“What are you doing, Amore?” I ask quietly.
His eyebrows drag together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
I sigh and reach for him, but he moves back a step, causing Marcus to make a move toward me, though Carter waves him off.
“I mean, this Council… You and I both know this isn’t you.”
His lips thin into a line. “Do not tell me what is me, Cris. You don’t know what I want.”
“I do, though. I’ve known you for years, Carter, I know your heart. You’re not meant to be a Boss.”
He shakes his head, a short laugh escaping him. “I should have known you wouldn’t have changed. Stupid me for thinking a few weeks apart would have set you straight.”
“Carter…” I reach for him once more, and this time, he allows me to take his hand. “It’s not an insult. Some people just aren’t leaders, Amore Mio. I love you. I love the man you are, the position you have in my life and in my son’s?—”
“Don’t,” he says harshly, snatching his hand back. “I’m speaking to you because, once upon a time, I trusted you. I can’t anymore. You broke my trust. Brokeme.” His breath hitches and tears fill his gorgeous dark blue eyes.
“Carter—”
“You broke our son, Cris,” Carter whispers. “He’s starting to move around more now that his ribs have healed some, and he’s showing just how strong and resilient he is. The Boss he is…he would have come today to set down his own rule, except he didn’t want to be around you. That boy…all he’s ever wanted was to be loved, and the one person who should have done that unconditionally broke him.
“So no, do not tell me what I am, or am not, cut out for. Because if the last few weeks have taught me anything, is thatyou’ve been screaming so loud about how you didn’t want to be your uncle, simply to hide the fact that you already are.”
I stagger back a step, the blow a visceral thing.
“When you go back withhim,” he spits as he removes his wedding band, “I want you to think about how your son, the sweetest, bravest person I know, who has never backed down from a challenge before, chose to stay away rather than face you. Most people would see that as weakness, but I see it for the strength it is. Roman knows his limits, knows he would not have been able to have a diplomatic conversation, so he removed himself from the equation. That is what being a good Boss is about, what we are working to achieve.”
He reaches for my hand, slides his ring into my palm, and curls my fingers around it. “If you ever cared about your son, you would recognize what an amazing man he is. I’m happy to call him not onlymyson, but a fellow Boss.”
Carter walks away…and through the breaking of my heart and soul, I watch as he reaches for the comfort of another man.
It’s hard to breathe, let alone comprehend anything other than the fact I am holding the last piece of my light, my love, my everything in the palm of my hand.
I try to move, try to head towards the only other person who makes sense in this universe right now, but my knees buckle.
Hands grab for me and I’m distantly aware of Fin’s voice in my ear, coaxing me out of the building, but not before I see my husband encased in Marcus’s arms…and my former best friend touching the one person that should be off-limits to anyone, except the man I would die for…
“Emilio.” I swallow at Master—no, Allesandro’s voice. The warmth of it envelops me, and the command pulls me to him immediately.
Forcing myself to stay planted where I am, I incline my head and answer, “Allesandro.”
A slash of pain crosses his face, but I breathe through my initial reaction to give in. Fuck. It’s not easy when my heart is bleeding all over the fucking place. I desperately want to go to my knees, to beg, to promise and receive promises in exchange. Still, I stiffen my spine and harden my heart against him.
“May I talk to you?” he asks.
“We are talking.” I deliberately misunderstand him, but he doesn’t accept the easy out. Instead, he gestures a little ways off so we have more space for this fucking ‘discussion’.
Antonio’s wordless growl has me pausing before I roll my shoulders back and follow.
Allesandro swallows hard before raising his hand, seemingly to touch me. I step back, refusing his touch, because I know I’d die just to have his hands on me again, and I can’t afford that weakness. Biting back a sigh, he grits out, “I’m worried, Caro. The reports about a hit being called out on you… I understand you have allies of your own, but I hope you’re being safe.”
Baring my teeth, I narrow my eyes on him. “We are strong. I don’t need you to interfere.”
Running his fingers through his hair, he stares at me in frustration. It’s something I have rarely seen from him. “I know you can take care of yourself. You’re Death. But that doesn’t mean I don’t worry. You’re?—”
Allesandro shakes his head, cutting himself off. I want to insist he finish that sentence. I’m what? Foolish? His? Fuck, I can’t handle the mixture of emotions swirling inside me. I shift uncomfortably, struggling not to edge away from the man who holds my heart, owns my soul, and crushes my spirit all at once.
“I’m fine. I think you should be more concerned about yoursweetheart.” I tilt my head toward the tableau I caught out of the corner of my eye. Whatever Cristian said, it upset my fellow Boss. For a moment, I’m thankful Benjamin isn’t here. I have a feeling another knife would find itself buried in Cristian…and hell, probably Allesandro as well.
