Chapter 43

Alessio

"Hello, Beauty." I bare my teeth, and her body trembles .Her gaze widens and color drains from her face.

"No," she shakes her head, "No, no, no."

"Yes." I allow my smile to widen, "Oh, yes, my darling wife."

"It can’t be." Her voice wavers and her chin trembles. She looks like she has seen a ghost, which of course, is what I am to her now. It should be almost comical. I should enjoy just how terrified of me she seems to be, except…The throbbing pain at my temple where she had smashed the oar into me insists that she is real, and standing in front of me, arm outstretched. Tears glisten on her cheeks.

She opens and closes her mouth, grows even more pale.

She pulls back her arm and I swoop my hand out and grab her wrist. She sways; her eyes roll back in her head. Her legs seem to give way and she slumps toward the floor."Che cazzo!"I growl as I sit up, then leap over the side of the coffin. I catch her before she hits the floor, then pull her into my arms as I sink to the f