pte

o

I glance at the empty pews and adjust a couple o

benches so my hands are free. Moving to the front, I remove the old flower arrange

ounter and quickly grab a trash ba

apart so I can dispose of the flowers

ve to worry about it. Then again, he'd probably leave the flow

to the pews and pick up the pasta dish

nder spot on my hip where G

away from the house, I let the silence in the cathedral wash over

knock on the door before enteri

k he's looking at, and a smile f

ts and what I'll bake for the parishioners to enjoy after Sunday Mass. T

y effort that goes toward my fe

k, I place the pasta dish down on

y priest. "Thank you. With you and Rosa always b

opping list from my handbag. "I thought it woul

charge, so whatever you want to bake is

ngredients, and while he takes the cash out of a small box,

ing sound. "Whate

cepts my ideas, I run th

His eyebrows draw together, and while he sits down agai

s the second time I heard that in the last few d

ven though it's hot outside, I have to wear something with long sleeves to hide the bruises

ed into the lines on his face. "That's not

s, I nod as I climb to my feet. "I better get

't answer him, he mutters, "I'm

whisper, "I know. I just don't w

sigh, his eyes lower to the paperwork

murmur before slippi

because it's the only time I'm gu

cilia. I've done my best to stay out of his way, but I'm shouted at every

e is escalating, and the w

houghts turn to the Parish's money in my handbag. It might be enough for a train

my impure tho

head, and soon, I feel un

ide me, and I give the vehicle a c

er my shoulder, and seeing Angelo, I

eeing way too

asks in a demanding tone

street. "To Ros

sturing to the backseat

g

, and with apprehension tightening my stomach

as me moving closer to the other do

s up, and a shiver

ng summer heat, but the last place I want to be is s

. Giving me a side glance, he grum

ueeze my body against the door as I li

e me,

e. A heavy silence fills the air, and I'm so freaking conscious o

ractive he is, and it makes a weird

h me, and when Big Ricky stops the vehicle in

my lips, I glance at Angel

s off the document he's

he SUV, and shutting the door behind me, I rush around the

's car?" Rosa asks, her eyes wide on th

off as nothing. "He just gave me a

. "That man does nothing f

back, where she spends most

k while trying to do my best to ignore the fact th

but I can add baby's

s fresh flowers. "I made pasta alla Norma for Father Parisi," I i

maccu for him l

In thi

the surprise on my face because

baking for M

had them for coffee hour." "Make extra

the front section of the store, I add, "I sho

ing the flower, I offer her a friendly smile. "See you on Sunday." Leav

ng I can't hide here all day, I le

sidewalk, the backdoor of

hel

lance inside, Angel

set you? It's really starting to

sk, fear making

tightening his handsome features. "

ry out his order, and when I shut the doo

etween the back of Big Ricky's head and Angelo, who's ba

so freak

deal with seeing Angelo Rizzo way more than I'd lik