.”
Tiny places his hand on my shoulder as Father Parisi nods at me. “I’ll see you both tomorrow?”
My smile widens. “Yes.”
When he walks away from us, I turn to look at Tiny, whose eyes instantly lock on my face.
With a frown, he asks, “Did it go okay?”
I nod. “It went as well as I expected.”
With Tiny close to my side, we walk out of the Cathedral, and when I’m sitting in the back seat of the SUV, I let out a sigh.
I know going to confession won’t magically erase the guilt I feel for the part I played in Maurizio’s death, but it makes me feel a little better.
Tiny starts the engine, and pulling away from the curb, he says, “If you ever need to talk about what happened, I’m here.”
I glance out of the window. “Thanks, Tiny.” I let out a sigh. “I think it’s just going to take some time for the memories to fade.”
“Time heals all,” he murmurs.
My thoughts drift for a moment, then frowning, I meet his eyes in the rearview mirror. “What’s your real name?”
He lets out a chuckle before saying, “Sebastiano.”
“I feel bad that I only thought to ask now. Sorry, Tiny.”
“It’s okay.” He grins from ear to ear, then adds, “Just never call me Sebastiano.”
“I won’t. You’ll always be Tiny to me.”
When we get home, and I head into the mansion, Angelo is leaning against the back of the couch, his eyes on me.
“Were you waiting for me?” I ask as I walk closer to him.
“Yes. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
My eyebrow lifts as I stop in front of him. He grips hold of my hips and tugs me closer.
“When did you last have contact with your aunt?”
A frown forms on my forehead. “A few months ago, before my phone was broken. Why?”
“I think it’s time I meet them,” he replies. “Would you like to invite them over for dinner?”
My eyes widen, and a smile spreads over my face. “I’d like that very much.” My shoulders sag as I admit, “But I don’t have their phone number anymore. It was on my old phone.”
“I’ll get it for you,” he promises.
“That will mean a lot to me.”
As I start to wrap my arms around his neck, he shakes his head. “You need to change into the dress I left on the bed.”
“Why?”
Angelo presses a quick kiss to my mouth, then murmurs, “It’s a surprise.”
“How much time do I have to get ready?”
The corner of his mouth lifts in a hot smirk. “As long as you need, mia piccola cerviatta. There’s no rush.”
Feeling excited, I leave him in the living room and hurry up the stairs. When I walk into the bedroom, I see the pale blue gown Angelo chose for me to wear. It’s one of my favorites that I got on my shopping spree at Oscar de la Renta.