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“Nope.” His tone is quiet, probing. “He said he gave you a phone.”
My head suddenly feels too heavy for my neck. I lean back against the pillows. “He did.”
Instead of questioning me about my visits to the village as I expected, Angelo says, “What you told Officer Bartoli about your attackers, is that true?”
“I do remember their faces.” Hatred tastes bitter on my tongue. My words are brittle. “I’ll never be able to forget them.”
He utters a curse and presses a kiss on the back of my hand. “Why did you lie?”
“Because Roch killed three of them. I’m not going to repay him by getting him into trouble.”
“That’s wise.” He sits down, leaning an elbow next to me. “Is that the only reason?”
“No,” I admit. “I remember their clothes and their shaved heads. They were part of a gang. The attack was premeditated, and I was the target. They came after me to hurt you, didn’t they?”
“Yes,” he says, gritting his teeth.
“Then there’s your answer. I couldn’t let Officer Bartoli ask questions about vendettas and why an organized crime group would want to weaken you. It could’ve given the police the ammunition they need to implicate you as part of a clandestine operation.”
“You’re protecting me?” he asks, watching me with an intense gaze.
A memory of the day he told me we’ll never be on the same side flashes through my mind. “We’re not on opposite sides.”
“No.” His smile is tender. “We’re not. You were never going to sell me out me to Lavigne.”
“Do you trust me all of a sudden?”
“I know what happened outside.”
I frown. “How?”
“Drone,” he says casually.
“Really, you’re despicable.”
“I can’t argue that.” He clasps my hand between both of his. “That’s why I have to ask, why I need to be sure.” He searches my face. “Is this what you want?”
“You mean do I want you?”
He nods, studying me like a predator as he gently caresses my hand.
“Because if I don’t, you’ll let me go?” I ask.
The line of his jaw turns hard. “I’ll do anything for you,cara, anything at all, but I can’t let you go.”
“Because you need my surname, or because you want an heir?”
He winces. “Because I can’t live without you. Because everything has always been about you. Everything I think, dream, breathe, and feel areyou. If you leave me, I’ll have nothing.” He pauses. “If I let you go, I’ll never have a chance to make everything up to you.” He scrutinizes me, watching me as if he wants to see straight into my heart. “Do you want to leave?”
“I realized something when I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I realized life is too short to throw a chance at happiness away. I realized that making myself miserable is not what my dad would’ve wanted for me. You told me I never chose you, and I thought you were right. But we were both wrong. I chose you the moment I met you. Things changed after you stole my dad’s book. When you forced my hand and arm-wrestled me into marriage, you took away my choice. But when I found out that I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to choose you again.” I swallow down the emotions that clog up my throat. “I choose you now, Angelo Russo, exactly for who you are. This time, I’m under no illusions. I know the man I married. I’m walking into this with my eyes wide open.”
He’s quiet, the stunning black of his eyes gleaming with turbulent emotions. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have left you alone in that house. I allowed my grief to ruin my chances at a peaceful life with you. I allowed my family to exploit my hatred, and despite what I just said, I can never make that up to you.” He works his jaw. “All I want is for you to be happy. I wish it more than anything in the world. I’ll do whatever it takes,cara.” Lifting my hand to his lips, he kisses my fingertips. “Tell me how to fix this.”
“You can start by not giving the men who attacked me what they want.” My tone is hard. “Don’t let them use me to get to you. They’re nothing to me. I don’t break this easily. If this is a war, then finish it. And make damn sure you win.”
“Cara.” He brushes my fingers over his lips. “I don’t deserve you.”
“That’s true, but you’re going to work on that.”
