She didn’t cower. Didn’t react. Just stared with a heavy sadness that terrified me even more. Because that look said she’d accepted her fate. Either death by my family’s hand or reconciliation to belonging to someone else.AfterEl Topo had punished her for her little rebellion.
‘Over my dead, rotting fucking corpse.’
‘Cesare—’
‘No!’
Nowshe reacted. Fire ignited in her eyes, burning away the sadness and acceptance.
Great. About fucking time.
‘You think you can stop any of what’s coming?’
‘IknowI fucking can.And I dare any fucker to stand in my way?—’
‘No.’
I froze. ‘What did you say?’ I demanded for a second time.
‘I said no.’
The static returned, bringing with it an icy fog threatening to swallow me whole. A debilitating weakness attacked my knees and I fucking stumbled. Thankfully the wall was right there. The wall I’d fucked her against last night. While she bliss-sobbed and screamed my name. Was it a lie? Did she really not… ‘You don’t want me?’
Bullshit, my brain scream.
Fuck that shit,my heart echoed. She does this, remember? Pulls back before she gives in. But my eyes were latched on to her beautiful face, craving confirmation that it wasn’t true.
She licked her lips and rose onto her knees, shaking her head. ‘I meant no to violence, Cesare. Not no to wanting you. Have you forgotten who we are? Not a single person is going to accept this beyond this handful of weeks. Hell, they’re plotting punishment now! You know as well as I do this isn’t hyperbole or melodrama. Genuine fucking war will break out. Again. I can’t… can’t have that. Not in my name.’
Her words crashed through my head, but I was staggering from the wall to the bed, shoving my fingers into her hair to direct her gaze to mine.
‘Say that again. That part about you wanting me. The rest can get fucked but I… I need to be 100 per cent sure we’re on the same page.’ My voice felt and sounded like gravel. Hell, my whole body felt as if I was being dragged through a woodchipper. Backwards.
‘I want you. Badly. Desperately. But without bloodshed. However this… if this happens?—’
‘It’s fucking happening,bedda.Accept it.’
Her eyes clung to mine for an age before she asked, ‘How?’
I dragged her close, closer, and when she wrapped her arms around me, I kissed her long and deep, desperately infusing strength and purpose. We were going to need both.
‘Carefully, baby. And while I can’t promise no violence’ – I tightened my grip when she started to protest – ‘I will not instigate it. You have my word on that. But Iwilldo whatever it takes to protect and keep what is mine. Do you understand?’
Maddelena
Orazio lost patience with his grandson’s avoiding tactics the evening after he won the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Sofiya – against every security protocol put in place by a meticulous Cesare and his team – managed to get through with a message from Bonafacio.
‘He’s out of patience. He wants you home. Now, sis. He’s willing to forgive if you come back with me. Today.’
I stared at her from across yet another hotel room. ‘I don’t believe that and I know you don’t,’ I replied flatly.
She’d barely hesitated before she shook her head. ‘No, I don’t. He knows something’s up. We’re back to not winning races. But you knew there would be some consequences. So what are you thinking—?’ She stopped when her phone rang. With a flash of alarm, her eyes darted to me.
I sucked in a shaky breath and held out my hand. Pressed the answer button. ‘Nonno.’
‘I don’t know what in God’s name you think you’re doing but you will finish it now and come home.’
