AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER5
Elena
Someone once told me I have no sense of self-preservation. And in this case, I’d like to agree. There’s no other explanation for me deciding to interrupt a guy I’m aware is probably a certified psychopath in the middle of an episode.
But he looks like he’s in pain. And I can’t ignore that.
His eyes flick over my face slowly before he lowers himself onto a chair and leans backward. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s trying to give the illusion that he’s calm. He always tries so hard to pretend like he’s perfect. Because Roman De Luca doesn’t get ruffled. Even when he’s not at his best, he has to act like he is.
Unfortunately, Roman De Luca is also human. And human beings hurt. Even if they don’t want to.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he asks.
“I was going home-”
“Good. On your way, then,” he says, waving me off.
I shoot him my iciest glare but he simply rolls his eyes, unaffected.
“As I was saying, Iwasgoing home. But I think I’d like a drink instead,” I finish, moving to the bar and taking a seat on one of the stools.
I can feel his dark piercing gaze on me the entire time, but I don’t look back. He’s trying to unnerve me. And unfortunately, he’s very good at it. I want nothing more than to run from here and not look back. But I can’t very well leave him alone.
Why can’t I?
I reach for an expensive-looking bottle of whiskey. Whiskey was always Ricardo’s beverage of choice, and that sentiment transferred to all of us: me, Roman, Tony, and Michael. Even Rosa likes to indulge occasionally. I guess that’s all we’ve got left of him. The memories he left us, the things he once did.
I feel Roman get to his feet, and a few seconds later, he’s sitting beside me. I guess he figured he can’t scare me off. He grabs the bottle and after a few seconds of contemplation, pours some of the drink into another glass.
“My dad was saving this for a special occasion,” he says, slamming it back in one large gulp. “Guess he can’t very well drink it wherever the hell he is now.”
My cue to provide comfort. “I’m sure he’s in a good place,” I say softly.
Roman chuckles. It’s a low, mocking sound. “That’s very funny,lupacchiotta. The only place my father could end up in is hell,” he says darkly.
Unfortunately, he’s probably right. I pour myself another glass and raise it.Cheers, Ricardo. I’ll miss you.
I feel Roman’s eyes on me as I take a drink. When I turn to him, there’s a question dancing in their depths. I arch an eyebrow to prompt it.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Well… I’m trying to save all the glasses in this room. I don’t think Maria will be too pleased if she wakes up to find all her expensive glassware smashed.”
“No, I mean why are you here? In New York. Aren’t you living it up in Boston, doing God knows what?”
“I am. But I also have to be here for my family.”
He scoffs. “What? The family you abandoned?”
Irritation flares. I was wondering how long it would take for him to piss me off.
“Don’t you ever get sick of repeating the same things over and over again?”
I never abandoned my family. And I refuse to let him make me feel guilty for going after my dreams. Roman likes to believe I’m this selfish, vapid girl who doesn’t care about anyone but myself.
He shakes his head. “Tell me, what do you do in Boston? I’m assuming you have a boyfriend, probably a boring one. A guy to whisper sweet nothings in your ear. One who makes you feel safe, protected, loved. That’s what you crave, isn’t it, Elena? When it all comes down to it, you’re just a girl with mommy issues. You’ll always wonder why. Why you weren’t enough.”
My fist clenches around the glass. I could keep quiet. Not rise to the bait. He’s hurting right now, and in typical Roman fashion, he’s lashing out. I should be calm and mature about this. But that just wouldn’t be my style.
