Free Silent Whisper by Andrea Smith Page A

seeing Dominic again made my belly tingle, but only slightly because I wasn’t sure where we stood. I hadn’t heard a thing from him. It was exactly two weeks ago that we’d had the showdown at my place.
    My mood didn’t improve hearing that they weren’t even getting back until late Sunday.
    Maybe he would surprise me by using his key and crawling into bed with me. I was definitely missing him more than I ever thought I could.
    Friday evening at home my phone rang. I leapt off the sofa to grab it, my heart skipping a few beats because my calls were generally only from Dominic.
    “Hey,” I said, trying to sound sexy.
    “Karlie?”
    Oh.My.God.
    It was Lana.
    “Lana?”
    “Is this a good time?” she asked.
    “Oh yeah. It’s perfect timing. I was beginning to think that I’d never hear from you again.”
    “Well, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to talk to you again. I was really hurt by what you did, Karlie. I’m not gonna lie.”
    Okkayy.
    “I’m not following you, Lana. You’re pissed because I had an opportunity to get the hell out of there? I thought friends only wanted the best for one another?”
    There was a brief pause.
    “No. I’m pissed because I didn’t think you and I had secrets or lies between us. You forget that I was the person who knew you when you were orphaned. I can’t believe you’re fucking a Castellano! My God—you’re sleeping with the man responsible for murdering your parents.”
    I felt my adrenaline shoot up a few notches.
    “Wait one minute,” I hissed. “It’s not like that with us. First of all, I didn’t set out to fall in love with him, I promise you that. I wanted revenge. That was my reason for going.”
    “So now you’re in love with the son-of-a-bitch?” she asked; the disapproval obvious. “Why didn’t you tell us his real name? I mean you could’ve been upfront about what you were doing if you truly started out with the intention of seeking revenge.”
    “Because,” I faltered, “I was afraid that Belle, or you, would talk me out of it. How did you find out who he was anyway?”
    “Walter, my husband, recognized him in passing at Belle’s. They happened to be in the lobby—waiting for us—the last time Dominic visited. And then you were gone. Just like that. Walter’s a judge you know? He occasionally runs into the scum of the earth that he hasn’t already had the opportunity to put away.”
    “Okay, Lana. Just stop, please? I don’t want to have this argument with you. I admit that I maybe should’ve filled you in, but I had my reasons at the time. I’m sorry that you felt I had somehow betrayed our friendship. I seem to be getting that a lot these days.”
    “What?”
    “Never mind,” I said. “I do appreciate your not telling the others though. Thank you for that.”
    “Whatever.”
    “Why are you being nasty? I didn’t fall in love with the murderer of my family. I fell in love with Dominic and he wasn’t responsible for it. In fact, I recently found out that it was him who saved me.”
    I filled her in on the conversation that Dominic and I had two weeks prior.
    “So, you’re basically telling me that he was a witness to their murder? I mean he had to be if he got there in time to save you, right? And do realize there’s no Statute of Limitations on murder?”
    Oh shit.
    “Look,” I said, “Nothing will bring my parents back. I only told you this stuff so you’d understand how it was possible for me to fall in love with him without making me feel like some traitor to my folks. It’s complicated, okay? Please just leave it alone.”
    “He still comes from that bloodline,” she replied, “I think you need to consider your long term well-being.”
    I so needed to change the subject. “Congratulations on your marriage. I’m really happy for you. Are you doing okay?”
    I heard her sigh from the other end. “I know you’re probably thinking I only did it to get the hell out of Chester, or for financial security, but