Sweet Hope (Sweet Home #4) (27 page)

“Yeah?” she said and turned her body to crawl over me. After she’d kissed me, I held her head in my hands and whispered, “Play for me.”

Ally reared back in surprise. “What?”

Feeling like a damn pussy, I said, “Play the piano… for me.”

Ally’s expression changed from surprised to embarrassed to wonder. “You want me to play the piano for you?”

I threw her a single nod. Ally cast a glance to the piano, then back to me. “What do you want me to play?”

“What you played me before…
Kiss the Rain
.”

Her smile washed away any embarrassment I felt and she said, “You remembered the title?”

Pulling her face in to press kisses all over her cheeks and neck, I whispered, “I remember everything, every single fucking thing from that night. Every single fucking thing…”

Ally, surprising me to all hell, wrapped her hands around my neck and squeezed me in the biggest damn hug I’d ever felt… I never ever wanted to let her go.

When she released me, Ally said, “You’re in every part of my heart, Mr. Carillo, in every single part…” before getting up from the bed, leaving me lying here like a dumbstruck fool.

What does she mean by that… That I’m in all of her heart?

Before I had a chance to think it over, I heard Ally sit at the piano and test out the keys like she did the last time. There she sat, naked, her tanned skin flushed, her dark hair falling to her waist.

Eyes closed, her hands stretched over the keys. Then the opening chords to that song fucking sent an arrow through my heart. The image of my woman sweetly smiling at me with her chin on her fist, big brown eyes watching me, like no one had ever looked at me before, filled my mind.

My hands itched to create.

My heart raced for me to sketch.

As Ally’s eyes closed and a happy smile spread on her lips, I picked up a pad of sketch paper and a pencil from my bedside table…

And I started to draw… to draw the outline of the only sculpture I knew I would never tire of staring at.

“That’s it, guys. The only two things left for me to do is get the final text boards drawn up and to arrange for the cleaners to polish the gallery until it damn near sparkles!”

I stood in the center of the art gallery with my team. I stared at the finished exhibition with a lump in my throat… it was simply
stunning
.

Axel’s pieces exquisitely occupied the white open space; each one at a different height, each one lit perfectly with colored lighting or with subtle painted backdrops. It was a journey, a journey through the complex tortured emotions of a sculptor... a sculptor who had yet to see its beauty… yet to see his heart-aching creations on display for the all the world to see.

As my team gathered around, a soft applause rang out as we all congratulated one another on a job well done. But a louder clap came from the rear.  As we turned round Vin Galanti emerged through the black curtains with tears streaming down his face.

He was back from New York in time for the opening night, now only in a few days’ time.

“Vin!” I called, as he pushed through the dispersing group.

Fixing his attention on me, he hurried toward me, hand over heart. “Ms. Lucia… I’m speechless…” he said, clearly in awe, then a huge smile spread on his face.

“I’m real happy with it too. It’s my best work yet.”

Vin looked to me, his pale eyes kind. “And Elpidio?”

I blushed, thinking of Axel, and replied, “I’m hoping to show him the display tonight.”

Vin smiled sweetly. It was then I knew
he
knew we were an item. I wondered if Axel had told him.

“Maybe he’ll finally see the light, hmm? Finally realize that he’s worth all this effort,” he said hopefully.  I took a deep breath, silently sharing Vin's hope.

I
hoped
that seeing all his work displayed in such a beautiful setting would help him come clean to his brothers about what he’d been doing… about everything...

Glancing at the clock on the wall, I turned to Vin. “I gotta go, Vin. I’ll see you in a couple of days for the opening, yes?”

Vin patted my hand, but he was too lost in the exhibition to reply. As he walked forward, he suddenly glanced back to say fondly, “From the first time I was sent a picture of his angel sculpture, I knew he was special. I knew that he wasn’t just a gang member serving time.” Emotion welled up in me as I saw Vin’s eyes glisten. “He was so closed off when I met him, so broken and angry with the world. His sculptures were so sad, so heartbreaking… but the man I saw earlier today, carving marble outside my studio overlooking the Sound, well, he was changed. I might even stretch it to say he was peaceful… perhaps even happy.”

Vin smiled at me to signal that he knew I was the reason for Axel’s emotional change… the sentiment brought a lump to my throat.

“Did you see what he was carving? He refuses to tell me. He keeps it hidden outside the studio under a padlocked tarp so I can’t even take a peek,” I asked. 

Vin’s watery smile spread into a wide grin. “I saw it… but my lips are sealed.”

