Page 92 of Wicked Tricks

Before, I would have gagged at the thought of having to spend a single second alone with a Santino. The root of all evil, according to the old me.

But now, I spent a great deal of my time wishing that he was wherever I was.

After a lifetime of avoiding men in order to keep myself safe, I now couldn’t remember a time that I felt safer, than when I was with him.

“Can you give us a moment please, Beanca?” Diana asked, sitting down in her chair.

Bea smiled and nodded once, closing the door on her way out. I stalled, standing where I was, before Diana gestured to the seat opposite her.

I still found it hard to meet her eyes.

“It’s OK, Rome,” she smiled reassuringly, “I know that it was Sierra.”

“You do?” I frowned, taking the seat across from her.

She nodded once, “I’m sorry for accusing you so quickly. I should’ve known that I could trust you, and I apologise.”

I looked to the ground, nodding, “no, I’m sorry Diana. If I hadn’t gotten involved with Antoni, none of this would have happened.”

“You don’t know that,” she said, “we don’t know how long Sierra has been planning this, or whether she was ever truly loyal. They returned most of the cash, obviously with a warning that the operation is now over - but we will find something else, we always do.”

“Why did they return the money?” I asked, shaking my head.

I didn’t understand it at all.

She gave me a knowing look.

“Why do you think Rome? You’ve obviously got this guy eating out of the palm of your hand,” she chuckled, “I’ll admit, I was worried there for a bit.”

I reflexively laughed, and then frowned as her words sunk in.

“Wait, what? Why?”

“I thought you were really falling for him. But, I am sorry for doubting you.”

She watched me with a pleased smile on her face, but I couldn’t wipe the frown from mine as my mind raced.

“I am,” I said slowly, as the realisation hit me.

Her head tilted to the side, not understanding.

“I am,” I repeated, “I am falling for him.”

She stared blankly at me, as shocked as I was by my confession.

I couldn’t believe that I had said it out loud, and to Diana. I swallowed a lump in my throat, waiting for her reaction. Even though I dreaded the lecture that I knew was to come, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.

I said it.

I admitted it.

Maybe I wasn’t as broken as I thought I was. Maybe there was a chance for me after all.

I always thought that I was just damaged goods, that this was just how I was. I had accepted that I would always be alone to fend for myself. But it was starting to dawn on me, that maybe it didn’t have to be that way.

It was a baby step, but it was a step forward nonetheless.

Diana’s mouth fell open after a few seconds of consideration and she put her fingers to her lips.

---