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She hardly realized how badly she’d craved that feeling until now With hiree of safety now too They had both dozed off just a few minutes into the drive No doubt the late hour and the stress of what they’d endured tonight had left the had much to do with the lanced at Ettore in the soft light of the old truck’s dashboard His eyes were fixed on the open road, one hand slung over the top of the steering wheel He seeaze drew his attention He looked her way, and although she was e at him, she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t been

"Thank you for helping theht"

He gave a small shake of his head "There’s no need to thankfor you Don’t you know that?"

No, she didn’t know that For all she knew, she’d o Certainly not all this time later "Why did you do it, Ettore? Why did you leave and never co I did?"

"No" His answer ca in a scowl "Christ, no You didn’t do anything at all Tell me that’s not what they let you believe…"

"They?" A sick feeling opened up in the pit of her stomach "You mean my family? You mean h

"Tell lanced back at the road "They were only looking out for your best interests, Bella They noticed ere growing closer--they noticed my interest in you as a woman--and your father wasn’t pleased Neither was Sal, actually"

"Are you saying they pushed you away? No… Surely they would not Are you saying they didn’t want us together, so they forced us apart?"

Anger clawed up the back of her throat She could hardly stand the thought of what their interference had caused her To think she had wept over her father’s murder To think she had wept for Sal, even after he’d betrayed her to Vito Massioni

But selling her out to that cri the two men she trusted the iously long before then, when they stole her chance at a future with Ettore

He slanted her a sober look "They loved you, Arabella Your father wanted to ive you all the things you deserved in life Your father and Sal both wanted only as best for you"

Her answering scoff was brittle "Look how that turned out"

"They couldn’t have kno things would end up," he gently assured her "But I wish I had known I wish the Order had been on to Vito Massioni years ago, so I could’ve killed the bastard before he had the chance to lay a hand on you"

"It could’ve been worse," she admitted quietly "I endured his temper solanced at her, there was surprise in his gaze, and more than a little relief "You ift for scrying would only last as long as I was a virgin Since I made him wealthy withhis"

She felt a blush creep over her cheeks at the reiven that part of her to Ettore It had been their one and only tione

"Fortunately, Massioni never doubted ht’ve eventually, but he had other women to slake his needs"