CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ADELINA

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I have to leave now.

I don’t trust Dante not to do something else stupid and hurt more people, despite my plea to him just now.

Nor can I let my father send me to marry smelly and cruel Roger Amato.

I shower, dress, finish packing, and then glance around my room. It’s finally time. It’s time to say goodbye to everyone and everything in my life.

I pull a photo of my mother and father out of a frame and slide it into the pocket of my bag. Then, as I’m heading across the room, I see one more.

Gianna, Leo, Dante, and I sitting by the side of the pool. We’re in our late teens.

Dante is watching me. I’ve never noticed before. Not like I do now. I rip the frame off and stare at it again.

He loves me.

He always has.

And I’m smirking back at him.

Oh god.

I love Dante Baldassare.

This is a disaster.