Page 34 of Her Dirty Secret
“I know you’re scared, Em. And your life isn’t what you expected.” He turns to me and lays a hand over mine. “But I know you. You’re falling for this guy. I’ve never seen that scare you, though, so I think that means this might be the kind of love that’s exactly what you need. That will give you the strength and support to become the person you want to be.” He pauses, letting his words sink in as the tears flow down my face. He gives my hand a squeeze. “And if it doesn’t, and he breaks your heart, I’ll break his fucking kneecaps. Deal?”
Through the tears, I laugh. My stupid big brother. Well, he’s not so stupid. He knows me better than anyone. Or, almost anyone. Because I’m pretty sure Alessandro tried to tell me all of that, too. I was just too scared to listen.
“Deal.”
Bryce grins. “Come on.”
He gets out of the car and I follow, letting him lead me inside. “How do you even know where he lives?” I ask as I wipe the tears from my face.
Bryce shoots me a smirk. “Seriously?”
I roll my eyes. “Never mind.” We get in the elevator. As we near Alessandro’s floor, I look over at him. “Hey, Bryce?”
He looks at me furtively. “Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
He shoots an arm out, wrapping it around my neck and bringing me in for a hug. “I’ve got you, Em.”
We arrive, and Bryce gets out first. When he gets to Alessandro’s door, he pulls me behind him so he’s blocking me from view and hammers on it hard.
I hear the door open a moment later, and I realize I’d give anything to see the look on Alessandro’s face. But I don’t move, trusting whatever my big bro has planned.
“Ah. The giant. How nice. To what do I owe the pleasure?” If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he sounded sincere, but I don’t miss the undertone of his distaste.
“I’m only going to say this once. Hurt my sister and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.” His voice is low and menacing. I’ve heard him use the tone before. Never a good thing. I crack a smile behind his broad back.
I hear Alessandro heave a deep sigh. “Trust me, if she’d let me, I’d spend my life doing everything I could to keep her from ever hurting again.”
“Huh. Well, cute words. Good luck with that.” Bryce steps aside and gives me a look. “I’ll make your excuses to Mom.”
I nod and give him a small wave. He waves back as he heads to the elevator.
I turn, and Alessandro is leaning against his doorway, arms crossed over his black T-shirt.
“Hi,” I say meekly.
His face is unreadable. “Ciao.”
“Did you mean that?” I ask. “What you said to my brother?”
“I don’t think this is the best place to have this conversation,” he hedges, stepping back. “Why don’t you come in?”
I follow him in quietly. He sits by himself in the leather chair at the end of the two couches. My stomach sinks as I take a seat on the smaller couch. He’s clearly distancing himself from me. So maybe he didn’t mean what he said. Maybe he was just placating Bryce.
Alessandro scrubs his hands over his face. “Can you please tell me what is going on? Why your brother felt the need to threaten me?”
I take a deep breath, deciding to take the advice of my wise, if not annoyingly perfect, big brother.
“I’ve been scared shitless,” I admit. “I’ve been adrift, for years really. As if my perfect brother getting married and taking over the family business wasn’t bad enough, meeting you just made me feel completely inadequate.” He starts to protest, but I hold up a hand. “You’re amazing, Alessandro. I didn’t get how someone like you could care about me. I feel like I’ve got nothing to offer. I’m such a mess. I don’t know what I want to do. I’m like a balloon floating in the wind. But Bryce convinced me I could do with an anchor. Someone who makes me stronger. I don’t know, I’m losing the metaphor. Am I making any sense?”
He leans back. “Yes.” He pushes out a breath. “I feel like a failure.”
“What? No,” I object. “I’m the failure. I’m such a mess I can’t even let someone care about me. And I’m so sorry.”
Alessandro looks at me with a sad smile. “No, Cara Mia. I’ve failed you if I let you think for one moment that I wouldn’t be the lucky one here. You are like nobody I’ve ever met. You’re beautiful, honest, funny, talented, and so smart. You keep me on my toes.”
“With my crazy,” I grumble, starting to smile, nonetheless.