Page 75 of It's a Wonderful Knife

Max said gruffly, “Gianna, it’s late. It would be nice if you were just honest with us.”

“But I am being honest,” she said.

“No. You’re not.” Max sighed.

“Gianna,” I said quietly. “We know you had sex with Santiago.” Maybe that was a bit abrupt, but I didn’t have it in me to dance around this all night.

Her cheeks infused with pink, but she shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Weheardyou having sex.” Max scowled.

“What?” Her eyes bugged, and she blinked at me.

I grimaced. “We’re not judging you; we simply need to move past this so we can talk more frankly. Okay?”

She covered her face. “I’m so embarrassed.” Her voice was muffled.

“You don’t need to be. I don’t care about that part of the equation, but it does mean I have to ask you some questions. Because you were personally involved with Santiago.” I sighed. “Come on, Gianna, just talk to me.”

She dropped her hands and hung her head. “I really liked him.”

We know.

“I… I’d never have hurt him.” She sniffed. “You should be talking to Amelia. She’s the one full of rage.” Her knuckles were white as she continued. “She threatened him. She said if he ever touched me again, she’d kill him.”

“When did she say that?” I asked.

“The night we were playing board games. At first, he was in such a good mood, and we were smiling at each other and joking around. I know he wanted to sneak off with me, but Amelia was watching him like a hawk.”

Scowling, Max said, “She was his girlfriend, Gianna. Can you blame her for not wanting him to sleep with you?”

“No,” she said softly. “But they weren’t good for each other. They were all wrong. Santiago’s aura was green, but Amelia’s isyellow. Do you have any idea what a horrible combination that is? That’s why they fought all the time.”

“That and the fact he couldn’t keep it in his pants?” Max muttered.

She frowned. “He wasn’t like that. Why are you saying that?”

Did she honestly believe she’d been special? Was she so naïve she thought Santiago had been so taken with her, he cheated, but that he’d never cheated before? “Were you aware Santiago was also flirting with Madison?”

“What?” Something dark fluttered through her gaze. “What are you talking about?”

Max gave her a pitying look. “Gianna, Santiago was a womanizer.”

“No,” she said softly, shaking her head. “That’s not true. You don’t understand—we bonded on another level. The minute our eyes met, something passed between us.”

“Good Lord.” Max shook his head.

“According to others, Santiago seemed interested in Madison too.” I didn’t see the point in pulling my punches now. She needed to hear this. She was living in a fantasy world where Santiago had been madly in love with her. Had her bubble been burst and she’d killed Santiago? Maybe she was in denial about what she’d done?

“Madison?” she whispered. “You mean the girl who works here?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“But… she’s with Jax.”

Max chuffed. “And Santiago was with Amelia. That doesn’t always matter.”

Gianna looked sick now. “I can’t accept what you’re saying. Santiago wanted me. He said when we got back to LA he wanted to keep seeing me.”