Jude Stephens Read Online Free Page B

to fulfill it.”
    Roberto sighed. “I understand Piccolina, but you can
fulfill your destiny in the morning as easy as you can
tonight.”
    “ Don’t call me that! You have no
right to call me that anymore! Don’t you understand what you’ve
done Roberto? You haven’t just broken my heart, you have destroyed
it. I let you into a place where I have never let anyone else, and
you lied to me, you used me and you made a mockery out of the word
love.”
    I didn’t care that everyone was watching me now; I
had to let it out. I walked close to him and looked into his face.
“Tell me why you kissed me that first night in your hotel?”
    He didn’t look away this time. He stared deep into
my eyes and said, “I didn’t plan it. I wasn’t looking to start
something with you.” He ran an agitated hand through his long dark
hair. “You were so sweet and so innocent. And I just wanted a
taste. Then your Sensay nature took over and you were so hot, and I
wanted to find out what it would be like,” he finished and looked
away with shame in his eyes.
    I stepped back, not wanting him to
see the agony his words caused me. “Well, thank you for finally
being honest, Roberto.” I gave a short brittle laugh. “It’s kind of
funny you know? In the back of my mind I think I always knew it was
my Sensay blood that drew you and Alex to me.”
    Roberto grabbed my arm but quickly dropped it when
Bullet growled.
    “ Olivia, it may have started that
way but somewhere, somehow, I did fall in love with
you.”
    It had to be said, “And what about Annika? Are the
three of us going to all live together happily ever after?”
    His eyes became hard “Leave Annika out of this!”
    I heard a few indrawn breaths at
his defense of his bonded right in front of me, but it made my next
words all that much easier. “No, let’s leave Annika in it. I’m the
one stepping out of this little threesome. From this day forth you
are nothing to me.” I reached behind my neck and unclasped the
latch on the bloodstone necklace Roberto gave me. I walked over and
dropped it in front of him. “No payment necessary for services
rendered, Mr. Valente.”
    With my head held high I turned, went into the house
and up the stairs. I went into the bedroom I shared with Roberto
for the last few months and looked around. There was nothing here
that belonged to me. Everything I had was paid for by Roberto. I
wanted nothing from that man. I stood up to leave and remembered
the only thing that belonged to me.
    I went over to the nightstand and picked up a framed
picture of me, my mom and my dad on the day I graduated. It was the
only thing I could take the day my parents were murdered by The
Guardians, and I was forced to flee. I was fleeing again, this time
with no one to help me and with no way to support myself. The
future looked a little frightening, but in a strange way I looked
forward to it. It was like a fresh beginning, a clean canvas that
was all mine to paint.
    I walked out of the bedroom, where
I had spent so many nights in exquisite pleasure, without a
backward glance. When I stepped out onto the porch there was no
sign of Roberto. Janel stood up and wrapped her arms around
me.
    We stood like that for several minutes until I
finally pulled away. “You can come with me if you like. I’m not
sure where I’m exactly headed but you are more than welcome.”
    Janel stepped back. “No, this is your adventure, but
you know that if you need me I will be by your side in the blink of
an eye.”
    “ What will you do?” I asked her
with concern. It was because of me and this mess with The Guardians
that she couldn’t go home again.
    She laughed and poked me, “You
know better than to worry about me. I’m going back down to Cat
Island for awhile. Andy’s going to join me when he can. I really
want to study The Evolved. Maybe I can continue with my medical
career but at a whole new level. I can learn a lot about this
evolution process.”
    I gave her a genuine