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If I raise this baby, the baby I’ve never envisioned myself having, I will forever be looking over my shoulder. One day I’ll be back here, but things are kicking up and it’s only going to get more dangerous. Jainey could get hurt.Mybaby could get hurt.
I don’t want that. I don’t want the woman I love to be in danger. Hell, that’s why I came here. That’s why I’m stood on her doorstep. I came to let her go.
I’m giving up what I love so that I can protect it. And up until thirty seconds ago, the decision to leave seemed straightforward. Now, it’s a thousand times harder. And it’s going to hurt a thousand times more.
“Rocco, please say you’ll let me go.”
We stare at each other before my words come out. “Jainey,” my voice cracks. I take a steadying breath before I continue. “Loving you has been the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Letting you go, will be the hardest.” I swallow, trying to stop myself from crying. “I’ve never told you just how much you mean to me. I can only hope that my actions speak loud enough for you to understand. It’s always been you.” My heart drops as I speak. I swallow another lump now in my throat. “I’ll stay away whilst you raise our child, but I will never stop loving you.”
Her head drops and her tears flow freely. Jainey quickly steps forwards, dropping the roses to the ground as she takes me in her arms one final time. Her wet lips push against mine, and we share a final kiss, one I’ll never allow to be etched from my memories.
As I move my foot back, the toe of my boot crunches a stem on the ground. I break our kiss, and bending down, I pick up a single rose. Like I did the first time, I hold it up for her to take. “Promise me one thing?”
She nods, slowly taking the rose between her fingers.
“Promise me if my child is a girl, you’ll call her Rose?”
Jainey smiles and wipes the tears running down her cheek.
“And don’t tell her about me,” I add.
Jainey’s eyes jump up. “Rocco—"
“—please, don’t tell them who I am.” I bow my head. They deserve to think Michael is their dad. “Just keep the baby safe and healthy. Live the life you deserve.” I kiss her forehead before I turn quickly and walk away from her; before I change my mind and stay and shatter her life completely.
At the end of the drive, my heart has all but failed as I look back and watch her, the mother of my child, watching me. She wipes her face one last time before stepping inside and closing the door.
I’ll never love another woman like I do her. From this day forward, I promise if I ever see Jainey again, it will be the last time I leave her.
Chapter One
UNKNOWN
Villainy is dangerous. A warped mind, stepping into the darkness. I’ve done it more times than I care to remember. Sent on this path, I know what will be waiting for me at the end.
Closure. Peace. Revenge.
Will anyone expect anything less? Will anyone think I should have been something more?
“You getting all this?” the tall one says, bringing me to the here and now. He’s dressed smarter than the first time I met him.
I look up, nod, but offer nothing more.
“You’ll have access to everything you’ve requested. Everything you’ll need is in here. Contacts, phones. Passport.”
The short one slides an envelope across the table.
My eyes slowly look up, passing between both of the men sat opposite me. “The contents of that envelope doesn’t mean shit unless you agree to my final term,” I say.
“We can’t let you—”
“Then my answer’s no.” I cut the tall one off, standing from my chair.
He stands with me, but turns to look out the window of his office. He’s thinking, weighing up his options. He has none.
I wait.
“You stop him, then you can do what you want with your man.”
