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I leaned back in the chair as tears sprang to my eyes.
“Why were you going to do it Cecilia?”
“Because I thought it would hurt him. If everything he did was for me, then losing me would be the worst thing to happen. But even that wasn’t enough. Vinny died because of me. My children don’t have their papi. You were nearly taken by your stepbrother. All because of me.”
A large tear rolled down her cheek to the tip of her nose and dropped to the bed.
“No. You are wrong.” I sighed deeply as my inner demons came to the surface. “I used to think it was my fault. That Henry tormented me. That Nate died. That my mum couldn’t even look me in the eye after it happened. That Henry killed an innocent warden and God knows who else to find me. I always thought it was because of something I had done. That I was the reason all of this was happening. But I know now, it wasn’t me. It was him. Everything he did; every decision he made was because of his own unhealthy obsession. It was nothing to do with me really. If it wasn’t me, it would have been somebody else. I believe that now. I can see that now. And it is the same for you Cecilia. Salvatore made you believe everything he did was for you but how can it be when you didn’t ask for any of it? When not once did you give him the impression you wanted him? You are a victim, Cecilia. You are not the cause.”
Her bottom lip trembled and more tears fell from her eyes. “But how can I go on? How can I live with the knowledge that Vinny’s death was because of Salvatore’s obsession with me? How can I live knowing I nearly married the man who took him away from me? I don’t deserve to.”
I jumped up from the chair and lay behind her in the bed, throwing my arms around her as she started to sob uncontrollably.
“You will live because he doesn’t get to win. You will live because you are strong and you are loved. Salvatore is gone and you are still here. That happened for a reason. Vinny was always protecting you. You can still feel him, right?”
She nodded her head as I stroked her hair away from her face.
“Listen to him. What is he saying?”
Her lips pursed together as she closed her eyes. “Angel be strong. Fight.”
I smiled as the tears ran down my face too. “That’s right. You have so much to live for. You have so much to take Vinny along for. He wants to see it all with you Cecilia. You must live for the both of you.”
She turned in my arms to face me.
“I need help Olivia. Please help me get better.”
“Always. Broken people fix each other. One day at a time.”
She nodded slowly. “One day at a time.”
Him and I
Giovanni
“Èa bordo. Lo yacht è pronto per partire (He is onboard. The yacht is ready to go),” Nik informed me as I watched the car drive away with mamma and Elle inside. I released a calming breath knowing she was going to get help. She had agreed to go back to the rehab clinic after her chat with Olivia. Once again, this woman was saving my life. How she got mamma to even speak is beyond me.
Today has been a fucking day. But it wasn’t over yet. There was one last loose end to tie up. I nodded to Nik in appreciation as Liv looked up at me from under my arm.
“What did he say?”
Turning towards her, wrapping my arms around her waist, I held her gaze carefully.
“I have to go and deal with Henry now,” I tried to keep the aggression out of my tone at even saying that bastard’s name.
She swallowed her sudden nerves and fear as her green and gold eyes danced with emotion. She nodded slowly.
“I want to come with you.”
I inhaled sharply. I wasn't sure that was such a good idea. No, I knew that was a terrible idea. Because what I had in mind to do to that asshole, I didn’t want her to see that side of me. She thought she knew what I was capable of, but really, she had no idea. Not when it came to people who hurt her.
“I don’t want to watch,” she quickly added when she saw my uncertainty. “I just need closure. And I need to be in the same place as you. I need to be with you,” she whispered, a slight blush forming on her cheeks in her unexpected shyness.
My heart fluttered in my chest. She was so fucking adorable. Knowing how much this woman hated to rely on and need others, those words meant a lot. She was admitting for the first time that she needed me. Not just to protect her, but to be there for her.
“Okay bambola. You don’t get seasick?” I raised an eyebrow and a small smile pulled at her lips as she shook her head. “Then let’s go.”
I turned to Nik, who nodded and climbed into the driver's seat of my Rolls Royce as I held the door open for Liv to climb in. We drove to the harbour in silence, holding hands the whole way. I didn’t know what would be running through Olivia’s head right now, but from the calm and serene look on her face, I knew she was okay. It was nearly over. Henry was about to pay for everything he did to her and she would be free of him, once and for all. And I would make sure they never found his body.
