“I know.” He wiped away his tears and grasped my hand. “I’m going to make this right. No matter how long it takes, Sera. I’m going to show you I deserve to be in your life.”
He didn’t have relationships with his brothers. The only relationships he had were with Finley who had remained loyal, and Kai, who we hadn’t talked about at all. I knew Sergio wouldn’t let him live, and I knew how deeply that decision affected him without him saying a word. So, other than Finley, it was me.
He didn’t open up much, and I was grateful he wanted to now. And despite the things we’d been through, the constant sabotage of our relationship by his actions, Sergio was the love of my life.
He’d always be the love of my life.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sergio
I was frustrated. Not the type of frustration that flared then faded, but the kind that was heavy and constant. I’d done everything I could think of. I apologized, explained, given her space, written her a damn letter three times before burning it in the sink because what the hell do I know about writing a fucking love letter. I gave her everything. My regret, my truth, my pain, and I still couldn’t tell if she wanted me back.
Seraphina loved me. Seraphina believed in me, but that wasn’t the issue. The issue was that believing in someone and loving them didn’t equal forgiveness. And forgiveness didn’t equal another chance, especially after she’d given me so many.
It felt like it was either make it or break it time. Like if I didn’t get this right, if I didn’t find the right words or the right person to help reach her, it was over for good. There would be no more us, and I couldn’t have that. Seraphina was it for me, I just needed to convince her that I was it for her.
So that was why I was on the phone, waiting for advice from the one person I believed could help me, even if it was clear she didn’t want to give it.
“And you called me why?” Phoenix asked.
“Because you’re her sister,” I said, trying not to sound as desperate as I felt. “And because you know her better than anyone.”
Phoenix snorted. “You mean better than the guy who broke her heart? Who almost got her killed?”
I swallowed my response because I deserved that. “I know, I fucked up Phoenix.”
“You almost got her killed, and my son kidnapped, Sergio,” she said, her voice filled with anger. “That’s beyond fucking up.”
I looked down at my hands. “I know. I know, okay? And you can’t make me feel any fucking worse than I already do. I know if it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t have been shot. And I know if it wasn’t for me, she would have never met fucking Dorian Drakos. But I’m trying to make things right. I just… I just don’t want to lose her.”
Phoenix was quiet for a long time. So quiet I thought she hung up on me then she sighed. “You want my help?”
“I do.”
“Even though I think you’re a walking red flag with a decent jawline?”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “What the hell does that even mean, Phoenix?”
“Never mind. I’ll do what I can since you did everything to protect her with the whole Dorian situation. But I’m not promising anything, Sergio. You hurt her. And if she tells me to tell you to go fuck yourself, I’ll be happy to deliver that message. And I’m not interfering again.”
“Fair,” I said. “Just… thank you.”
“Don’t make me regret this, Sergio. If you hurt her again, I won’t just hate you, I’ll make sure you hate yourself when I’m done.”
“I already do,” I said, before ending the call.
I was in my home office making sure the numbers were right with the latest shipment of guns from our dealer. I was the fucking enforcer, and this was something Dante would handle, but he’d been MIA for the last week. I wasn’t sure what was going on with him, but Lorenzo had me picking up his slack and it was pissing me off. I had my own shit to deal with, but I didn’tstop taking care of my responsibilities because I was fucking heartbroken that the woman I loved didn’t want to have shit to do with me.
The buzzer of my apartment sounded. I didn’t move right away just stared at the stupid fucking numbers blurring on the screen. Shipment totals. Barrel counts. Street value. All of it meaningless to me because I broke bones, collected debts, made men disappear.
The buzzer sounded again. Louder this time. Whoever it was, they weren’t leaving.
I stood, cracked my neck, and crossed the penthouse like I owned the fucking city. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the skyline in gold. My Glock sat on the counter beside a half-empty bottle of Delta Blues whiskey. I reached for it. I always stayed prepared.
I hit the intercom. “Who the fuck is it?”
“It’s me. Seraphina.”
