“I didn’t expect it to.” Melissa gave him one of her gentle smiles, which never failed to make him feel as if he was the luckiest son of a bitch on Earth that she had grown to love him. “I have to admit; I’m always so worried about your safety, I didn’t take into account your feelings if something were to happen to me.”
“I would be completely lost without you,” he said with a hitch in his breath. Even saying it took away his ability to breathe.
“You’re overreacting again. You could never be lost. You would be unhappy for a while, then I think you would find another woman to love. You have my permission to remarry if you do.”
“The same permission won’t be coming from me if I die.”
“I would never remarry. No one would be able to compare to you.”
He couldn’t disagree with that, so he didn’t try.
“I won’t, either.” His hand went to his heart as he made the pledge. “My eyes will never show love for another woman, my lips will never kiss another’s, and my voice will never tell another woman of my love for her. I will only give those promises to you.”
Her loving eyes grew sad. “Dante, if it does happen, and you do fall in love, please remember what I said. I would never want you to be alone. One day, the children will leave the home we made for them, and autumn leaves will continue to fall as we grow older. I couldn’t be happy in Heaven if you were alone without someone to love.”
“Let’s change the subject. We’re going to have to agree to disagree.”
“Just promise me one thing, and we can talk about something else.”
Dante knew Melissa wouldn’t stop until she got out what she wanted to say.
“What do you want me to maybe promise you?”
“I want you to promise me … when you do want to remarry, that you love her before you put a ring on her finger.”
Dante glared at Melissa when she said want. He was done with the conversation.
“I will,” he said without meaning it.
“Dante Caruso, say I promise.”
“No.”
“I will haunt you if you don’t.”
He laughed. “Go ahead. I’m not afraid of ghosts.”
“Please … Dante. I promise never to climb a ladder again.”
“I promise, only because I know you’re going to outlive me …”
He was forced to eat his words eight years later. His beautiful Melissa in a coffin because of him had marked his soul and heart forever. Autumn leaves had fallen without her by his side, and he swore he would remain alone until his dying day. He wasn’t concerned about the promise he had given Melissa; he wasn’t capable of loving another woman, so the promise had been null and void, just like his life was. So, he had let himself forget that sad memory and had let his life pass him by in a blur, with their children growing older and making lives for themselves.
In the quietness of the air, Dante thought he heard the sound of someone weeping. Thinking he was imagining things, he pushed it out of his mind until he gradually heard the weeping fade away.
Droplets hit the windowpane behind him, having him swivel in his chair. The beautiful, sunny day had turned cloudy, and the sky was beginning to rain. It was like watching teardrops quietly slide down the window until it pounded and beat at the glass. Melissa had once told him that God showed His anger with thunder, but it was the angels you had to tread softly around, for their tears could actually touch you.
“Darling, you can be mad all you want,” he said out loud to the empty room. “I’m not afraid of ghosts.”
No, it was a black-haired woman who terrified him.
* * *
“Nadia … Nadia!”
Nadia had been walking at a practical jog, trying to get the hell out of there in case Dante or one of his men came after her. And even though she had come to care for the boy who was yelling after her, she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to keep a brave enough face. However, having to wait for the elevator gave her no choice.
“We found your purse,” Leo said, slightly out of breath from having to run to catch up with her.
“Oh …” Nadia took the outstretched purse. “Thanks.”
Leo’s brows drew together, not missing the hurt she was desperately trying to hide. “You’re not planning to see my farther again … are you?”
She could only slowly shake her head, afraid her voice would betray her and the crying that she just barely held at bay would start.
When the elevator door dinged open, she walked through, raising her hand to wave the boy goodbye … for the last time.
* * *
Dante stared down at the folder Sal had given him.