Leo was in bed, writing furiously in a black leather journal.

“New Year’s resolutions?” she asked, feeling stupid for saying anything at all. She was a child next to him. It felt as if everything he did and thought was more sophisticated than she would ever understand. There was something wise and worldly about him. He knew things she couldn’t fathom, and he was probably writing them all down in the mysterious black book for future generations to marvel at.

“Something like that. Go to sleep.”

She was surprised when he turned the lamp off and lay down. What did that mean? If it was Caprice’s last night here, wouldn’t he want to be with her? Maybe she wasn’t leaving. Faith had to know—whether she would believe the answer was another question entirely.

“Leo?”

“Yes, Faith?”

“Is she leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes, she’s leaving. Don’t worry your pretty head about her. She’s getting on the plane with Vinny.”

“Okay.”

* * *

Faith held her breath at the airport as Caprice handed over her boarding pass. She sent one last pleading look to Leo, begging to stay, but he returned a stern expression and shook his head. It wasn’t until Caprice walked through the gates and the plane took off that Faith relaxed.

It was quiet when they got back to the house, even with a dog, two cats, and a full staff of servants. There were no kids running around screaming, no Gina trying to plan a wedding, no Gemma shooting glares at Leo and complaining, no Caprice scheming to get him into bed. No Angelo or Davide or Uncle Sal or Papi.

Demetri took her coat and hung it in the hall closet while she stood there, not sure what she should do now or where she should go. She’d forgotten how uncomfortable things could be with Leo and no set routine. During the holidays there had been nothing but distraction. And in those moments she’d seen him as more than her captor.

In fact, he’d become her rescuer more than anything. Her protector, constantly keeping her safe, from Angelo, from Caprice, from Gemma. Even from his mom, though the threats from Gina were all well-intentioned.

No matter Leo’s sexuality, he could be kind and caring. He’d taken care of his family, been a good host, given her a kitten. But now the choice hung over her. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t want him.

The feel of his lips pressed against hers and his hand wrapped in hers had been imprinted forever. In brief moments when her guard was down, she’d fallen for him a degree at a time, imagining this was her life and not merely a play for an audience who didn’t realize they were watching one.

She’d expected Leo to demand her answer as soon as they crossed the threshold, as if it were some imaginary line that defined the rest of her life, but he went to the back of the house, toward his office, shattering the importance of the moment. Faith went to the game room and plopped down on one of the sofas in front of the television, trying to decide what to do. She’d assumed he would insist on her answer. Now that Caprice was no longer here to service his needs, she’d thought there would be pressure to do something, but he’d acted as if she didn’t exist at all.