Page 77 of The Sting of Love
“Really?”
“Yes. So, with that said, sometimes you have to follow your heart and not allow obstacles to get in the way. You ask yourself, is this man right for me? You ask yourself how you feel about him and if you could feel that way about anybody else. If you can answer those questions and you know your man is right for you then he’s yours. It doesn’t matter about anything else and you just find a way to deal with the danger,together.”
Her words grip me, cutting me deep because I know I won’t have what I had with Donny with anybody else. And … as for him being right for me… I thought he was. I felt he was.
“The problem isn’t me...” I tell her.
“Sugar, no guy who truly loves you is going to want to put you in danger. That’s what he’s thinking and I get it. I don’t want that for you either, but I think living that way is robbing yourself of true love and allowing fear to rule you. So this part’s on you. The ball is actually in your court to see what happens if you try to fight for what you want.”
I pull in a deep sigh and think about what I want. I want him.
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Lurlene,” I say. “I’ve never had a man look at me like I was everything and enough for him.”
“Then that’s something worth fighting for, sugar. I say he’s just scared and the fact that he’d rather be without you and keep you safe than be with you and put you in danger says a lot to me.” She offers me a soft smile and I nod.
“I would rather be with him. I don’t think I can meet somebody like him and just un-love them.”
“Then you shouldn’t be sitting here Willow. You shouldn’t be.” She nods with a reassuring smile.
I smile and think about it. “Okay…” I stand feeling invigorated.
Glancing at the clock I see it’s nine. I’ll try his place first and then maybe the club.
“Good luck,” Lurlene says and blows me a kiss. I hug her, grateful for the advice.
I borrow her car and head to Donny’s. There’s a light on inside so I hope he’s there.
When I step on to the porch the strong smell of tobacco engulfs me and I turn to see a dark haired Italian man standing by the corner with a cigar in one hand and a gun in the other.
I freeze when he smiles and points the gun at me. In the amber glow of the porchlights his face lights up at the sight of me.
His overbite makes him look like a dog and the way that he looks me over tells me he’s not a good person. Not in the least.
“Well look at this,” he says with a thick accent. “This definitely is my lucky night.”
“What do you want?” I ask, my voice shaking.
“You. I’m going to have you and use you to get what I want.” He chuckles.
“Who the hell are you?”
“The name’s Mario.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Donny
I lean back in my chair against the leather allowing my head to sink into it as Pa walks in the office.
He looks around and gives his nod of approval. It’s just occurred to me that this is the first he’s been here since I’ve been in Sicily and probably the first he’s been here in a very long time. When last he came, Pablo would have sat in this chair, and he was in charge. Now it’s me.
His gaze falls on me and he gives another nod of approval and pride fills his eyes.
I stand to greet him and he gives me a pat on my shoulder.
“Buonasera, my son. This is perfect. This is definitely what I saw in the cards for you,” he says and smiles wide.
I chuckle. “I’m glad.”
