~ VALENTINO’S POV~
An eerie silence stretched between us, long and heavy, until finally, hesitantly, her fingers brushed against mine before she slowly reached for my hand again.
“Do you know that the reason why I stayed with Vince was because he promised he’d help me find out what happened to them?”
My eyes snapped back to hers. “What?”
She nodded, her eyes teary.
“Yes. That’s why I agreed to stay with him.”
A new ache bloomed in my chest.
I hadn’t known that, had blamed her for staying with a man, thought she was cheating on me.
And all the while, she was looking for answers. For the truth.
“But I have you.” she said, tears beginning to gather in her lashes.
“You know the truth, why won’t you tell me?”
I closed my eyes for a moment. Then I let out a slow, shaky breath.
“Because the truth hurts, Moglie,” I said.
She blinked. “Hurt me?”
“You love your father. You respect him. And I know that telling you the truth would take that from you. It would poison e
