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I m taking a shortcut, he finally said, turning right onto the road that led to the facility. Uneasiness
crept over him at what he was about to do. She acted relatively in control at the moment but who
knew what this revelation might do to Annalisa? She could totally lose it.
Or she could end up cooperative. He hadn t a clue how she might react.
Wait a minute. Her voice was quiet and she turned to look at him, her expression wary. I ve been
here before. I ve been on this road.
Considering the road led to the facility and nothing else, this surprised him. Really? Where were you
headed?
She remained silent for a moment, turning away from him to stare out the window once more. The
facility s sprawling building loomed in the near distance as they came to the end of the road, a giant
circular drive with a cascading fountain in the center before them.
Oh my God. Her voice was shaky, and she turned to look at him, her lips trembling as if she might
burst into tears. You spoke to my father, didn t you? Does he know what I ve done? Am I in trouble?
Is that why you re bringing me back here?
Well. He hadn t expected this. You ve been here before?
She nodded furiously, her dark hair falling into her face, her eyes wide and full of panic. A long time
ago. When I was supposed to be at university. Father lied. He put me here instead. I needed to get
well and stop doing all of the bad things.
Hell. This had gone from bad to worse in a split second.
I promised him I would be good. That I wouldn t be bad anymore, so they let me come home and go
to work. I was happy. I had a place to go that gave me purpose every day. But then my father left. He
hasn t been around much and I& I slipped. She put her hands over her face and promptly burst into
tears. I m sorry. I ll be a good girl, I promise. Just don t make me go back there.
He said nothing as he pulled onto the circle drive and headed to the front entrance. Annalisa sobbed
into her hands, the sound pitiful but grating. What a sad situation. Her father had kept her mental
illness a secret. Though the mother had to know as well. Most likely this was why she behaved so
strangely earlier. She knew what her daughter was capable of.
And did absolutely nothing to stop it.
Rafe put the car in park and shut off the engine at the check-in entrance. Matteo s vehicle was parked
in the lot, he d noticed it when he pulled in, but his brother stood just outside the entrance, his
expression grim, his hands shoved in his jeans pockets. Seeing the car, Matteo headed over and Rafe
rolled down his window.
Cat s mother called her on the way here and Cat admitted to her what we were doing, Matteo said
quietly. Annalisa s been here before.
I know, Rafe said just as softly. She just confessed.
Cat s inside now, talking with someone from the staff. Her mother just called into the care facility to
speak with Annalisa s old doctor. They re prepared to talk to her and hopefully convince Annalisa
that she needs to check in. Matteo shook his head in seeming disbelief. Cat s in a total state of
shock. She never knew about her sister being here before.
A family secret that appears some of the family didn t know about, Rafe said. Irritation ran through
him. He hated family secrets. He d witnessed the destruction first hand when it came out that his sister
had a different father than the rest of them. The revelation had nearly destroyed her and had also sent
all of them reeling.
But a secret revealed could also help a family heal and eventually grow stronger. Considering the
weak links in the Campioni family, Carlo Campioni being the worst, Rafe could only hope they
recover from this. It would take a long time, but the possibility was undoubtedly there.
Are you going to make me stay here, Rafe?
He turned to find Annalisa watching him, the sight of her tear-stained cheeks filling him with
sympathy despite the anger he felt toward her. You know it s for the best, he said carefully. What
you did to me and your sister, it wasn t right, Annalisa. Someone could ve been hurt.
I didn t mean to hurt anyone. I just wanted what I thought I deserved. She pressed her lips together.
Tell me what I should do, Rafe. What do you think is right?
Her voice was filled with so much sadness. You need to get help. You can t keep doing this. You
love your sister. Why would you ever want to hurt her?
I don t want to hurt her. Not really. She started crying in earnest again, her face red and blotchy, her
eyes swollen and bloodshot. Please tell Cat I m sorry. I hate what I ve become. I don t mean to be
so awful. I just end up doing so many awful things to the people I care for.
Without a word, he slipped out of the car and rounded it, opening Annalisa s car door for her. She
stood and went to him, throwing herself at him so he had no choice but to hug her. Clinging to him, she
cried into his shirtfront, dampening the fabric with her tears, and he had to pry her off of him so she d
stand on her own once more.
We re going inside, he told her, sending a quick look to Matteo. You re going to speak with your
doctor.
She nodded with a little hiccup. He ll want me to stay.
He knows what s best for you, Rafe said.
They all think they know what s best for me. I think you re what s best for me.
Annalisa& he started, but stopped when she hung her head.
I know. You don t want me. I understand. You ve never wanted me. Ever. You d rather be with
Cat.
He had no answer. How could he deny the truth? And she didn t want to hear it.
Thank you, though. For pretending you cared, at least a little while. She stood on tiptoe and kissed
his cheek. My little sister is a lucky woman.
And with that, she turned and walked into the facility, never once looking back.
& she was actually very agreeable. My mother was in near hysterics on the phone, crying and
carrying on, but Annalisa took it all very well, Cat explained, a little sigh escaping when his gaze
met hers. This has been the craziest week I ve ever experienced in my life.
I agree. He wrapped his muscular arms around her and pulled her in close, his cheek resting against
her hair. They lay sprawled on the giant bed in the hotel room they obtained not thirty minutes ago.
Both of them too tired to return to either of their homes, not that Cat wanted to go back to her mother s
house.
At least Mama has someone to be with her for the next few days. She was so thankful Rafe had
arranged for a part-time nurse to stay with her mother while they went back to New York. Thank you
for helping her.
Anything for you. Your troubles, your burdens are mine. He kissed the top of her head, squeezing
her tight. I never want you out of my sight again, Cat. When I didn t know where you were and when
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