Obviously she has far too much independence. If I have any hopes of keeping her here long enough to marry her, I need to shut this shit down.Right now.
I’ve patiently waited years for this opportunity. I’m not going to let her slip away now. I don’t care what plan she’s designed for herself and her life. She belongs with me. She can live out her dreams here.
I’d been planning to take this slow, to woo this divine woman into my clutches. Obviously that plan’s out the window.I’m racing against a clock. It’s her stubborn will against mine. Thankfully, I have the advantage. For now.
Retrieving my phone from my pocket, I get to work on making sure Elena has nowhere to run but to me.
“You’re mine,bella. Let this be a lesson to you.”
CHAPTER 6
Elena
“Ican’t believe you’re both due within a week of each other.” I gaze at Ravenna’s and Arianna’s rounded bellies. The last time I saw them, they had much flatter stomachs. Now they’re carrying the next generation. It’s surreal.
Arianna sighs. “Yeah, only eight more weeks to go. This baby boy’s getting heavy.”
“How do you think I feel carrying around twins?” Ravenna grouses, though I know she’s thrilled to be carrying on our tradition of twins. I wonder if they’ll be identical like us.
“So,” Ravenna changes the subject, “why is Maximo insisting you stay with him when the threat to you is gone? Do you have any idea what he’s up to?”
“Does he have to be up to something?” Arianna asks, sipping sparkling water.
Ravenna pins her with a look. “Mafia men always have an agenda.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
They both stare at me expectantly.
“I honestly don’t know. He’s been acting strange from the moment I arrived.” A faint blush heats my cheeks when I remember the party last night. “My bedroom in his apartment isall pink. The walls are lined with bookshelves. It’s like… he had it designed especially for me.”
They exchange a loaded glance. Ravenna asks, “Has he said anything about his intentions toward you?”
“No. Not directly. I mean, he had me accompany him to a party last night. Enzo Casella’s birthday. And when Enzo started flirting with me, Maximo totally made it sound like we’re nearly engaged. But he could have done that to make sure Enzo backed off and left me alone, because I wasn’t liking the attention. I don’t think Maximo actually has romantic feelings towards me.”
Arianna leans forward. “Are you sure? That sounds like the kind of thing a possessive man would do.Especiallyone who has every intention of marrying you.”
My stomach swoops and dives. I feel sick. But also oddly… thrilled that Maximo would have that level of interest in me. Then reality slaps me in the face.
Does Maximo intend to trap me here with him? Why now? He’s had four years to convince me to date him, but I barely saw him in all that time. It doesn’t make any sense for him to go from aloof to possessive in the span of a few months time.
I shake my head. “No. He doesn’t want me like that. I think he’s just being overprotective so that he doesn’t ruin his reputation or something. I’m sure he’ll deem me safe enough to let me live on my own soon.”
Which brings me to… Say it. Say. It. Goodbye—it’s not that hard. My mouth is suddenly dry and I reach for my water.
“Well, if he becomes too overbearing just let me know.” Ravenna rubs my shoulder. “I’ll have Cian deal with him. I’m just so happy to have you home. All that time you spent in Italy, it felt like a piece of me was missing. Now you’re back and I’m the happiest person alive. You’re going to be a wonderful auntie to my babies.”
Guilt gnaws at me. I can’t do it. Not today. I can’t say goodbye right now and break my sister’s heart. Maybe I should wait until after the babies are born. I should at least see them, hold them, kiss them before I have to leave.
Leaving feels like it’s so much more complicated now. It’s not fair to Ravenna or her kids. Can I really let them grow up without me? I mean, they don’t need me, but I am their only aunt. And I’m my sister’s twin. We used to be inseparable. Can I leave all of this behind?
I have time to figure it out. There’s no pressure to decide right now.
I smile at my sister. “I’m glad to be home too.”
I’m in the car, the driver and my assigned bodyguard for the day in the front seats, when my phone pings with a new text. Fishing it out of my bag, I glance down to find Maximo’s message, which immediately irritates me. It’s time to set some boundaries with him. Especially since I’m staying longer than I originally intended.
Maximo:
