Page 59 of Salvatore

She rejects the call, thankfully gifting me her loyalty over the guy she’s seeing, then sits silently, waiting for me to unravel.

“I need fresh air.” I meet her gaze, my insides feeling like they’re going through a meat grinder. “Will you step outside with me?”

“Of course.” She cuts the engine and removes her belt.

I grab my shoes and we climb out together to stand on the lawn of a random colonial-style homeon a quiet street.

“Why did you disconnect the call?” she asks, patient and kind as always.

Because I know what Remy was about to say, and hearing those words out loud will make this real.

“I, ah…” I dump my heels on the grass and toe my feet inside them, attempting to buy more seconds to think.

“Ivy, please talk to me.” Her voice is fragile. Pleading.

Shit.I can’t do this. Not when I’m the illogical choice in this situation. Given my empty bank account and lack of resources, I’m not only the risky option, I’m the one that can’t protect her.

“Do you really have feelings for him?” I keep my gaze locked on my shoes, my eyes burning.

“Yes. I swear I do. He means the world to me. And you know I wouldn’t say that lightly. I’ve never been in love before.”

Love?

A splintered razor stabs through my chest. “Wow… okay.” She’s in love. That’s even worse. There’s no way I can compete with money, protection,andthe greatest emotion in the whole wide fucking world.

“He feels like home to me,” she continues, not realizing her words are digging the grave for our friendship, each affirmation of affection making the hole deeper. “I’d give anything to make it work.”

I swallow down the emotion clogging my throat and force myself to meet her gaze. “I’m happy for you.” I really am. Given her isolating personality and her realist nature, whatever complications they’ve endured must’ve sunk soul deep. “But given the circumstances, I think we might need to put our friendship on hold for a little while. Just until I can get my head around everything.”

“What? Why?” Her eyes bug. “Ivy, I promise Remy’s not the type of guy you think he is. He’s not dangerous—well, not to people like us.” She grabs my hands. “He won’t hurt me. He’s the one who arranged and paid for the best oncologists for dad. And the home-care nurse. He even took us all to Berkeley Springs a few weeks ago and booked out an entire restaurant, just so I could have more special memories.” She squeezes my fingers. “He’s a good man. Please trust me on that.”

I can see it in her eyes. She believes every word she’s saying. But that only solidifies the end of our friendship.

“I do trust you. With my life.” I slide my hands from hers and backtrack. “I just need some time to get my head around it.”

She balks, her eyes watering. “No. You don’t get time. You’re my best friend. I need you.”

I tense against the ache behind my sternum. “I know. And I need you, too. But like you said, this is complicated. Just give me a few days.” I take a retreating step, the distance already killing me.

“Ivy Rosa Diaz, donotwalk away from me.”

I should laugh at her parental tone. Given any other argument I definitely would, but that name is our biggest problem, because it’s not real. Nothing she knows about me is.

I give her a sad smile and take another backward step. “That’s not my name.”

She straightens.

“That’s why Remy called.” I take another step. “Salvatore dug into my past.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Liv, the name on my birth certificate is Isabella Rosa Rodriguez.” I give her a second to let the news sink in. “I grew up in an abusive home and fought with all I had to get emancipated when I was sixteen.”

She blinks at me as if I’m a blurred image she’s trying to focus.

“My father was a lieutenant for the Mexican cartel.” I keep backtracking, attempting to distance myself from the pain I’m inflicting on her. “He’s since been promoted to leadership.” I try extra hard to give her the friendly smile she deserves, to at least attempt to make her believe everything will be okay while my nose burns with emotion. “If he found out about my association with someone in the mafia, he’d not only kill me, but he’d kill you, too.”

She keeps staring at me, mouth slackened, expression distraught as a tear treks her left cheek.

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