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I know that’s what Marco would say.
The problem, however, is that I don’t think Elio would do that.
Despite the fact that he’s the leader of a brutal organization, what he’s shown me is that he’s kind. He’s thoughtful. He learned all of Luna’s favorite recipes, which isn’t something that someone would put effort into unless it mattered to them.
I think.
Ugh, I have no idea what to think. Not really.
But I do know how I feel.
And I feel like Elio isn’t just trying to have a relationship with Luna out of an effort to steal her away from me. He’s deferred to me on every decision, he listened to me about the fact that he was being too hasty on the beach…
He kissed me.
Nope.
Can’t let that thought mix into all of this.
I realize that it’s been a long time since Elio spoke.
“Say something,” I whisper, my eyes still screwed shut.
He lets out a huge sigh.
Then, I feel the touch of a warm arm around me.
I could shrink away. It would be easy to just wiggle out from under his warm, sun-kissed skin.
I don’t.
“Yes, Caterina. I always dreamed of being a father. And a husband,” he adds darkly.
“So why didn’t you? I mean, after… us,” I finish lamely.
He sighs.
I feel him still.
It’s a good thing I’m not looking at him, because when he speaks again, he says something that would have caused my jaw to drop with shock.
“I wanted you, Caterina.”
20
ELIO
My heart poundsafter I confess to Caterina what I have been feeling for a while.
Years, in fact.
After our separation and the events of my parents’ deaths, I did not even consider finding a new wife. For a long time, I was too busy. Running the business left no time for grief, and I also refused to linger in the sadness that consumed my days during that dark time.
I was determined to be the best head of the Rossi family, to honor the legacy that my father left.
However, eventually things stabilized. Nico, along with many of my other most trusted soldiers, had encouraged me to take a new wife. They had encouraged women in many other ways, of course, and for years I had found myself often subjected to the paid company of someone that Nico considered a ‘healing’ presence for me.
Gia was the only one who hadn’t tried to pressure me into spending time with women, to marry or to play with. She hadquietly sat back, providing a sounding board for my ideas, but had never said once that I should move on past Caterina.
