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And I’m falling.

CHAPTER 17

Adriano

“Chiara!”My chair topples with a thud as I jump to my feet.

I manage to catch her just before she’s about to hit the floor. Her eyes are closed, her cheeks flushed. I glance at the table, but she hasn’t snatched the fork or anything that she could use to kill me.

“Chiara,” I repeat, caressing her cheek.

Her skin is hot to the touch.

“Should I call for help?” Rocco asks.

“Yes. Go!” I can’t believe he’s still standing here.

I pick up Chiara in my arms and rush with her to the bathroom. Kneeling in the shower, I let the water run. I splash her face, adrenaline surging through my veins.

“Chiara, wake up.” What’s wrong with her?

I let the cool water run over us as I hold her in my arms. There’s an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. Worry? Fear? I haven’t felt that in forever, but that’s because I’ve always been in control of everything lately.

Now I don’t know what’s going on with Chiara, and I have zero clue as to why I even told her anything about myself. Why bring up the past? I hate it, and I hate talking about it. Why did I tell her?

Maybe because she’s so used to seeing these seemingly perfect families, but I’m sure they all keep secrets. Just like her dad never told her he’d taken a loan from me and what he’d signed. Maybe he even read the full contract, the tiny letters and all. He just doesn’t want to admit it because he wants to keep the benefits his wife and his daughter provide to him.

Chiara’s eyes open, and a strong sense of relief flashes through me.

“Hey,” I say softly as I help her sit up.

“What...? What happened?” She blinks at me in confusion.

I turn off the water. We’re completely drenched.

“I was hoping you could tell me. Has it happened before?” I should’ve asked if she had any medical conditions, but I assumed she would’ve told me at the club.

“I don’t know. I was suddenly very hot and dizzy. And no, I never felt anything like it.”

“How are you feeling now?” My fingers brush her cheek.

She’s no longer burning up.

“Um, fine.” Her gaze locks with mine as I tuck a few strands of her wet hair behind her ear.

“Let’s get you up, then.” I wind my arm around her.

She’s steady on her feet, but I don’t let go of her, just in case. Her shirt is completely wet and sticking to her body. I can see the curves of her breasts and her nipples. My cock instantly reacts. Fuck.

I want to run my finger over her lips and kiss her. I want to press her against the wall and rip her wet clothes off her. The way she’s looking at me right now, her eyes huge and full of fire again, makes me wish that we were at Amore Bruciante and everything were different. But nothing is the same anymore and never will be.

“We should get out of these clothes,” I say.

CHAPTER 18

Chiara

I haveno idea what happened to me, but now I feel perfectly fine. Wet and slightly cold, but fine. Maybe it was all the stress. Everything that’s happening is just too much for me.