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“I want you to pro”

He rolled to his side so he could see her better

“Anything”

“Pro happens to s” His tone was unnecessarily sharp

“I mean it, Gabriel Whether ray I want you to promise that you’ll continue on the path that you’re on That you’ll be a good ood life and that you’ll try to find happiness”

Gabriel felt as if he were choking as a myriad of emotions bubbled up into his throat

“I won’t find happiness without you”

“You found peace without me,” she whispered “You found peace in Assisi You can live without me We both know that you can”

He placed his pal her naked skin

“How can a man live without his heart?”

She pressed her hand over his

“Richard does”

“Richard is a shell of his former self”

“I want you to promisewere to happen, you’d” She trailed off

“I will always struggle with addiction, Julianne, but I don’t think I could go back to my old life” His voice dropped “Then I truly would be alone”

“I promise that wherever I am, I’ll do all that I can to help you I swear” Her voice was a desperate whisper

“If you were Francis to my Guido da Montefeltro, you’d come for my soul, wouldn’t you?”

“I swear it But I don’t believe your soul is in er”

He lifted his hand and traced the curve of her cheekbone with his thumb “No more morbid talk If it’s necessary to your peace of mind to make this promise, then I proainst his hand, her body relaxing

Chapter Forty-seven

On the day of Julia’s ultrasound, Gabriel canceled his classes in order to accompany her

“I’m sorry, sir, but you aren’t allowed inside the ultrasound suite”

Gabriel stood to his full height, a scowl distorting his handsome features He looked down at the much shorter technician “Excuse me?”

The technician pointed at a notice board that was affixed to the wall “Only the patient is allowed Family must wait out here”

Gabriel placed his hands on his hips, fanning his jacket out angrily “She’s e ultrasound only takes thirty minutes She’ll be with you soon” The technician nodded at Julia “Mrs Eed on Julia’s aro to another hospital”

Julia shifted her weight fro in the hallway “They made me drink five cups of water I have to pee like crazy Don’t o in there alone” His eyes, flashing blue fire, rested on hers

“This can’t wait” Her tone pierced him

He blinked a few times

“What if there’s a problem?”

The technician cleared her throat and nodded toward the san “I’ist can write up an official report, and that will be sent directly to your doctor”