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I can feel the heat of his stare on my skin. “I know Melanie is the first woman you’ve killed since Angela.”
I swallow hard, hating that the memories hit me at the mere mention of her name.
“Don’t let the past consume you, Dario. You did what you had to do back then, and you ensured that Melanie couldn’t destroy this family. Remember that.”
It’s a fucking lot easier said than done.
“Angela and Gio,” he begins. “It was fucking awful.”
I laugh. “That’s putting it mildly.” It was fucking horrendous. What I did to her... Christ.
“But you’ve grown from it. You’ve moved on. Don’t let it swallow you.”
No one knows the true extent of what happened that night. I’ve never told anyone, and I don’t plan on doing so. I don’t have the courage to admit just how fucking depraved I truly am.
“Remember what I said, Dario,” Elio says as I park the car in my drive. “Don’t let it take hold of you again.” He climbs out of the car, and I watch him leave.
Does he not know that it’s never let go of me? It never will.
TWENTY
DARIO
I’m sitting in the car, staring out at the darkness. The moment Elio left my house, I couldn’t move from the car. I needed to be here at the cemetry. Yet, the moment I arrived I can’t bring myself to get out.
I reach for my cell phone and hit dial on a number I haven’t called in a while.
It rings for a time, but eventually, she answers. “I was wondering how long it would take you to call. But then again, you’ve been busy with that leggy blonde.”
Christ, it’s so fucking good to hear her voice. It’s been so fucking long. I’ve missed her.
“Funny, Portia,” I mutter dryly. “She was taking over her father’s business and pushing to have more meetings with me to grow the farms they have. The farms we use for our product.”
She’s silent, and I take that as my cue to continue. “I never slept with her. Not fucking once. The woman tried—oh fuck, she tried—but I wouldn’t touch her. I haven’t been with anyone since I kissed you at the wedding.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Portia asks, and I can hear the hurt in her voice.
I fucking hate that I’ve caused this. That I’m the reason she’s sad.
“Because no matter what, you deserve the truth. You’re the only woman I want and that’s never going to change.”
“You hurt my best friend—my sister. How do we move forward?”
“I don’t know, but I’m hoping we can.”
She releases a heavy sigh. “Is there even a point? I mean, your life is in Chicago and mine isn’t.”
“Tell me you don’t want me, Portia, and I’ll leave you be.”
Her silence is more than enough answer for me.
“Tell that asshole, Kelvin, to keep his fucking hands to himself.”
Her laughter is thick and is a direct hit to my cock. “Fuck off, Dario,” she says, and ends the call.
I stare into the darkness and sigh. At least there is a chance for me. Every day brings my move to Missouri closer. Within the next three months, I’ll be there full time. Right now, it’s a pain in the ass to go back and forth, but it has to be done. My men have assimilated into the cities well and we’re growing each day. It’s already a success, with us bringing in the money from our drug trade. We’ve taken the streets of Missouri and we’re only going to get bigger.
I throw my cell onto the dashboard and open my car door. It’s time to face this. I walk through the gates, my feet taking me on the well-worn path. I know where I’m going. Whenever the memories get too much, I always end up back here.
