"I love you," Angelo murmured, cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing across my skin. "I'll be back soon."
"Don't go, please. You can still choose to stay." I whispered against his lips, trying to memorize the taste of him, the warmth of his breath. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Hurry up, man! We have to leave before the sun sets!" one of his team called from their car, followed with a few impatient honks.
"I'll be right back!" Angelo called back, though he didn't move from me.
Something inside me twisted. I wrapped my arms around him, tighter this time, as I could anchor him to me, keep him from walking into what everyone knew was a suicide mission.
He only held me close, steady, full of that maddening assurance that he'd make it back. Make his father proud, earn that promotion he deserved.
