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.

Chapter Eighteen

Ally

“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.