Francesca
I stared at Faust, unable to form words. Pain and fear strangled my tongue and stole my breath.
Whatever he saw in my face made him pull me in. I didn't even bother struggling, just let him lead me to his chair, where he sat and pulled me onto his lap. I leaned into his warmth and tried to control my emotions. How was I going to survive this?
He stroked my back with one hand. "Dimmi."
His laptop was open, a complicated spreadsheet on the screen. The numbers blurred together as I stared at them, my eyes filling with tears. Still, I tried to force the words out, needing to purge them from my heart. "My father..."
I couldn't even say it.
Faust's hand stilled. "Your father, what?"
He found out about us and disowned me.
Tension radiated from his body, and I k
