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I respect him so much that I even begin to question if what I’ve done with Valentina is actually wrong. Have I made a mistake?
The pain in my chest tells me I’m not wrong. I love her. I want her so fucking much.
I can’t. I look out the window. My eyes clouding over.
I’m a fucking sap.
Angelo is the brother I never had.
I never wanted to disappoint him.
“Whether I want to admit it to myself, I’ve always known there’s been something between you two,” he says quietly, after what feels like an eternity. “Especially recently.”
“I fucked up,” I say.
I feel him look at me. “I never for one second thought you weren’t good enough, E,” he goes on. I know this is hard for him, expressing emotions doesn’t always come easy. “So get that fucking thought out of your head. You know how it is with family, when your best friend and your sister get together? It’s all great until things end, E. Then what? Where does it leave us? We’re family.”
I shake my head. “Like I said. If I were just fucking around, I wouldn’t go there. I would never go there for that. It’s important that you know that. You’re the only family I have aside from my Mom and Ken. I didn’t want things to go the way that they did. I didn’t plan to fall in love with her.”
Fuck. I’m full of confessions now.
“I’ve known Valentina since before she was born, when my Papa died,” Angelo says, and I can feel the tension coming off him. “I’ve loved her since she came into the world, and every day after that, she’s always been the apple of my eye. My kid sister. The one who needed protecting most of all because she’s precious. So very precious. And it’s my job, being she had no father in the house; I took on that role in a way. I taught her the things Papa should have. I vowed to my Ma that I would always keep her safe, that I would put her life ahead of my own if it came down to it. Putting that trust in another man isn’t easy, Enzo. I’ve been doing it for twenty-three years. I can’t let go just like that.” He snaps his fingers and the level of his feeling for her makes me understand now. Maybe I didn’t before, not like this.
He is, in a way, like her father.
He’s so well guarded. He’s so tough, strong and at times, a real asshole. But I know out of all of the Medici brothers, Angelo is the one who bears the brunt of guarding the family.
It’s his job to keep everyone safe. But he’s not alone. He will never be alone when it comes to the safeguarding of our own. I’m here too.
I swallow hard. “I would never expect you to. I would never want that. I know how family is important to you, and to her, but it is to me too. You guys took me and my Mom in when I was a kid, and you’re my brother, Angelo. In all senses of the word. But the level of feeling I have for Valentina can’t be ignored. I want her, I need her,” I say simply. “And I’ll fight anyone who tries to take her from me.”
He stares straight ahead. “Even me?”
“Especially you.”
I see his lips twitch. “Those are big words, E.”
“For the record, we were going to come clean, as soon as this whole threat situation with Valentina was over,” I say. “Protecting her came before any of the other stuff.”
“I need time to digest it.” His words are cautious. “And that isn’t a green light.”
“No? Haven’t I proved it? What do I have to do, because strike me dead, Angelo. I will fucking do it.”
My words hang in the air.
“That’s a bad omen,” he states quietly. “You know how I feel about that.”
The fucking Medicis and their superstitions. “That’s Marco. He still makes the sign of the cross whenever anyone brings up the subject of death.”
Angelo’s voice sounds strained when he says, “After the past few months, I can’t say I blame him.”
“I won’t let this come between us,” I say quietly. “I will never let it cloud my responsibilities of my job; I’m well aware that there is a fine line. I won’t cross it. I will put her safety first, and that’s a promise, Angelo.”
His lips twitch. “E, you already have crossed it, well and truly.”
All the turmoil is gone from his tone. Maybe, just maybe, he will see my side.
I knew this was never going to be easy, and with Angelo, he needs time.
