Page 17 of Secret Passion

As I watched the scene unfold, my heart ached with the weight of my brother’s pain. He thought we betrayed him when really we only wanted to get him the best help available.

“Let him go, Paulie,” Nicholas commanded, his voice firm yet controlled.

“Okay boss, if you think that’s best,” Paulie responded, releasing his grip on David. I could see the confusion in my brother’s eyes as he looked from Paulie to Nicholas and back again.

“Boss?” David questioned, his anger momentarily dampened by curiosity. “Why did he call you boss?”

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to reveal the hidden truth. “Paulie was your bodyguard while you were in rehab, David,” I confessed quietly. “He was there to protect you and even prevented your murder at least once.”

David’s gaze shifted between Paulie and Nicholas, disbelief and betrayal etched on his features. He shook his head, unable to comprehend or accept the revelation. “So this whole time... You weren’t my friend, just a hired man?” His voice trembled with indignation, and I fought the urge to reach out and comfort him.

“David, it wasn’t like that,” I tried to explain, but my words seemed to fall on deaf ears. The trust he had placed in Paulie had been shattered, and I knew it would take time to rebuild those broken bonds.

“Enough!” Nicholas thundered, asserting his dominance over the room. “David, you need to understand that everything we’ve done has been for your own good. We love you, and we want you to be a part of our family.”

“Family?” David scoffed, the word dripping with bitterness. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”

His words stung, but I knew they were born out of hurt and betrayal. At that moment, David just wanted to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Romano mansion.

“I want to go back to my apartment,” he declared, his jaw set in defiance.

“David, your apartment has been rented out while you were away,” Nicholas replied, his tone firm yet gentle. “We have prepared a room for you here at the house. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.”

“Fine,” David spat, his anger not entirely quelled. By this time, Riccardo had been summoned, appearing silently by Nicholas’s side. “Show me to my room.”

“Of course, Mr. Ricci,” Riccardo responded respectfully, leading David down the grand hallway toward his new living quarters. As the two disappeared around a corner, I turned to Paulie, who still stood rooted in place.

“Paulie, thank you for keeping David safe,” I said sincerely, knowing that without him, my brother might not be alive today.

He looked surprised to be thanked, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. “You’re welcome, Mrs. Romano,” he replied, his voice tinged with warmth and humility. “I hope Mr. Ricci will calm down and see me as the friend I truly am.”

“Give him time,” I murmured, more to myself than to Paulie. “He’s been through so much, and he needs to find his footing again. But I believe he will come to forgive and trust you once more.”

With a nod, Paulie excused himself, leaving me alone in the silent aftermath of our family reunion. I wondered if the wounds inflicted today would ever truly heal.

Chapter 10

Liliana

Ilooked all over the house, finally finding David in the living room. He sat slouched on an armchair, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand. The amber liquid shimmered as if it held secrets only he could decipher. I hesitated before disturbing him. If he was drinking this early in the afternoon, he was not having a good day.

“David?” My voice wavered as I approached him. “Are you all right?”

“Three days, Liliana,” he growled, swirling his drink. “Three days stuck in this Romano fortress, and I’m ready to die of boredom.”

I frowned at the bottle of whiskey on the side table. It was half-empty, and I could feel the weight of my concern grow heavier with each second. “It’s three in the afternoon. You shouldn’t be drinking like this.”

“Ah, there it is - the ever-protective little sister.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, but I knew him well enough to detect a hint of affection beneath the bitterness. “I don’t need your concern. I just need to get out of here.”

“Where would you go?” I asked, knowing he wouldn’t be safe anywhere else.

“Find a new apartment, maybe. Or back to Papa’s house. At least there I can come and go as I please.” He downed the remaining whiskey in one swift motion, his throat working to swallow the burn.

“David...” I paused, unsure how to continue. “You may not want to return to Papa after you hear what I have to say.”

He set down the empty glass with a sharp clink, blue eyes narrowing as they met mine. “What are you talking about?”

“Father was with Mother shortly before her death,” I said slowly, feeling the familiar sting of tears behind my eyes. “He... he might have been involved.”

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