Page 25 of Redemption

Iput the last of the dishes away before heading into the laundry room to switch the clothes into the dryer.

I am grateful for a day off. My thoughts have been a distraction at work for the last week and Magda has noticed. She’s kept quiet. Mostly. She kept her nose out of my business but did tell me I need to get away.

Maybe she is right, just like what Maria was telling me the other day. I need to have fun. Live a little. Do more than work, do house renovations, and take care of Aria. I feel the tiredness in my bones. Like I should be ten years older than my thirty-one years. I’m dragging and thoughts of Kilian only make it worse.

I sit at my computer and book a trip to Malta. It’s a short flight. And a three-day trip should help relieve the stress from my shoulders, the fear that creeps in every now and then. Cocktails and the beach are what I need.

I settle into the couch and pick up a book, falling asleep as I read.

The bell on the dryer wakes me up. I yawn and notice I slept for over an hour. I really do need a break.

I grab the laundry and bring it upstairs and start folding it on Aria’s bed.

“Mirabella.”

I jump at the voice, dropping the shirts I was folding on the ground. I turn and see my cousin in the doorway. “Dante. What are you doing here?”

He looks around the room, taking in the football trophies and the science ribbons. He studies the pictures of Aria with her team, pictures of us. “She’s so big.”

“She’s almost nine.”

“She looks just like you.”

I know he is holding back his next words, the words my uncle and cousins have always said, except for her eyes. “She is my pride and joy.”

“Hmm,” he says as he takes a seat at her desk.

“Dante, I am not going to ask again. What are you doing here?”

He flips through some of the papers on the desk. “Ezio was here not too long ago.”

“He was,” I say impassively.

“What did he want?”

I shrug. “The same as usual. Be careful. Come home to Genoa.”

Dante freezes at my words. “Why would he tell you to be careful, Mirabella?”

“You tell me,” I snap. “He said you and your father were the ones that wanted me home.”

He stands and walks over to me. I try not to move or flinch. Dante is the same age as me but his presence is domineering, intense, frightening. He pushes a piece of hair behind my ear and a slight shudder takes over my body. He smirks at me then picks up a piece of Aria’s clothing. “The thing is, I haven’t seen your brother in six months.”

“He said he was here on business with you.”

“Strange.”

I grab the shirt out of his hand and try to fold it with my shaking fingers. “If he stops by again, I’ll let you know.”

“Will you now? Just like you are going to let whatever man was here last week know?”

My face goes pale at his words. “What are you t-talking about?” I stutter.

“Who was here, Mirabella?”

I drop the shirt in my hands and walk around Dante, making my way to the door. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Then why are you trying to leave?”

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