Page 19 of Between Us

Alessandra watched his departing form and didn’t like the feeling of trepidation washing over her. She didn’t want to know how he would react if she ever crossed him somehow.

???

Roman was gone before Alessandra had even finished her breakfast. Left alone in the large house, she tried tofigure out what to do with herself. After exploring the first floor for a little while, she decided to go back to the bedroom. The bed was unmade, the sheets left in the same state of disarray as when she’d untangled herself from them earlier.

She located her phone on the nightstand and contemplated calling her mother, knowing she was probably going crazy with worry by now. The decision made, she quickly found the number and waited for the call to connect.

“Alessandra.” It was her father’s voice, and she started at the deep sound of it.

“Papà?”

“Your mother is busy. How are you,figlia mia?”

Although it sounded as if he was concerned with her wellbeing, Alessandra knew better. His question conveyed a different meaning she was painfully aware of.

“I’m good.”

“Yes?”

“Yeah.”

“And your husband?”

“He left some time ago.”

Nero exhaled a deep breath, and she knew that he was getting annoyed with her. “Are you behaving?”

“I…” She trailed off, not even sure how to reply to that.

“Remember what I told you. You’ll have more to gain from your husband being pleased with you than the alternative. Do you understand?”

She fought the bile rising in her throat. “I understand.”

“Good. Someone will be here later to pick up yourclothes.”

“I know.”

He paused, and Alessandra thought he was finally going to offer some reassuring words. Instead, he cleared his throat and said in a neutral voice, “I’ll let your mother know that you called.”

When he hung up, Alessandra collapsed on the floor and tucked her legs up to her chin. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she didn’t bother to hide them. No one would see them anyway.

As she sat on the floor, crying, frustration clawed at her skin. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t cry anymore. She’d promised herself she would be strong. Yet, a few careless words from her father, and she was a mess, all emotions bursting out of her like an open dam.

On the floor beside her, her phone pinged with a text, and she glanced at it through blurry vision. She picked it up, wiped her face and read the text from an unknown number.

Let me know if you need anything. Something came up and I’m not sure when I’ll be home.

Her chest tightened with a strange feeling as she recognized Roman behind the message. She didn’t know when he got her number and from whom, though it didn’t really matter. He was being attentive, his attitude toward her a welcome contrast to her father’s cold demeanor.

As her tears dried, she saved the number and thought of how to answer.

Thanks. I’m good, but I appreciate it.

She stared at the phone for another minute, hoping for a reply. When it didn’t come, she got to her feet and padded into the bathroom for a shower. The weatheroutside was beautiful, and she wasn’t going to let her father ruin her mood for the rest of the day. With that resolution in mind, she closed the door behind her and started undressing.

9

“How’s married life treating you?” Alek asked his brother as they sat at their usual table in the mostly empty restaurant, a few days after the wedding.

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