“Yes.”
“Alright then. We’ll see how it goes. And for the record, I am proud of you for wanting to take this step with someone, little brother,” he smiles. “It shows growth and who knows, maybe I’ll be walking into your home to find you making breakfast with your own kid soon enough.”
I roll my eyes, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Sal.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LILIANA
When I was 20 years old, my mom got diagnosed with cancer.
Thankfully, she went to the hospital quickly. It was only in the second stage and the doctors were able to help her. She went through chemotherapy and it was a long journey of healing and getting her strength back, but I’ll always hold the day we found out she was cancer-free close to my chest.
That was the scariest period of my life. The thought that I could have lost her gripped me strongly, and it was truly the hardest thing I had ever experienced.
Despite all of that, she did her best to prepare me to live without her and reminded me that we’re all just passing through on this earth and we never truly know when we’re going to leave it. I did my best to prepare myself, especially my heart, for her departure, but my mom survived, and she got better.
I didn’t lose the only family I had in the world.
Falling in love with Rafaelle Vitale is something I’m not entirely sure I’ll survive. But the truth is, I’m well on my way down that path. And I don’t know how to stop myself.
Water cascades down my back, flowing down into the drain. My hair sticks to my back as I try to wash off the feeling of his hands on me, the feeling of him inside of me.
An impossible task.
Now that I’ve had him, I know nothing else will ever compare. And it breaks my heart that we’re probably not going to be endgame.
Tears well up in my eyes at the thought and I wash them down as well. Before I return to the man waiting for me in bed. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. He makes me feel safe and protected and amazing. He’s a safety net that I know would catch me if I ever fell. He supports me in every way.
Rafaelle Vitale might be a monster to the world. But with me and behind closed doors, he’s nothing more than a man who’s been hurt. With holes that I desperately want to fill.
He arrived earlier armed with a smile and good news. His plan to deal with my father is perfect and amazing and I would be more than happy to throw myself down that path with him, except for just one thing. I’m hiding the existence of his daughter from him and after his revelations about Tara, I’m terrified that this truth might be the thing that sends him completely off the edge.
And the truth is, I wouldn’t even blame him.
When I enter the bedroom, he’s sitting against the headboard and his face immediately lights with a small smile.
It’s the best thing ever, watching his eyes light up with warmth and knowing it’s because of me.
“I can’t believe I ever used to think you were scary,” I say, climbing into his lap, needing to be close to him.
“I’m still scary,” he complains.
I play with the ends of his hair, amused, “Hate to break it to you, Raf but your scary privileges have been revoked. You’re a sap now.”
He wrinkles his nose in disgust, “Only with you, little siren.”
I lean forward to kiss him, tasting whiskey and something that burns my senses in the most delicious way. There’s a desperation and longing in the kiss that has me gasping for air. The pads of my fingertips glide up his neck, cupping the side of his face. When we finally separate, Rafaelle stares at me, his gaze thoughtful, searing.
“As amazing as that was, why do I feel like you’re holding something back from me, Liliana?” he asks.
My heart jolts in my chest.
“What do you mean?”
He shrugs, “I can feel you holding back. Tell me what’s wrong.”
I bite down on my bottom lip knowing I have to give him something. He’s way too perceptive for his own good.
