Page 39 of The Cute Psycho

"Damn," he curses. He looks disheveled, yet entirely too appealing. "What happened?"

"I think you've had your fill of blood for today," Marcello adds, and a conspiratorial glance passes between the two of them.

"Sorry about that," he says, looking around the room. His eyes find me and he frowns, tilting his head to the side as if he's seeing something he can't quite explain. Then it's over.

One moment his entire persona seems to be enveloped in darkness and pain, the next his mouth stretches into another fake smile, erasing all traces of hisrealself.

"I'm glad you're fine," Lina tells him, but I just narrow my eyes at him.

What is his deal exactly?

"So what did I miss?" He smirks, as if he hadn't just endangered my life.

I raise an eyebrow at him, but his smile only widens when he sees my contrite expression.

We finish our business in the church, and Marcello lets me know he'll speak to Mother Superior on my behalf and that I can return home with them.

I just plaster on a pleasant smile, not daring to dream about it until it happens.

But it seems this time, the fates are actually on my side.

9

SISI

Itry not to show how affected I am by everything that's happening. How the simple fact that I am in a car, driving away from that wretched place, is making me feel like I'm on cloud nine. Or how looking out the window at all the passing buildings that arenotSacre Coeur gets me incredibly giddy.

Marcello doesn't know, but he's just given me the gift of a lifetime. I don't know if he really wants me around, or if he thinks I will be an inconvenience, but I plan on doing my best not to cause any problems that might make him regret taking me in.

When we reach his home, I'm blown away by the size of it. More so, the beauty of the architecture inside. Sacre Coeur hadn't lacked in that, but it had been a clinical beauty. It had been a house, not a home.

Suddenly I can see Lina's touches throughout the rooms, and a warmth envelops me.

"I didn't tell you," I lean over to whisper in her ear. "But I'm happy you married my brother," I tell her sincerely.

"Me too," she replies, blushing slightly.

I've always considered Lina and Claudia my family, but now they truly are. And to know we are going to live in the same place again... I can't help but feel a dizzying amount of happiness at the thought.

With a nod, Marcello leaves us to our devices, asking Lina to show me my room.

"Is he always like that?" I frown when we're alone.

"He's..." She purses her lips. "More reserved. But he's been wonderful to me."

"I'm glad." I squeeze her hand in comfort.

She'd told me the circumstances of their marriage and the fact that the Guerras are still a danger to her and Claudia.

To be entirely truthful, I still have a hard time reconciling the fact that our families are involved in organized crime. And that makes me slightly curious about Vlad's connection to the mob, since he seemed to be Marcello's good friend.

Not for the first time since we've left Sacre Coeur, my thoughts stray to that man. Maybe it's because I'm not used to strangers, but his presence had impacted me. I can vividly picture his dark eyes staring at me, his hands on my body...

Shaking my head at the intrusive thoughts, I ground myself in the present.

Lina takes me to a guest room on the second floor, telling me we'd have time to go shopping and decorate it in the future.

I can only nod, since anything is perfect for me. And the room she shows me is bigger than I would have imagined. It's a simple bedroom, with a double bed, a vanity, a wardrobe and a small ensuite. But it'smine.

---