Page 123 of The Spare

"Luca?!Oh!"she says in a shrill voice, her eyes going wide."Oh okay,so we're on first name basis with the fucking mafia, now?"

"Yes, he likes to be called Luca." I continue patiently as if she didn't interrupt me. "I handle Lucien Scognamiglio’s businesses that aren't wrapped up in the mafia. There's no money laundering, and everything is completely above board and legal. I oversee the financial operations and advise him on stocks.That's it,okay? I promise."

I damn near hold my breath as her eyes flicker between mine as that line between her brows never goes away, and I note -with displeasure- that she only recently developed that after she'd got with me.

Melody nibbles her lip. "I don't like it," she whispers.

I avert my gaze, staring at my hand instead. My fingers twitch as if I'm twiddling an imaginary paper clip.

"I know," I say softly. "I don't like it either, to be honest. There's no time limits on my commitment to him. I have to take his phone callswhenever he calls. I'm obligated to him, Melody. I'm sorry." My eyes turn towards hers. "But this is why I warned you about Karissa, Mel. A person who I thought was my friend betrayed me and used me to get information on Isobel, and that's why she was kidnapped by her father. And now, this is my penance."

Her eyes widen, and I can see the wheels in her head turning at my admission.

The silence grows between us. Right when I'm sure I'm to be rejected, she reaches a hand out for mine, taking it in a soft grasp."Ourpenance." My eyes widen, and she flutters her thumb across my knuckles. "To have and to hold, remember?"

My heart beats wildly in my chest, and an overwhelming need to cry takes over my senses, heightening my vulnerability. But I know it's okay, because Melody and I have always been able to be vulnerable with each other. Good and bad. Pretty and ugly, we're always us.

"You promise?" I rasp.

"I promise."

Tears well up in my eyes as she leans forward and wraps her arms around me. I'm a little shocked and don't move right away, but when I get my muscles unstuck, I band my arms around her and pull her as tight as I can to me. We settle back down to our sides, our limbs wound tightly together as we kiss. Unhurried, as if we have all the time in the world.

"I hope you really love me," she says quietly into my mouth.

I frown, pulling away to look at her. "What do you mean? Of course I do."

"Because I've decided to end my friendship with Karissa… You're right, she's not a healthy friend, and I keep making excuses for her." Her lips tighten. "She's the only friend I have, Mason."

"Wrong," I say, putting a hand to her cheek. "You've gotme,butterfly."

She gives me a tentative smile, and presses her lips to mine. Although I'm feeling alone, too, due to the issues with my family. And she knows it. Right now, we sort of seem like a ship without a sail.

I clench her tighter against me, needing our connection, and kiss her deeper.

Pulling away, she meets my eyes with nothing but warmth, love, and understanding in hers. "We'll find our way, Mase." The reassurance in her tone does a lot to make me feel confident, as does her running a hand through my hair. "As long as we have each other, I think we can do anything."

And you fucking know what? She's damn right.

So goddamn right.

Chapter thirty-seven

Mafia Involvement

Joaquin is driving me nuts. -Henny

Why? -Mase

Because he doesn't want to marry Amelia. And now, he won't stop calling me to bitch about her. This is why I didn't want to get involved in the mafia, because of this shit right here. It's way too much drama. -Henny

I thought you didn't want to get involved because of an inflated superiority complex. -Mase

Don't be a dick. All he does is talk about her. -Henny

We're not technically in the mafia, yet look at how much dramawe'rein. -Mase

What are you whining about now, Henny? -Teresa