“Here talk to him. Maybe you can talk some sense into him,” he said, and I knew he was talking to Phoenix.
I heard the frustration in his voice, but she wouldn’t change my mind either. Seraphina wasn’t going back to Greece, not until Dorian was dead.
“Sergio?”
“Yeah, Phoenix.”
“Was it bad?” Phoenix asked, her voice full of worry.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. “He did a number on her.” I didn’t want to get too graphic because it wasn’t my story to tell. “But the doctor said it’ll take a while for her to heal. She’s on heavy pain medication that keeps her sleep most of the time. But she’s fine Phoenix. I promise. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting her go back to him. They can fucking kill me before I let that happen.”
“Keep her wherever you have her,” she said without hesitation. “Don’t let her come back here and don’t tell anyone where you are until it’s safe.”
Gianni cursed in the background. I guess he was past the stage of playing the priest now, but I knew he wouldn’t go against what his wife wanted.
“Ask him if it was you, what would he do?”
I didn’t wait for an answer and just ended the call. I knew what he would do and so did he. He killed our father for Phoenix and their son. He hung her first husband from the rafters so she could kill him. He didn’t give not one fuck if one of the most powerful Camorra clans came after the Family for protecting her. He was the last person who had the fucking right to judge me for my actions.
I walked back to her room, down the quiet, dimly lit hallway. The door creaked as I slipped inside. I hoped she was asleep, but she wasn’t. Even though her eyes were closed, her body was still but not relaxed.
“I know you’re not asleep.”
I sank into the chair beside her bed. The same chair I’d claimed since the night I brought her here. I sat in it for hours, praying to a God who hadn’t answered me in fucking years. I didn’t blame him for his silence. I wasn’t the best person. Did a bunch of shit that will send me to Hell, but I prayed anyway. For her. I prayed for the one person who made me believe there was something in this fucked up life that was worth living for.
She was everything to me. And I couldn’t lose her. Not again.
“You don’t know what you’ve done.” Her eyes stayed shut. And her voice was low and full of fear. “He won’t stop until he finds me. And when he does… he’ll kill you.”
I reached for her hand, half-expecting her to flinch or snatch away from me. But she didn’t. Her fingers were cold, but she didn’t pull away. She held on like maybe some part of her still remembered who I used to be to her. Who we used to be together.
“Do you have so little faith in me, baby?”
Her eyes opened. She turned her head, and when she looked at me, I saw it all. Every fracture I carved into her heart. The betrayal. The fear. The love that hadn’t died that she just buried beneath the wreckage that I caused.
She didn’t speak because she didn’t have to. I’d broken her too many times for words to mean anything now. However, this time, she had no choice but to trust me. It all came down to one truth. Either Dorian died, or I did. And I always played to win.
“One day,” I said, voice barely above a whisper, “you’ll trust me again, Seraphina. And when that day comes, I swear to you, I’ll never let you go. Not even if the whole damn world tries to take you from me.”
Her tears didn’t fall. They shimmered in her beautiful eyes waiting to break. All I could do was sit there, holding her hand, knowing that this time love wasn’t enough to keep her in my life. I had to prove I deserved to be there.
Chapter Twelve
Seraphina
I shouldn’t be excited, but I am. Sergio and I have been eating lunch together for the past month. He’s been nothing but a perfect gentleman so far. He’s even helped me with my chemistry homework. He’s nothing like I expected. The way his brother and my sister talk about him, you’d think he’s an asshole. Well, he may be an asshole but there’s more to him than they know. He’s smart, funny, and sweet. I like him. I really like him.
We haven’t talked much about our families, so he doesn’t know who I am yet. But today I’m going to tell him. I only think it’s right since I already know who he is. I’m glad I’m getting to know him for myself, and I’ve gotten used to being around him.
I rush to the library, excited to see him. It’s lunch period and I have no doubt Sergio will be waiting for me. With food. When I turn the corner, I smile. He’s usually scrolling through his phone while waiting by the door. And when he sees me, his face lights up. It’s the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. But this time my smile slips from my face and my heart sinks to my gut when I don’t see Sergio. I’ve never felt so dissapointed. I’ve gotten used to spending time with him. It’s become the highlight of my day. However, today his friend, Kai is glaring at me with a bag of food in his hand.
I know he doesn’t like me. I’m not sure why he doesn’t, but the way he looks at me makes my skin crawl. He’s always glaring at me when we pass each other in the halls. He’s even shouldered me a few times. I haven’t told Sergio about it, though. He’s his friend and I don’t want to cause trouble between them.
“Where’s Sergio?” I ask when I reach the library.
He shoves the bag of food in my hands but doesn’t answer my question. I take that as my cue to leave. It’s fine if he doesn’t want to tell me. I was just trying to be cordial.
“Never mind,” I mumble, then push open the library door and head to my usual table.
