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That was how she was made

And,him

Refusing to waste another moment, Raphael choppered hi stuck in traffic

“She’s not here,” Giovanni e even before Raphael could ask the question

Gio looked tired Raphael took a seat next to hi up “I ruined it all, didn’t I?” He buried his face in his hands “I… I should have never interfered I shouldn’t have forced—”

“I never intended to hurt her, Gio I have been a fool, ten ti But I didn’t listen”

“You see, you and I both enerous to a fault, she needed us to look after her, to treat her as if she were a child But she is tougher than even ive the hurt we caused her”

Raphael jerked his head up Hope burned a hole through hiain? Has she come back from her…friend’s house?” He almost choked on that word

That she had moved to her carpenter friend Antonio’s house had been a physical blow

Even split up as they had been—permanently, in her mind—he knew Pia still loved him That Pia would never just fall out of love with him

Still, every ti a s e to throw her over his shoulder and bring her back to his apartment had overpowered him

“Si, she has returned She said she was too worried about iven me I am worried about her”

“Why?”

Gio didn’t quite meet his eyes “I promised her I would stay out of this hed “So I didn’t send for you even though… I cannot say more, Raphael Are you here to fix your mistakes?”

“Si And to beg her to forgive me, if need be”

“But she’s very hurt If you do not love her, you will do it again”

“Giovanni, trust ht Per favore” Yet Gio stared at him doubtfully When had his reassurance not worked for Gio? What the hell was he not saying?