Page 25 of His Beautiful Revenge
She shook herself. Should she have come? She realized tears were pouring down her cheeks and inside her there was a need, a desperation to reach out and comfort her friends…
You’ve only known them for such a short time …
She dropped her head into her hands and didn’t see the limousine pass her by. Norah looked up to see the press camped outside Orlando’s home and got angry. She got out of the car, slamming the door, her rage alive inside her. “You! Get thefuckaway from that door! You do not step one foot on this property without permission. Do you understand?”
Norah rarely got mad, but when she did, the sheer force of her anger made certain that those it was directed at were in no doubt she meant it. Norah pushed past the paparazzi and the news teams and knocked on the front door. Orlando opened it a crack—then his eyes widened in surprise and he threw open the door, grabbed her arm and pulled her inside into a bear hug. Norah held him as he sobbed, his face pressed into her shoulder. Over his shoulder, she saw another younger woman. She could only be Orlando’s sister from the resemblance. The woman nodded at her, unsmiling, then disappeared back into the living room.
Orlando released Norah, wiped his face, and tried to smile. “I’m sorry, Norah. I didn’t mean to do that. It’s so good to see you.”
“Orlando …I can’t even begin …”
“Please,” he held up his hand. “I know. Everyone’s sorry. Come in and meet some people. See Ferma.” He took her hand, starting to draw her into the other room, then stopped, his eyes confused. “Giacomo …”
A spike of sadness shot through her. Norah braced herself to see her ex-lover, but then Orlando shook his head. “You just missed him. He would have loved to see you, kiddo.”
Norah shook her head. ‘This isn’t about Giacomo and me, Orlando. God, I can’t even imagine how you must feel. How’s Ferma?”
They walked to the kitchen. “Confused, sad …she’s like the rest of us—in disbelief.” Orlando sighed. “When I had to tell her …”
Norah squeezed his hand. “If there’s anything I can do …” She felt useless, and now she felt like an intruder, but as soon as Ferma saw her, she hugged her tightly.
Orlando introduced Norah to his family and to Carmel’s mother, an attractive older woman who looked shattered. Norah couldn’t help but hug her. “I’m so sorry.”
Norah helped out, cooking for the family, fielding phone calls, and making sure Ferma was fed. Orlando smiled at her gratefully, but Norah kept to herself, not wanting to intrude on the family’s grief.
It was getting dark when Norah settled Ferma into bed. The little girl was exhausted and fell asleep, still clutching Norah’s hand. In Ferma’s other hand was a shirt that Norah recognized as Carmel’s. It broke her heart.
She snuck out of the back door, sat on the back steps, and let silent tears fall. What the hell was the matter with this world?Jesus …
Norah didn’t want to attract attention, so she buried her face in her hands and sobbed quietly. After a few minutes, she felt someone sit down beside her and put an arm around her. Somehow, she knew who she would see when she opened her eyes and knew she would have to deal with her heartbreak, but for the moment, she leaned into the warmth of him, breathing in his clean scent. Giacomo pressed his lips against her temple. Neither said anything. There seemed no need for words.
After a while, Norah heard the screen door behind them open. “Take her home, Jack,” Orlando’s voice was warm and soft. “She’s been incredible today. She must be exhausted.”
Norah wanted to protest that she wasn’t the one who needing taking care of, but suddenly she was overwhelmed with tiredness and sadness. Giacomo nodded and helped her up. Norah hugged Orlando. “I’ll come back in the morning if you need me.”
Orlando hugged her hard. “You just take care of both of you. We’ll be okay. We’ll see you soon, right? For the funeral?”
“Of course.”
She didn’t protest when Giacomo led her to his car. There was no way she could drive herself, and, when it became obvious he was driving them back to his place, she felt only relief.
Giacomo took her hand as they walked up the steps and inside and he didn’t hesitate to lead her upstairs.
In his bedroom, they faced each other. Giacomo brushed his lips against hers. “Are you tired,Principessa?”
She nodded, but kissed him again, wanting to feel his skin against hers.
‘So you want to sleep,mio caro?”
She hesitated only a second before shaking her head. She gazed up at him. His green eyes were ringed with black circles. He looked shattered but still devastatingly handsome. She stroked her fingers down his cheek and he leaned into her touch.
They stripped each other slowly, the heat between them a smoldering thing. This was not the joyful lovemaking of before—this was a desperate need to feel love, closeness, and safety. Feeling his skin against hers was like a drug to Norah and she wanted him to feel some comfort too as they made love slowly.
Afterward, they lay side by side, gazing at each other. Giacomo, in halting tones, told her about the night Carmel was murdered.
“She just lay there, so still, so …it was like everything stopped. I could hear Orlando screaming at her to breathe and yet it sounded like it was coming from a million miles away.Mio Di o…” Giacomo closed his eyes and Norah could see how much he had been affected. “I’ve never seen so much blood,mio caro,. It was horrific. Did you know she was pregnant?”
“God, no …” Norah’s voice broke and she started to cry. Giacomo held her close, his lips against her forehead.
