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I swallow and shake my head. “It’s just that I haven’t seen you in thirteen years.”
“And who’s fault is that?” he sneers. “Never mind. Just stop talking about being busy and the weather. It’s fucking boring.”
“Have you arranged my exchange then?” I ask pointedly, “or is that still being negotiated.”
“It’s in the works,” he says. “So if you behave, you have nothing to fear.”
“I don’t fear you,” I lie. “I’ve never feared you.”
He looks smug, and there’s a moment that I want to slap it off his face, but I focus on eating instead.
“I didn’t expect you to be Don so soon,” I comment. “That’s a real honor. Is your dad okay?”
“There’s nothing wrong with my father,” he says shortly, so I slam my plate down almost hard enough to break it.
“I am trying here, Miguel.” I’m irritated now. “But we both have to try. Otherwise, it’s pointless.”
“It is pointless,” he says, standing.
I stand as well. “Why? Because you’re so perfect and I’m not? Because you’re a Rossi, and I’m a Sorvino. That mafia bullshit is just that, bullshit.”
“Watch yourself, Kira. You promised to behave,” he warns me, taking a step closer.
I look up at him, trying to regain control of my emotions. “I’m just trying to get to know you again, Miguel. To do that, I have to ask questions.”
“Why do you care so much?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I raise my voice. “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
We’re close now, and he pulls me against him and kisses me aggressively. For a moment, I lose myself in that kiss. I remember that passion and how we’d kiss like fireworks on the fourth of July.
As I think about it, I think about how cruel he has been to me, and I feel hot tears start streaming down my face. He must feel them, too, because, after a moment, he lets me go and looks down at me.
“You’re excused,” he says, turning away.
I hurry away from the garden, with Jarred closely behind, and I go upstairs to my room. I shut the door quietly and sink to the floor, letting the tears flow.
I am grieving for the boy I fell in love with. In so many ways, he’s still here. In so many ways, he’s still within that body. But a cruel man occupies so much space, and I don’t think I can get through to him. At the same time, I’m scared I will and won’t like what is left of that frat boy who bothered me day after day to get a date.
The garden.
It can be no coincidence that it looks just like the Dean’s gardens. That’s on purpose. What did he think? That I would just come back, and our families would allow us to be together. Surely he worked out that I was sent away by my father. I mean, it was obvious. Wasn’t it?
I hug my knees and sob harder, wishing I could turn back the time.
Chapter 22 - Miguel
As she hurries away, I feel a pang in my chest. A part of me, a distant part, wants to go after her, but I have business to attend to now that I’ve entertained her little picnic.
I have my driver take me to the family bar we own in Long Beach, and I walk in. One of my brother’s father-in-law needs some help, so my brother asked me to meet with him.
I sit in my office and don’t have to wait long until he arrives.
“Don Rossi,” he greets me, shaking my hand.
I nod. “Mr. Silva, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My brother says that you are having some problems. Tell me about them.”
“Oh, Don Rossi,” he all but wails, “I have had the most unfortunate luck, and I don’t know where to turn. I own three grocery stores, and two are doing very well, but there’s one in Brooklyn, it’s in Sorvino territory, and we have to pay them protection, you see. Well, a gang has started harassing my store managers and cashiers to pay them protection instead of the Sorvino men. Don Alessandro does not have my loyalty. Please be assured, Don Rossi, but we need proper protection.”
