1
ELENA
Funerals are supposedto be rainy, cold, and gloomy.
Yet, the Nevada sun beats brutally against my black dress as I watch them lower my father into the ground. He wasn’t supposed to leave me so soon.
I sniffle, and my brother Anthony nudges my arm. His words from earlier ringing through my head.With pàpa gone, people are going to want to take our family down. We can’t show any weakness, Elena. Not even you.
Not even me, because I was Pàpa’s exception for everything. He wasn’t soft towards anyone, except for me. He didn’t break his rules for anyone, except for me. He would never break tradition for anyone, except for me.
Anthony always hated how differently we were raised. I was the light of my pàpa’s life, and Anthony’s purpose was always to take over the family business. Our father was hard on him, never showing Anthony how much he actually loved him. But he openly loved me, allowing me a lot of flexibility, considering I’m both an Omega and his only daughter.
He could have married me off. Any of the families in the country or internationally would happily trade me for an alliance. Yet, he didn’t. He let me go to the hospital for myheats to be sedated, to give me time, to give mea choice. My designation was just something I had to deal with, not who I was in his eyes. He always let me choose. And now he’s gone. And the feeling of having a choice has died with him.
“Go sit in the fucking car if you can’t pull yourself together,” Anthony angrily whispers in my ear, and it makes me cry even harder.
I’m strong, and while my pàpa made a lot of concessions for me, I was still a Don’s daughter. I’ve seen a lot of shit,beenthrough a lot of shit. I wasn’t weak, but I still had emotions. Crying wasn’t weak, men just can’t fathom the concept of being vulnerable.
I swiftly move away from his side, making my way to the black sedan. Logan, my personal bodyguard for the evening, follows close behind me.
“You know he didn’t mean it, princess,” he says softly.
“Yes, he did,” I reply, and Logan looks away. We both know his reassurance was a lie. Anthony means every harsh word he says, we just have to deal with it.
Logan has been loyal to our family since he met Anthony and was brought into the fold a few years ago. It happened quickly, but he swiftly worked up the ranks in the Amante household, even if he finds himself on Omega duty far more often than I’m sure he would like. Though he doesn’t complain, he still doesn’t make a move like I wish he would.
While my brother has respect for him, Anthony sees Logan as a threat.
Logan is more handsome than Anthony, people like him more, and they respect him without Logan needing to be a completely heartless asshole. Although I’m not even sure if Logan is Italian—actually I’m pretty positive he isn’t. An outsider could never take over the family, but that doesn’t mean that one couldn’t burn it to the ground.
“I’m sorry, Elena,” Logan says as we approach the vehicle.
“He’s gone, Logan. He’s really gone,” I croak out.
Logan tugs the door open, and I funnel in, his large Alpha frame crowding in behind me. He tugs me against his chest, and I grab onto the lapels of his jacket, inhaling his rich cedarwood scent.
I sob against his expensive suit as he cradles the back of my head, letting me cry it out. His large hand rubs circles on my back, and he just sits there, not judging me. He doesn’t tell me to suck it up or stop crying, he just lets me get out all this angry sadness I can no longer hold in.
He’s always there for me. Always my shoulder to cry on, the person I can tell things to. I wish it was more because he wanted me, not because he’s paid to look out for me. While the Alpha may touch me, scent mark me, and protect me, he’s never crossed that line.
God, do I wish he would.
“What am I going to do?” I ask Logan, resting my head against his chest.
“I’ll always take care of you. Always.”
“Don’t you want more than to just be my bodyguard for the rest of your life?” I ask, pulling away from his body.
Logan uses the pad of his thumbs to help me wipe at my makeup. His bright blue eyes look glossy with his own emotion as he gazes down at me. He’s so attractive, just the type of Alpha I’d always dreamed of. It’s probably so cliche and Sigmund Freud of me to want someone who was like my father—rough around the edges, but only soft for me, which Logan has always been.
I’ve seen him have to physically hurt people, seen how angry he can get when my safety is on the line. But when it’s just us? I feel cared for and cherished in a way I haven’t felt before. I just wish he felt the same. There’s no way in hell I’d ever be thefirst to make a move, and right now, when I’m wrapped in his comfort, I don’t understand why I’m not good enough.
“Let’s talk more later. Today has been a hard day,” Logan suggests, and I stare into his pretty eyes.
“It’s not going to be the same without him.”
“He was a great man. I’ll miss him too.”
