Again, he doesn’t answer.
“All this time you kept telling me to speak my mind, but what was the point? You won’t even listen to me.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” The words are barely audible, but unmistakably final.
“You already have, Romeo. You’re hurting me right now.”
“I’m sorry.” His throat works. “I know I’ve fucked this up. I keep fucking it up, and you never deserved any of the pain I’ve caused you. I’m broken…and I can’t give you the things you need.”
“You can,” I choke out. “But you won’t.”
A long stretch of silence passes until I have no choice but to accept the reality of the situation. He’s not in a place to talk about this, and even if he were, it’s clear he’s not willing to change his mind.
“You can’t have me halfway.” The words scrape past the tightness in my throat.
He looks up at me, and the devastation on his face wrecks me. But this isn’t something I can bend on.
“You broke my heart.” Tears leak from the edges of my eyes. “I still haven’t recovered, and I can’t go through that again.”
“Gabi—”
“I don’t want another apology. Either come find me when you figure this out…or let me move on.”
32
GABRIELA
I throw myself into work,focusing on my collection as a distraction.
I’ve found a good rhythm studying remotely, and despite my dark mood, I have been more productive. I’ve learned to use the machine Romeo got me and some of the tools, but I can’t help feeling guilty about it. Part of me wants to tell him to take everything back, but the other part of me already knows he won’t.
It’s been two weeks since I came back from the island.
Unsurprisingly, he returned with me on the same boat, careful to keep his distance. When we arrived at the penthouse, he went inside the locked room on the second level.
He’s given me space, but I know he’s still watching over me. On the rare occasions we’re in the same room together, I can feel his gaze on me.
The tension weighs heavy on my chest, and there isn’t a day that I don’t feel like I’m suffocating.
Abella and Mariella have both called to check on me often, as have my other friends now that the truth is out. When I didn’t attend the last Aegis meeting, I told Abella she could give themthe condensed version. I didn’t want them to worry, and I would have told them anyway at some point.
At present, everyone thinks Riccardo is on a bender in Las Vegas, which probably isn’t that far-fetched. But Abella assured me that Romeo’s working on making his disappearance seamless by outing the scams he’d been running and making it look like he’d run off for good.
I suspect he and his brothers have also been handling Imperium. Angelo has stopped by several times to discuss something with Romeo, and strange things have been happening ever since.
Last week, there was a news segment about a car accident involving four of the members. The report said they were intoxicated and drove off Lake Washington Boulevard into the water. None of them survived.
A few days after that, authorities claim the remaining three members jumped bail and left the country, presumably using their families’ wealth and resources.
Everyone who has been charged with a crime is now gone, and in theCosa Nostra, there’s no such thing as coincidence. I think the Vitale brothers are cleaning house, and as unsettling as it is, it’s also a relief. I haven’t forgotten the threats at school. Now, as morbid as it might be, that’s something I don’t have to worry about.
“Hey.”
Abella’s voice startles me from my thoughts. I glance up to find her leaning against the doorframe, watching me work.
“Hi.” I force a smile for her benefit.
“I have it on good authority you haven’t been taking care of yourself.” She frowns. “Working long hours, not eating enough…and not spending time with your friends who love you.”
