He Favored The One That Got Away I Left

Chapter 2

Conversation in the hall gradually died away. A few guests who knew me looked over, then averted their eyes.

I'd tested that silver microphone myself. I'd even written Luca's opening line on the cue card: Thank you for being here to see how far we've come. Now the card lay beneath Sophia's fingers.

She didn't take the microphone immediately. Instead, she glanced at me.

"Erin spent so long preparing. Let her do it."

The host stood frozen, no longer sure who should have the flower. I turned my place card facedown.

"There's no need to make this difficult. It wasn't my betrothal that was announced tonight."

Someone set down a wineglass. Luca looked up at me, a slight crease forming between his brows.

"Erin."

He said only my name. But at a Moretti family table, that tone from the Don was enough to silence everyone. He'd never spoken to me that way before.

"You know what we've arranged for the public," he said. "There's no need to give our guests the wrong impression."

"They already have the wrong impression."

"Then we'll explain when it's over."

The answer came too naturally. It was as though temporarily stripping me of my name, my seat, and my place as his fiancée were no more than pushing dinner back 30 minutes.

Sophia laid the microphone on the table.

"I didn't think this through. Erin, should I tell everyone right now that Luca doesn't really intend to protect me, and that the letter wasn't worth all this trouble?"

Her voice faded toward the end. Luca's expression darkened.

"No one said you wouldn't be protected."

Then he looked at me.

"She just doesn't feel safe. You know how her father died."

Of course I did. He'd said it so many times.

On my birthday, Sophia wanted him to go with her to look at the boat her father had left her, and he'd asked me to understand. On our engagement anniversary, she said she was afraid to sleep alone in her new place, so he'd canceled our trip at the last minute.

Even the day my mother entered hospice, he'd failed to come because Sophia said someone had sent her photographs proving she was being followed. It later turned out that the man was a real estate agent photographing the whole street.

Luca had apologized and promised to check first next time. But next time, he'd still gone to her first.

"I haven't asked her to give up her protection," I said. "I just don't want to be treated as another woman's wedding planner."

Sophia's eyes reddened. She took off the bracelet and tried to place it in Luca's palm.

"Give it back to Erin. Don't let me come between you."

It made a faint clink against his ring. He wouldn't take it.

"Keep it on."

Then he came to stand in front of me, blocking the other guests' view.

"You can be angry with me, but don't humiliate her in public. Tell her this isn't directed at her, and we'll leave it there tonight."

He kept his voice low. That familiar look, as though he'd already decided everything for me, suddenly brought back the hospital room after the fire. He'd bent over me just like this and promised never to let me be hurt again.

My throat had been injured. I couldn't even ask him why. I'd only been able to nod.

This time, I could speak. I just had nothing left to ask him.

I gave Sophia a slight nod.

"I'm sorry I interrupted your dinner."

Luca seemed surprised I'd given in so quickly. He touched my shoulder, trying to guide me back to my seat. I stepped away and picked up the coat on my chair.

"I've approved the invoice. I'm leaving."

A chair scraped across the floor behind me. Luca had taken only one step when the host hesitantly reminded him, "Don, the reporters are still waiting for the official photograph."

Sophia caught his sleeve lightly.

"If you go after her now, they'll know."

At the door, I remembered that I still had the club's hostess access card in my purse. When I turned, the photographer was arranging the shot. Luca rested his hand on the back of the chair behind Sophia, allowing her to sit in the place that had been mine.

A staff member removed the little card bearing my name. His gaze passed over it. He didn't stop them.

The flash went off.

I lowered my eyes and put my access card on a server's tray.

"Please give this to Mr. Moretti. There'll be no need to consult me about future events."

Only after I stepped outside did I realize I'd been holding my breath. Cold air filled my chest, tugging at the lingering pain from the burns. I held the railing and waited for it to ease.

The door opened behind me again. This time, he'd finally come after me.