Page 76 of The Man with a Treasure

My upper lip lifted. “I haven’t changed.”

“You pulled away. Now that I think of it, you were never the same after Noemi.”

I poured the coffee. “Sal, I am a bit too tired for this right now.”

“It only got worse once we got on the road, searching for Scarlett.”

I took a sip. “That’s called growing up.”

“Cold. You have become so cold.”

Since I felt the Devil was cold as ice, I took offense. “Not. True.”

Sal ignored me and said, “I did my best to keep shreds of the young man you used to be alive.”

I set down my mug, no longer wanting coffee. “Sal, I think I am going to get some rest.”

“I’ve watched you run from all the pain. The pain from your mother’s death. Noemi having to leave us… So many good reasons to run. I understand that.” He faced me. “But I won’t let you run from her.” He pointed to Scarlett’s room.

Walking from the kitchen, I rubbed my forehead, just wanting to lie down. “I will listen to your babble later.”

“No more, Angelo. Let her in.”

My brows bunched as I stopped walking. “I have. Look what I’m doing for her.”

His jaw locked. “I’ve grown up by your side. That makes me an Angelo expert.”

“Well, you sure don’t sound like one right now.”

“Oh yeah? Then explain what happened in there.”

I was getting aggravated. “You were there. You saw. I helped her with a nightmare.”

“You. Shut. Down.”

My hands opened and closed. “What are you talking about?”

“You care for her.”

I gestured. “As do you!”

“Not like that, Angelo. Not like that. I see a damaged girl. You see life.”

My eyes blinked in dismay. “Can you please get to your point? I want to sleep.”

Sal adjusted his stance and planted those bare feet as if preparing for battle. “You don’t think you are good enough for her—”

“I’m not!” I froze when my response registered.

Sal pointed. “And there it is.”

My eyes slid shut. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Oh, it is, my friend.”

I gripped the back of the couch. “What I meant is, I am doing what I am being paid to do.”

“Yes, and you are superb at your job, but there is also the fact that you are falling for her.”