Page 114 of The Don's Secret Heir

I won’t deny to myself anymore that I love her. That I want her. And Sonny, too. I’ll raise him like my own, her ex be damned.

But I watch the light fade from her face when I pull away from her, and I make a promise to myself that I’ll get her back.

No matter what it takes.

33

LIANA

Dario wakes up before me and for once I don’t wake when he gets up. I don’t wake when he closes the door or when he leaves and comes back.

I don’t wake until he gently shakes my shoulder.

“It’s nearly noon,belissima.Charlie will be here soon to give you an exam.”

“I really think I’m fine, Dario.”

I know I’m not fine, and his raised eyebrows tell me that he doesn’t think I’m fine, either.

“I just need some time,” I say quietly, and I’m not sure that’s true, either. I’ve lost something—my best friend and the security of her. Not just that, I’m terribly confused.

Because I’m in love with Dario Conte and he also could have killed my father.

And I can’t seem to reconcile those two facts, no matter what I do.

Charlie shows up about five after noon, and Dario is already pacing when he knocks on the door.

He leads me and Charlie up to my room.

Charlie’s cute, a dirty-blond with bright blue eyes. He’s boyish in the same way Dario is ruggedly handsome.

“Is everyone you work with someone who could have walked off a movie set?” I ask teasingly, knowing it’ll rile up Dario.

Charlie grins. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her at all.”

I bark out a laugh and Dario frowns, stiffening, but he doesn’t interrupt.

He shines a light in my eyes, makes me follow his finger, all the stuff they did in the hospital.

“Tell me what year it is.”

I rattle off the day, month, and year, and he laughs.

“Overachiever. Your physical exam looks great. There’s no sluggishness of the pupils, no indication of any head trauma.”

I frown. “So what does that mean?”

“Unfortunately, it means it’s more... psychological. You lost someone, didn’t you?”

“My best friend. After she tried to kill me and my son.”

He winces. “That’s... going to cause you to have post-traumatic stress disorder, most likely.”

“PTSD? Isn’t that just for like, soldiers?” I ask, and Charlie shakes his head.

“I see it a lot in this life. It can happen after any traumatic event. And this was uniquely traumatic for you.”

“So what do I do?” I ask in a small voice.