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Eli might have wanted out, but that wasn’t the way these things worked. And he was too responsible to just ditch his father, uncle, brother, and cousin.
He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. “I told you that night—”
“I don’t want to run either,” I interrupted.
His eyes were on me, intense. “Then, what do you want, Carla? Because the only thing that I want is you.”
His words sliced through me like a knife because the only thing I wanted was him, but sometimes, what we wanted wasn’t good enough.
“I want to have a normal life. One not steeped in tragedy and death. I want to finish art school and become a teacher.” I smiled at that last part. “I want to live.”
Before I could think, Eli took me into his arms. “Then, live.” His lips were inches from mine, and the smell of his cologne surrounded me. “Live with me.”
“Eli…” I shook my head.
A smile overtook his face. “My father doesn’t want me to be part of the business.”
Those words were like an ice-cold bucket of water being splashed on my face. “What?” Surely I’d misheard him.
“No one wants an enforcer whose head isn’t in the game. It’s partially why he allowed me to come here.”
“But what about Luca?”
Eli shrugged. “My cousin is insane enough to run the mob and enforce his own reign of terror.”
“And Matteo?”
Eli’s eyes turned cloudy for a moment, and I knew that he was worried about his brother’s future. I partially thought that was why he never walked away. With him gone, Matteo was next in line.
“Matteo is going to have to carve his own path.”
The words stunned me. “Are you serious?”
He smiled, and I decided his smile was the most beautiful piece of art that I’d ever seen. “I am,” he said. “And while I know we have a fuck ton of things to figure out, all I can think about right now is kissing you.”
I didn’t respond. Pressing my mouth against Eli’s, I allowed myself the pleasure of his kiss. It was quicker than I’d have liked, but something told me that would just be the start.
“I love you.”
Those words lit me up from the inside. “I love you too.”
Eli was right. We had more than a fuck ton to figure out. But right now, I wanted to savor the moment. I knew better than most that they could be fleeting.
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
It was crazy how much could change in a year. This time last year life had felt incredibly bleak, and now….now…it felt like sunshine was always on my skin.
“There you are.” Eli’s warm hands wrapped around my waist, and I smiled brightly at the feeling of his warms hand on my skin. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” He pressed his lips against my neck, and I shivered.
“Eli,” I giggled, turning around, so that the two of us were face to face.
It might not have been possible, but somehow, in the last year, Eli had become even handsomer. His hair had grown out slightly, and the small wave flopped over his eyes. It made him look younger and less severe. “We can’t be making out in the middle of the gallery.”
I took a step back from him even though I felt myself immediately missing the warmth of his arms.
“This is incredible,” he said.
