Lissy Romano

9| Never hurt you.

Lissy Romano

As Giovanni left, I found myself sitting alone in front of Vincenzo, his piercing gaze fixed on me. I couldn't tell if he was mad or not, but my gut screamed that an apology was necessary.

"Vincenzo, I wanted to apologize," I began hesitantly, staring at my hands. "What I did was wrong and stupid. I should have just told you that it was a painkiller."

He studied me for a moment before asking, his voice unexpectedly softer, "Lissy, how are you feeling?"

"Umm, I'm better, but my headache is still bothering me," I lied effortlessly.

"Giovanni will take you to Domenico," he said, his attention shifting briefly to his phone.

"To the clinic where he works?" I asked, masking my growing anxiety.

"Yes. Something like that." His tone was distant, and his gaze stayed on his phone.

"Okay... but what's going to happen there? What will they do?" I pressed, worried about my bruises being discovered.

"He's a doctor, Lissy. Ask him, not me," Vincenzo replied harshly, his patience wearing thin.

"Right... Can I go now?" I asked awkwardly, unsure how much longer I could endure his probing presence.

"No," he said, his tone firm. "I want to talk about Miguel."

No, no, no. Not this. Not now. I had to lie again.

"What do you want to know?" I asked, my voice barely steady.

"How did he treat you?" Vincenzo asked, leaning in, his eyes sharp.

"Umm... umm... like I was his own daughter, I guess," I lied, hating myself for it.

"Okay... Good." He watched me closely, clearly searching for cracks in my story.

"Can I go now?" I asked, desperate to escape the conversation.

"Yes." His tone was calm, but his gaze lingered, making my heart race.

"Thank you. Bye," I muttered, rising quickly.

"Bye, Lissy," Vincenzo said, shocking me. The unexpected kindness caught me off guard, warming something inside me. He was calm, even kind. It wasn't anything like Miguel. Maybe his harshness was a front, a way to demand respect. But I already respected him—he was my eldest brother.

As I reached the door, his voice followed. "Lissy, listen to your brothers, okay?"

"I will," I promised, offering a small smile before stepping out.

In the kitchen, Giovanni was sitting at the counter, typing on his phone.

"Vincenzo said you'd take me to Domenico," I said, sliding onto a chair beside him.

"Yeah, but you need to eat something first," he said, glancing up with a smile.

"But I—"

"No buts. Vincenzo made it a rule," Giovanni interrupted, still smiling.

Fine. I'd eat. The food here was incredible anyway.