I groaned in frustration and threw Vin a wave as I grabbed my purse and ran out the door.

I made it to Axel’s studio in record time.

From the moment I entered the studio, I felt a chill in the room. The open doors led to the patch of grass overlooking the water. I could hear Axel chipping at the marble. I was desperate to go outside, but he’d asked me not to. As a curator I respected his creative process and his need for privacy. But as his girlfriend, I couldn’t stand it!

Axel walked through a second later dressed in a long black sleeved shirt with a padded vest over the top. His black oversized beanie smothered his head. And, as always, a Marlboro cigarette balanced between his lips.

He was so damn sexy.

Walking over to me, he moved the cigarette from his mouth so I could kiss his lips. “Mmm… that’s better,” I murmured when we broke away. Playfully, I returned his cigarette between his lips.

Waving my keys, Axel took a long breath and nodded his head. That was him telling me he was ready to go, but the at the same time he really wasn’t.

Levi had a game today for the Huskies. Axel had been desperate to see his brother play. We knew he was the star player. Unsurprisingly, Levi hadn’t ever asked Axel to go watch.  I’d decided that was bullshit.

I was making Axel go today. He wanted to see Levi play, so I’d made damn sure it would happen… with just a little help.

I could see the apprehension flaring on Axel’s face. Tracing my fingers down his cool cheek, I said, “In the end, he’ll appreciate that you went.”

Axel turned his cheek into my hand, but his eyes stayed on mine. “He won’t, he’ll hate that I was there, but we’ll go anyway. Nothing else has worked.”

*****

The stadium was packed when we arrived at the gates. Axel was tense and kept his head down as we pushed through a throng of excited fans. He hated crowds, practically panicked whenever we had to be around this many people. I led the way. Unknown to Axel, I’d arranged for us to sit in the family section.

Seeing a small crowd gathered around two people, I waved my hand at Lexi. She was standing beside Austin as he signed autographs for the Husky fans.

Axel, seeing me wave, lifted his head. His fingers squeezed mine in a death grip when he saw that Austin and Lexi were waiting for us.

Without glancing back at him, I pushed through to where they stood. Lexi cast me a nervous smile. Austin nudged his chin at me, then at his anxious older brother.

“Hey, guys!” I greeted, Axel’s hand refusing to let go of mine as he hovered by my side. Lexi stepped forward and pressed a kiss on my cheek.

Axel dipped his head at Lex, then his gaze wandered to Austin who was still signing autographs. He suddenly inhaled and his dark eyes softened. My heart thumped faster at his reaction to Austin who was now speaking to the fans, with a kind smile on in face. Axel was so proud of him. I knew how to read Axel's slight changes of expression by now. They were subtle, but they were extremely revealing.

Austin met eyes with Axel and smiled wider, asking his fans to wait a second. Austin approached Axel and threw his arms around him. Awkwardly, Axel hugged him back with one hand. Austin drew back. “Happy to see you,
fratello
. You ain’t been answering my calls since the hospital the other night.” Austin then looked to me and his eyes tensed. It was as though he was working out how I’d gotten to be with his brother.

Stepping forward, I hugged Austin. A fan appeared beside him and asked, “Austin, is that your brother?”

Axel stiffened as the fan looked upon him. The fan backed away as soon as Axel automatically switched to his 'normal' intimidating expression.

“Yeah, he’s my big brother,” Austin replied proudly. Axel’s cheek twitched. He was getting emotional.

The fan’s eyes narrowed on Axel. “Does he play football?”

Austin stopped in signing her shirt. “Nah.”

“Then what does he do?” she asked excitedly and Austin’s eyes widened. Axel cussed under his breath and looked away.

Just when I thought Axel would turn and walk away, Lexi stepped forward and laid her hand on Austin’s arm. “Baby, we need to go.”

Axel and Austin both relaxed as the fans moved away after a few last minute pictures. We walked through the gates into the huge stadium.

Axel stopped dead as we reached the side of the field and drank in the atmosphere, the crowd, the music, the chants… the students and fans wearing the name ‘Carillo’ on their backs.

“Shit…” Axel said quietly and when I looked to my right, Austin and Lexi were watching Axel. I could see the happiness in their eyes that he was finally witnessing this. His baby brother playing at this level.

“Crazy, huh?” Austin said, but Axel didn’t look at his brother. Instead, his face took on a regretful expression and he whispered, “I should have watched you at the Tide.”

I sucked in my bottom lip just to try and keep it from quivering. Axel’s hand was iron tight in mine and I knew that it had cost him his pride to admit that to Austin.

