“Nicely, Father spoke to Don Moretti, however I suppose the don didn’t appear overly involved about doing one thing. He simply mentioned he would converse together with his son.” Maria shrugs, dunking the washcloth again into the shortly graying water and rinsing extra rock mud from it. “Are you going to inform me what that is all about?” she asks, gesturing to the nice and cozy bowl of water she’s utilizing to assist clear me up, then sweeping her arm to take me in as nicely.

I sigh, letting my shoulders settle as I ponder simply how a lot I ought to inform her. In the long run, Maria’s my sister, and he or she’s the one individual I’ve to actually speak to. And I want to speak to somebody.

“Issues have been… exhausting since I left residence,” I admit, not likely eager to get into the small print of my marriage ceremony night time with my sister. I’m nonetheless working by way of the conflicting feelings of what occurred that night time—how Leo took me on the patio for everybody to see, how I nonetheless discovered it arousing. It mortifies me to know I might come a number of instances, even when he was so demeaning.

“Does he damage you?” Maria calls for, her tone fiercely protecting.

“No,” I insist. “I imply, I don’t know. He makes me cry lots, I suppose. However it’s not like I anticipated this to be straightforward, you recognize? And I didn’t have a lot selection. In fact, although, within the little little bit of time we’ve spent collectively, for many of it, he’s been fairly… good,” I confess, enthusiastic about how he cared for me final night time, each at dinner and after we bought residence. “He even apologized for what he’s finished to harm me,” I admit, contemplating our change within the backyard as soon as once more.

Then I shake my head, dropping my eyes to my lap.

Completed cleansing me up, Maria units the soiled bowl of water apart and comes to take a seat beside me, giving me her full consideration. “However?” she prompts.

“However I simply can’t appear to belief him. Each time I feel we may be on the right track, Leo does one thing that throws me utterly off stability.”

Maria raises her eyebrows, her eyes affected person as she waits for me to elucidate.

“I used to be out strolling within the woods behind the home at the moment,” I say, then take a deep, fortifying breath as I put together myself to say it out loud for the primary time. “And I got here throughout Leo with a number of of his males. That they had a number of of Don Valencia’s males rounded up, and… He executed somebody at the moment, Maria. I don’t know why. Leo simply… shot him.” I breathe the final half, then look nervously towards the door.

“Holy shit,” she says, the cuss phrase catching me without warning.

We don’t usually curse, as Mom says it’s not ladylike. However it’s actually becoming for the state of affairs.

“Yeah. Which was terrifying. So I panicked and ran, and he got here chasing after me.”

Maria’s face appears to be like stricken this time.

“After all, I had no concept the place I used to be going, and I actually ran proper off a cliff.”

“You what?!” she shouts, leaping up from my mattress.

“Shhh,” I calm her urgently, glancing towards the door. I’ve no clue how a lot of this I might be allowed to inform her, and I don’t need Leo to ship her away.

She glances towards the door as nicely, then settles again onto the mattress beside me.

“Lengthy story quick, a bunch of tree roots saved my fall.” Not eager to stress her out additional, I lower to the chase. “That’s how I sprained my ankle. I bought all twisted up, and it stopped me about ten toes from the highest.”

“Jesus. How did you get again up?”

“That’s what’s so complicated,” I confess, my brows urgent right into a frown. “Even after Leo chased me, he got here down to assist. He actually scaled a cliff wall, simply free climbed it, to chop me free from the roots.”

Maria releases a low whistle. “Nicely, I’m glad you’re nonetheless alive. Do you assume he supposed to kill you? … earlier than you fell?”

“I don’t know,” I murmur. The identical query had been plaguing me for some time now. “However he appeared genuinely involved about my welfare when the physician was right here. And after watching Leo throughout my ultrasound, I don’t assume he’ll do something to me so long as I’m carrying his youngster.”

“That doesn’t give me a lot peace of thoughts,” Maria says dryly.

“Nicely, it offers me the time I want. I’m engaged on a plan that may take away the Morettis from the equation utterly,” I look nervously towards the door but once more.

Maria sighs, as if she already suspected as a lot. “Simply promise me you’ll watch out, Tia. I can’t bear the considered one thing taking place to you.”

“I received’t let something occur to me or the child,” I guarantee her, holding her gaze. We sit in silence for a second, the load of the dialog settling over us.

“I’ve missed you, Tia,” Maria says lastly, giving me a delicate smile.

“I’ve missed you too!” A pang of longing hits my chest, and I pull my sister right into a hug. “You need me to name for some dinner?” I counsel.

“I’m starved,” she agrees.

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