Salvatore did not stop hugging me for a single moment. That strange new warmth radiating from him comforted me so much that I ended up falling asleep in his arms during the helicopter ride. I don't know how long I slept, but I began to wake up when I felt his big hands gently caressing my cheeks.

I straightened up slowly, still leaning on his shoulder, and as I tried to move, I let out a small groan of pain from the discomfort. Suddenly, the noise of the helicopter tells me that we are landing. The views opening up in front of me were mesmerizing: an expanse of lush grass,...