I was so proud of him. Austin was dumbstruck. He too was wearing a look of disbelief… but there was real emotion in that stare. For Austin, I knew that Axel saying anything about the past was a surprise.

Lexi’s green eyes appeared huge on her pixie face and her mouth was slightly apart. Obviously feeling my stare, she met my eyes and her lips widened into a shaky but thankful smile.

Austin released his arm from around his wife and stepped up to Axel. I tried to shake off Axel’s hand, but he kept his grip. Knowing he needed this time with Austin, I squeezed my fingers in support and lifted to press a kiss on his cheek. “Talk to Austin,” I whispered so only he could hear. Closing his eyes in defeat, Axel opened them again and reluctantly let go.

Austin laid his hand on Axel’s shoulder. “I would’ve loved you there, Axe,” he rasped.

Axel’s head dropped. Austin stepped forward and put his hand on Axel’s face. “But you can see me play now, Axe. You’ll get to see Lev play too. That’s all that matters.”

Unable to stop a tear slipping from the corner of my eye, I turned and pretended to check our ticket to see where we were seated.

A slim arm threaded through mine. When I glanced to the side, Lexi was looking up at me. She leaned in and pressed her cheek against my bicep. I held my breath. Lexi never let anyone get this close to her except for Austin and, occasionally, Levi.

It only served to make the situation that much more special.

“Darlin’?” I managed to push out as Lexi and I began walking to our seats, Axel and Austin following behind.

Lexi tightened her hold on my arm and said, “I’m not gonna pretend to understand you and Axel, but then, I ain’t one to talk. God knows Austin and I had our secrets when we fell in love.” Looking up at me, she sniffed and said, “but… just… thank you…”

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion but Lexi said no more.

Arriving at our seats, I motioned to sit beside Lexi when Axel reached out and took my hand. “No, you sit beside me,” he said in a gruff curt voice.

Lexi looked at him in alarm. I knew it was because of his sharp demand. But only I knew Axel was uncomfortable in crowds… only I knew that he needed me to sit beside him to help him relax.

Austin pushed himself back against his chair as I passed him to sit by Axel’s side. I could see in his expression that he was furiously trying to work out my close relationship with Axel, but I ignored it.

As I stood in front of Axel, I saw his shoulders sag in relief. Just as I went to sit beside him, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine.

I could feel Lexi and Austin’s attention fixed on us, but I didn’t care. Nobody knew what we shared. No one knew what we meant to each other.

Sitting down next to Axel, he put his heavily muscled arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. I loved it. I loved how he needed me… I just loved him—more than even I could comprehend.

As the cheerleaders and band finished their pre-game show, Austin asked, “So, Axe, how’s the work on the market?”

Axel’s muscled tensed. I kept my gaze forward. I hated that he was about to lie to his brother.

“Good. Busy. Keeping my head down,” Axel replied keeping things vague.

I risked a glance to Austin whose head was tipped to the side and his eyes narrowed. I panicked that he knew something was up with Axel’s cover story. Axel barely went home; Austin had to figure that more than strange.

“Good to hear it,
fratello
,” Austin replied and sat back in his seat. I almost laughed as Austin and Lexi kept watching us like we were a couple of caged animals in a damn zoo.

“How’s Molly today, Ally?” Lexi asked, leaning over Austin to do so.

“Better. She’s already marking term papers from her bed. Rome’s not happy with that, but we both know he’ll give her anything she wants. She’s on stronger medication. I'd say that she's already feeling like her old self.”

Molly had been discharged from hospital earlier today. I made sure I was there to greet her. Rome had obviously told her about Axel, and in typical Molly fashion, she’d told me she was happy I was happy. Rome scoffed at that, but then Molly had never been one to judge people. I loved her for that.

Just then, the crowd jumped to their feet as the team was announced. Axel stood, pulling me with him. I lifted my hand to hold his that draped over my shoulder. His heart was racing as he waited for his brother run out. When Levi appeared on the field, I heard him exhale loudly.

As Levi ran to the sideline, tears filled Axel’s brown eyes. As they tracked down his cheeks, I reached up and wiped them away with my thumb. Axel squeezed me tighter, just as Austin’s arm wrapped around Axel on his other side. When I glanced up at Austin, tears were running down his cheeks too. Putting his hand on the side of Axel’s head he pulled Axel to lean against him.

I watched the two older Carillo brothers, broken inside by tragedy and circumstance. Both were alike in their Italian looks and personality and my heart filled with hope. Bridges were being built, shattered hearts were being glued back together… blood ties were being strengthened.