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Her breathing gradually returns to normal as she comes down from the thrill of our encounter. Her brown eyes flick nervously towards the door, the shadow of fear momentarily clouding their depths.
"How did you get here? And how did you get past the guards?" she whispers, her voice hesitant yet laced with curiosity.
"El Lobo's men aren't as loyal as their boss may think," I reply, a wry smile playing on my lips. "A few well-timed distractions were all it took to remove them from their posts."
"But what if they come back?" she asks, the worry evident in her tone.
"Trust me, that possibility has been eliminated." I try to reassure her, but she still looks unconvinced. "If they turn up missing, your family could be blamed, right?"
"Exactly," she agrees, looking at me with hope in her eyes.
"Rest easy – they're just sleeping it off. They won't even know anything happened." I place a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying to convey my sincerity. "I can take you away from here." The words hang between us, heavy with promise.
But instead of relief or gratefulness, her expression hardens. "No."
"No?" My heart clenches painfully in my chest. "You're being held captive, Lulu. I came here to ensure your safety."
Her gaze is filled with sorrow as she shakes her head. "I can't leave. I'm engaged."
"Engaged? You were serious?" My mind races, trying to make sense of her words.
"I don't have a choice in this," she admits, tears brimming in her eyes. "It was the only way to secure my family's safety."
"Surely there must be another way," I insist, desperate to find a solution that doesn't end with her marrying someone else.
"Trust me, there isn't." She swallows hard, her voice barely more than a whisper. "And you shouldn't interfere. If you do, it could risk killing my entire family – and they're lucky to even receive this offer."
My mind reels, unable to comprehend the seriousness of her situation. This can't be real; she can't possibly be engaged to someone else when we've just shared something so intimate, so powerful.
"Please, just let me help you," I plead, grasping at straws as I try to hold onto her. "Lulu, I-I love you."
Lulu looks away, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "Sometimes, love isn't enough."
"I won't accept that," I tell her, my voice cracking with emotion. "There has to be something I can do."
"Nothing can be done, Giovanni," she says softly, her eyes swimming with tears. "Especially if you're trying to keep your family out of mob business. Involving yourself could implicate you in all of this, and unless you want to get involved in a mob war, you need to let me go and forget about me. I'll try to do the same."
"Absolutely not." My heart races as I reach out for her, my hand brushing against her soft curls. "I'll figure something out, I promise."
"No," she insists, her voice trembling. "You shouldn't get involved. Just forget it and go back to Boston."
With determination burning in her eyes, she tries to push me out of the door. I brace myself against the frame, stopping her. "There's no way I'm leaving Miami without you," I tell her fiercely. "I'm never going to be okay with another man touching you, let alone marrying you. The only man you'll be marrying is me, and I intend to spend the rest of my life exploring your body and worshipping your soul."
Her face crumples, and she shakes her head. "It's too late for that, Giovanni. You're too late. There's nothing that can be done. Please, don't make this harder than it already is. Goodbye," she whispers, giving me a final shove. I let go of the frame, and she pushes me out the door, closing it behind me.
Leaning against the closed door, I can hear her sobs from behind it, and my heart shatters. I want to go to her, comfort her, but I know she won't let me. The guards are still sleeping outside her room, and I stand there, debating my next move.
I know I said I would be okay just confirming she was safe, but I was lying. There's no way I can live without her. I love her, and I have to prove it to her somehow. Somehow, I need to win her back.
As I walk away from her door, every step feels like a betrayal. But I will find a way to fix this. I will save her, and our love. No matter what it takes.
* * *
My heart heavy, I make my way back to the hotel. The door clicks shut behind me, and just as I'm about to collapse on the bed, my phone rings. It's Primo.
"Jesus, Giovanni, what the hell are you doing in Miami? Teddy told me everything," he barks, his voice a mix of anger and worry.
"How's he doing?" I ask.
