The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 365

“Put me down!”

Every part of her—body and mind—screamed rejection. She glared at Franco, full of disgust.

But Franco just held her closer, arms locked tight, pressing his face against her chest as his breath came harsh and fast.

“What do you want as a reward?” he asked, voice low.

“Let me go!” Petty snapped, her frustration boiling over.

Franco gave a soft laugh, his face still against her. “That counts as a reward too.”

He pretended to loosen his grip, but Petty’s anger only grew. “Franco, are you seriously messing around with me right now?”

The sunset was casting orange and gold across the island, clouds streaked with color.

Franco looked up. The fading light washed his sharp features in amber, making his face look almost unreal.

He finally set her down and met her gaze with those dark, unreadable eyes. “So, what do you want?”

Petty didn’t miss a beat. You’d think she’d made up her mind long before this moment.

“Laura’s life,” she said clearly, as if daring him to flinch.

Now the sun was gone, and the breeze had gone cold.

“I said, a reasonable reward.” Franco stood with his back to what little light was left, his face all shadow and hard lines. Whatever he was feeling was impossible to read, but Petty heard the chill in his voice.

So much for everything he said before their little contest. All that talk, making her believe she mattered more than Laura—it was all for show.

Good thing she never really bought it.

This was always a gamble. She’d go big at first—ask for Laura’s life. If she lost, she’d just back down, ask for something he might actually give.

Her chest tightened for a second, but Petty covered it up with a breezy shrug. “I’ll let you know when I come up with something.”

“I’m going to eat.”

She turned and hurried toward the villa, her steps growing quicker, more frantic with every stride.

Suddenly, Franco’s long fingers caught her wrist.

Petty was dead asleep and didn’t hear the water running in the bathroom.

Time slipped by unnoticed. The blanket at her side lifted gently.

Franco slid in beside her, rolling her carefully to face him. He studied her peacefully sleeping face in the soft blue moonlight.

He traced her brows, her closed lashes, the gentle curve of her nose, her lips still a little swollen with emotion.

He looked at her for a long time, as if memorizing her every detail.

The house was so quiet, it almost felt like the whole world had disappeared, leaving just the two of them—nothing else mattered.

At last, his arms relaxed and he pulled her close, pressing her cheek to his shoulder.

Right then, Petty shifted in her sleep and murmured, “Little Crescent.”

Franco stiffened a little in surprise.

That was the name she had given the crescent-shaped lake on the island, all those years ago.