as I watch the movement. Salvatore reaches over, wrapping his hand around mine. Turning my head to the side, I lift it and look into his eyes.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says, his voice firm and unwavering.
“Is it?” I breathe.
He dips his head in a short nod. “It is, Pippa.”
“I hope so.”
I hear the judge being called and we all stand. Tilting my head to the side, my eyes widen when I see that my aunt’s attorney is standing at the table, but he’s alone. Whipping my head back around to Salvatore, my eyes widen, but he ignores me.
I know that he can sense me watching him, but he doesn’t spare me even a glance. Shifting my gaze back toward the judge, I listen, in awe as he awards me full custody of my sister until she reaches the age of eighteen.
He goes on to tell me that although my husband is in prison, that in no way reflects on me or my personal life, especially since we had only been married a week. He also warns me that Child Protective Services will be checking on me often and without warning.
In less than thirty minutes, Rosana is mine. My responsibility and my duty to keep safe. I’ll do it too, gladly. Anything to keep her from having the life that Bellarosa had, the life that I almost had.
Though, I’m not sure if mine is any better than Bellarosa’s. Some days I think that I’ve hit the jackpot, other days, I think that maybe this could be worse.
Owned by a man who doesn’t seem to want me half of the time, a man who is in prison.
Waiting five years for him to get out, knowing that when he does, he’ll more than likely be even more closed off than he was before he went in.
He may never love me. He may just always exist beside me and nothing more. That causes my chest to ache. My heart to break into hundreds of little pieces.
“I can’t believe it. I’m free,” Rosana squeals as soon as we step outside of the courthouse.
Looking at her, I smile and jerk my head to the side. “Get me a coffee from the café?” I ask as I dig into my back pocket to hand her a twenty. Her gaze flicks up to Salvatore and she nods her head, then hurries away.
“You got what you wanted,” Salvatore murmurs.
“Tell me, do I have to worry about her anymore?”
Salvatore’s lips curve up into a grin. “Massimo wanted her taken care of, to ensure that you and Rosana were safe,” he murmurs.
“Salvatore,” I exhale.
He snorts. “He likes you, a lot. Adores you, actually. He just wants you happy and safe—well taken care of.”
“I see him tomorrow,” I mutter.
Salvatore reaches for my hands, his grip is firm but comforting. “Take care of Rosana, don’t let her get into any trouble. Girls that age, girls your age, they tend to find that. You call me if you ever need out of a tight spot. Don’t ever feel like I’ll rat you out, I’d rather you be safe.”
Licking my lips, I swallow hard. “Okay, Salvatore. Okay,” I whisper.
“I’m serious, Pippa,” he snaps, his jaw set hard.
Squeezing his hands with my own, I lift my face up and my eyes find his. “What happened?”
His lips part as if he’s going to start to tell me why he’s so adamant that I tell him if I need help. But he catches himself. His lips clamp shut and he smirks as he shakes his head a couple of times.
I see a familiar red sedan drive by the courthouse slowly. It’s been following me since the day at the bridal shop. I don’t see it every time that I leave, but anytime I’m in a busy public place like this, it seems to appear.
My heart races, but I shake the whole thing off, I have a lot more important shit to worry about than some car that appears with a man driving who never does anything other than lift his hand in my direction.
“You know how to get ahold of me. You have my number. Say hello to Massimo when you see him tomorrow, yeah?”
Without another word, he turns from me. I watch him as he walks away for a moment before I decide to make my way toward the café. Rosana is still in line, so I grab a table on the sidewalk for two.
Inhaling the warm air, I wonder if I’ve suddenly become just