Sienna pulls away from me again, and her features tighten as if she’s about to cry. She opens her mouth, but no words come out.
I brush my hand over the side of her head as I duck down in an attempt to catch her eyes. “Hey. You’re worrying me.”
A tear spills over her cheek, her voice hoarse and broken as she says, “I can’t marry you. I’m sorry.”
I swear my heart stops beating as I stare at her, and it takes a moment before a frown forms on my forehead.
What. The. Fuck?
Taking hold of her chin, I force it up. When she keeps her eyes downcast, I order, “At least show me the fucking respect I deserve by looking me in the eye.”
Sienna’s beautiful gaze snaps to mine, and more tears escape. “I’m so sorry, Christiano.”
Realizing she’s breaking up with me, panic hits me hard and fast. After the past few fucked-up days, I struggle to keep my shit together as I ask, “Why?”
Her voice is strained, each tear she cries a blow to my heart. “Out of respect for our families, I tried, but I can’t love you the way you need me to.”
I shouldn’t have pushed her so hard to get engaged. I should’ve been more patient.
Refusing to lose her, I say, “We can take things slower.”
Sienna shakes her head, and she begins to twist her fingers together again. “No.” She swallows hard and sucks in a quivering breath. “I don’t…”
“I won’t let you end things between us.” The words burst from me as desperation floods me.
Suddenly, the door opens behind me, and I hear Aunt Samantha say, “Oh, sorry, Christiano. I didn’t know you were here.”
As I nod at my future mother-in-law, I say, “I just stopped by to make sure Sienna’s okay.”
Which she clearly isn’t.
Sienna gives her mother a pleading look, and as Aunt Samantha comes to wrap her arm around her daughter, frustration joins the desperation that’s quickly growing out of control in my chest.
A sob escapes her, then as if a switch is flipped, her tears dry up and all the emotion drains from her face, which has my worry growing into a monstrous force.
My eyes snap to Aunt Samantha’s. “What the hell is going on here?”
“We’ve all taken a blow this week,” she answers. Keeping her arm wrapped around Sienna, she reaches for me and squeezes my hand. “Sienna realized how short life is, and she wants some time away from the Cosa Nostra. She’s going to visit her grandparents.”
It feels as if they’re hiding something very important from me.
Wanting some privacy, I ask, “Can you give me a moment alone with Sienna?”
Aunt Samanatha presses a kiss to her temple. “I’ll be right outside, sweetheart.”
When she steps into the hallway, she leaves the door open.
I close the distance between Sienna and me and engulf her in my arms. Locking her against my chest, I say, “I’ll give you time to visit your grandparents, but we’re not breaking up.”
When she hugs me back, hope trickles into my chest. She pushes up on her tiptoes, and the instant our eyes meet, my heart drops to my stomach.
No.
Seeing the sadness in her eyes makes me feel fucking powerless, and my mind races to process what’s happening so I can find a solution that will work in my favor.
Sienna presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth, then whispers, “You will always be special to me, Christiano. You’re going to accomplish great things and find the right woman to rule by your side.”
“No!” I snap angrily while gripping hold of the sides of her neck. I lean down until our faces are only separated by an inch of air. My jaw clenches as I hiss, “You are the right woman.”
