Page 19 of Reaper’s Wrath

Somewhere on that spectrum is the rule that if someone tells you to run, you run.

DiAngelo is a trusted family friend. If he says there’s danger, I’m not going to argue. I hike up my gown and scramble behind him as best as I can. The heat of his touch infuses me with energy and assurance that spreads deep into my chest, calming my fears about whatever is happening.

When we reach the exit at the end of the hall, he pulls me close. While he peeks out the door, my head spins from the dizzying effect of his scent filling my lungs and dunking me back into that strange sense of déjà vu. Why have I never noticed how he smells until recently? Did he change colognes?

Does it matter? He’s your best friend’s boyfriend.

God, what is wrong with me? Not only is he totally off limits, but we’re also in the middle of a dangerous escape. I should not be acting like an addict huffing fumes for a hit. This has to stop.

If the wedding to Mazzi doesn’t happen, I’ll have to come up with some other solution to this insane fixation I’ve developed because it can’t continue.

Once he’s satisfied it’s safe, the door swings open, and we’re off, darting into the parking lot. A black SUV idles in the street. DiAngelo opens the door and shoves me inside, following me. The second the door shuts, the car sprints into motion.

“Any issues?” asks the driver.

“None.”

I crane my neck to see who’s behind the wheel but don’t recognize the man. It’s not all that unusual, as I don’t know every Moretti family soldier, but the whole escapade has me on edge.

“D, what’s going on?”

His gaze stays fixed out the side window, suddenly cold and distant. “Buckle your seat belt. I’m taking you somewhere safe.”

CHAPTER 12

ELIO

I knew what I was doing when I went into that church to get Isa, but I still can’t believe I went through with it. In part because it’s wild to have her sitting next to me again, and also because now, I’ve outed myself. For the first time since returning to the city, I intentionally allowed my face to be seen by security cameras.

DiAngelo is about to learn that I’ve returned.

I wish I could be impervious to whatever that knowledge will do to him, but claiming so would be a lie. I have more emotions than I care to admit wrapped up in this reveal. In fact, uncorking that pressurized bottle may be the reason I exposed my identity. God knows I didn’t have to show myself if I didn’t want to.

Why do it, then?

I’m not entirely sure, nor do I feel like analyzing my thoughts on the matter.

Equally complex are my feelings toward the woman sitting next to me. I can say one thing for sure: after seeing her in her gown, I’m certain I made the right decision. She may not be mine any longer, but she’ll never belong to anyone else, either.

What will she do when she realizes it’s me?

More than any other question, that’s the one I come back to. Isa still thinks I’m DiAngelo. She believes Elio is long gone—a momentary piece of her past that would never return. Will she cry for me? Will she fling herself into my arms with joy or recoil in horror at what I’ve become? What will it be like to see the hours upon hours we spent hidden away together so many years ago replay behind those eyes as vibrantly blue as the sky on a cloudless winter day?

Anticipation sparks like a live wire under my skin.

“D, what’s going on?” she asks once we’re on our way.

“Buckle your seat belt. I’m taking you somewhere safe.” I peer over at her after a moment, realizing she hasn’t complied.

“I want to know what’s happening. Is my father safe? Did the others get out?” She’s more assertive than she was as a girl, which is to be expected, but it’s still an interesting difference to observe.

She’s not the only one who’s done some growing.

I reach across her and take the seat belt in my hand, allowing my gaze to lock with hers as I slowly draw the buckle across her body and secure it into place.

“Your father is fine. No one else is in danger,” I murmur, keeping my face inches from hers.

Her breathing hitches. “I thought you said this wasn’t about us.” Her gaze flits briefly to my lips. “Please tell me you didn’t just do something that’s going to break my best friend’s heart.”