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He shook his head. “No. This is the only threat to the Morettis.”
“Then tell me the rest and let me decide.”
She was fierce and beautiful and so goddamned courageous. But what she didn’t understand was that not all sins could be forgiven.
Besides, how could he ask her to forgive something for which he couldn’t forgive himself?
Matt clenched his teeth and did what needed to be done. “No. Make your decision. Tear it up and walk away. Or…”
“Or?” she prodded.
“I’ll take your family for everything. Destroy them.”
“You wouldn’t.” She was right. He wouldn’t, but he hated that for the first time, she didn’t look or sound very sure of that.
Which meant it was time to finish this once and for all. He raised one cruel eyebrow, his expression the very definition of a dare. “Are you willing to risk your family’s livelihood on that assumption?”
She reached up to wipe away a tear and before he could think better of it, he took a small step closer, lowered his voice. “It’s better for everyone if we make a clean break.”
“Everyone,” she repeated angrily. “The everyone in this scenario is just you and me, and this isn’t better for me.” She sniffled, blinking back her tears. He knew she despised crying in front of people, and he hated that he’d provoked her to it.
Until that moment, he’d thought he was going to make it through to the other side. He could see the finish line. It was just there…only a few steps away.
But then Liza closed the distance between them, tilted her face up to his, and swung the death blow. “Please don’t do this. I love you, Matt.”
Matt felt all the blood drain from his face.
Love.
She loved him.
He knew that, felt it every time he held her. Because he felt it too.
Love.
He was in love with her…which was why he had to let her go.
Liza stared at him for several long minutes, waiting for his reply. Waiting for something he wanted to give her but couldn’t. Because his love would destroy her, just as surely as hers was killing him.
His continued silence worked more effectively than any harsh words.
Liza took a step away from him. “So you’re the everyone in the scenario,” she said at last, her voice devoid of emotion. “Got it.”
She lifted the paper, tearing it in half. It might as well have been Matt’s heart in her hands. The tears she’d been valiantly fighting finally defeated her, flowing down her cheeks.
“Goodbye, Matt,” she whispered, turning and walking out of the office. Matt could only assume it was shock and concern that had Tony and Luca following her without saying another word.
The second the door closed behind them, Matt sank down onto his desk chair, numbness and exhaustion claiming him quickly.
She loved him.
He’d lost her. Lost them both.
The constant drip-drip-drip of water.
Dark red blood congealed on the snowy-white tiles.
The blue-tinged skin of a lifeless arm.
