Page 137 of The Temptation

I turn my face towards her. “Oh. That’s all you’ve got to say?”

She winces, then says quietly, “I’m sorry for your loss, Romeo.”

It’s the kind of thing people say when someone dies. The right words. But something about the way she says them so calmly, so steady, like it’s no surprise, makes my chest tighten.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

She winces again as she squeezes my hand. “Dante mentioned it when he took me to the safe house. He wanted to wait until you were feeling better before he told you.”

I nod, release her hand, and turn my face forward, because I don’t know what else to do. I’m worried that if I say something, it may be misinterpreted. I can’t even tell ifI’m more pissed that they kept it from me or grateful they did.

Maybe both.

I think what irks me the most is that I was stupid enough to believe that, as my wife, her loyalty would be with me. Dante may be her brother-in-law … the Don, but I am her husband. Am I already setting my expectations for this marriage too high?

The silence between us stretches to a point of awkwardness before Lucia finally says, “I would’ve told you myself, but to be honest, I forgot.”

My eyes narrow as my gaze snaps back to her. “You found out yesterday that my mother overdosed and died, and you forgot?”

“Forgot, maybe isn’t the right word. I had a lot going on. Thinking I’d lost you, then finding out you survived. Packing up the safe house and moving myself into your place. Your mother may not have been my favourite person in the world, but I’m not completely cold-hearted. I know she meant something to you.”

She reaches for my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. And even with everything I’m feeling—confused, hurt, and angry—I don’t pull away. I welcome her touch.

“I could lie and blame it on my head injury, but I’m not going to do that. I don’t want this marriage to be one with secrets, Romeo,” she says softly, twisting her body in her seat to face me. “I want you to know you’re my number one person. I’ll always have your back. Your needs and your wants come before anyone else’s … even my own.”

Why her words feel like music to my soul, I can’t say, but I let them in. And for now, that’s enough. If we are going to give this marriage a red-hot crack, then I want that too. I want our foundation to be strong.

“I’m going to get the driver to drop you back at the house.”

“Why? Where are you going?”

“To the morgue … to see my mum.”

Dante gave me the address of where her body is being stored, and it’s important that I go and see her. I have a feeling I’ll regret it if I don’t, and I have enough regrets where that woman is concerned.

“I’ll come with you,” she says.

“I’m going alone, Lucia.”

She lets go of my hand, flops back in her seat with all the dramatic flair she’s known for, and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m coming,” she growls.

I roll my lips as I turn my head to gaze out the window. Her fucking sass gets me every time.

“You’re not,” I retort, poking the bear, because I’m eager to see her reaction, and she doesn’t disappoint.

“Oh, I am. You are not an ‘I’ anymore, Romeo De Luca, you are an ‘us’. I’m not letting you face this alone. I’m going to be there for you whether you like it or not.”

She lets out a little huff at the end, like her words are final, and since my gaze is still turned away from her, this time I don’t hide my smile.

Chapter 34

Romeo

“Stay in the car,” I order as we pull up outside the morgue.

I unclick my seat belt and reach for the door handle at the same time as Lucia.

“Hah,” she scoffs. “It’s comical that you think I’m going to obey you. Like I said, I’m not letting you face this alone.”