The Don’s Runaway Substitute
Michelle
I had always needed too much reassurance, and for three years, Dante Romano had given it to me.
Whenever he came home late or failed to answer his phone, I imagined the worst. And whenever I couldn’t sleep, I made him leave whatever he was doing and come home to me.
During one of those needy episodes, strange lines of text appeared before my eyes.
【The Don of the Romano family is handling family business. You really think he has time to put you to bed?】
【She’s only an ordinary woman he kept because she looks like Bianca DeLuca.】
【The real Bianca is coming back from Europe. Once she does, this substitute is finished.】
Suddenly, Dante’s patience no longer felt like love. It felt like tolerance.
When he came home and reached for me, I pulled away.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. I finally understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That real love means giving each other freedom.”
From that night on, he no longer had to report his schedule, answer every call, or come home because I couldn’t sleep.
If I stopped clinging to him and quietly disappeared when Bianca returned, maybe Dante would let me leave safely.
But before I could step away, he pulled me hard against his chest.
“Baby,” he said softly, “did I do something to upset you?”