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“Where are you going?” I manage. My voice lacks its usual composure. I evensoundworried.
“Anywhere.”
“Anywhere where?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she says, grabbing a toiletry bag off the dresser. “The airport. I’ll buy a ticket somewhere.”
“With what money?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t use the allowance you gave me. You can have that back too. I have funds leftover from Robby.”
Agitation pinches at my neck. Months ago, my old right hand, Robby Greco, had been conspiring with the Lovato’s to sabotage me. Part of that involved getting rid of Falynn. He’d offered her a hefty payday and passport to disappear into the night.
I grit my teeth. I’d honestly forgotten about the money he’d given her. “You’re not going anywhere. It’s dark out.”
“So what? I’m a grown woman. I don’t have a curfew.”
“It’s not safe.”
“You’renotkeeping me here!” she snaps, rounding on me. Anger burns in her gaze. “I’m leaving, Gio. I’m done, okay? I’ve had enough. I want out. I…I need out.”
As hard as I try to settle my heartbeat, it only pounds faster. I’m losing any shred of composure I have, descending into full-blown panic mode. Only this woman could have this effect on me. Nobody else on the planet could force my hand in this way. Does she realize the power she wields over me?
“Sit down,” I say, still attempting to be calm. “We’ll talk.”
“The time for talking is over. I’m leaving, Gio. I can’t do this anymore.”
“Falynn, you know I can’t let you go. You’re staying.”
She disappears into the closet, releasing a derisive laugh. The next second she walks out with a couple pairs of shoes, all sneakers. “Is that what you’re going to do? You’re going to hold me hostage again? Do you really think that’ll fix things?Forcingme…like your brother?”
I grimace. Her comparing us isn’t just insulting. It physically hurts, my chest clenching tighter. The worst part is, I can’t deny she’s right. If I make her stay, am I any better than him?
My breath is a ragged exhale as I scrub a hand over my jaw. “What we have is nothing like that. For you to even compare us…you’re saying things you don’t mean, Falynn. We love each other.”
“Do we?” She stops long enough for another glare in my direction. “Doyou love me?”
“Yes, of course. I’ve told you this.”
“Really? Because all you’ve done is make me feel like shit! All you’ve done is make me feel unwanted…like it was my fault! Do you know how much that hurts? After I told you about what happened with my mom and her boyfriend? How could you treat me like that? And when I cried, begged for you…youturnedyour back on me! Do you know how long I sat there and hoped you’d come back?” she rants, her voice louder than I’ve ever heard it. Tears break through her impassive wall, shining in her red-rimmed eyes. “It’s beendayssince you walked out on me crying. Days you’ve left me to feel rejected. Then I realized something. I’ve fallen in love with a man who’s unavailable. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically. You’reunavailable, Gio.
“You don’t love me. You…you lovecontrollingme. You love me as your little toy to fuck and play with and have on your arm. You don’t love me for who I am. You don’t respect me.” She plods over to the bed and zips up the suitcase, her shoulders slumping. She’s fighting off more tears. “This is too much. I can’t survive this life anymore. I’m not cut out for the torment. Please…just let me go.”
“Falynn,” I say, bridging the gap between us. I grab her by the arms, but she jerks back, pushing me away. “That’s not how I wanted to make you feel. That wasn’t my intention. Tell me what to do. Tell me how to make it better.”
“It’s too late. I can’t do it. You don’t know what it’s been like. I lost you and cried myself to sleep every night for weeks. I couldn’t get out of bed, couldn’t eat. It was like I’d died with you. Sometimes I wished I had.”
“We’re together now—”
“You mean as I sit in this penthouse each night and watch the door, waiting for you to return? Feeling the empty space next to me in the bed?”
“We’ll go on vacation. Remember how good things were in Portofino?” I reach for her again, but she slips away, too nimble to grab hold of. The longer she evades me, the more panic spreads through my chest.
“You don’t get it, do you? I don’t want fancy vacations or expensive clothes! I’ve only ever wanted you!” She wipes at her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie, shuddering out a breath. “But you refuse to give yourself to me…you’re not in this relationship the way I am, Gio. You’re just…you’re not. And I’m so tired of fighting for us. I’mspent.”
Words escape me. I’m failing to get through to her, and it feels a lot like drowning. It’s Portofino all over again. After my yacht exploded, I fought against the current. No matter how hard I struggled to stay afloat, I sunk anyway. I slipped under and blacked out.
Except this—grasping at anything to keep from losing her—feels a thousand times worse. My heart’s being ripped out of my chest.
