The very thought devastates me. If I let her go, she’ll take my heart with her. I’ll slowly die in her absence. She’s the only one for me, always has been and always will be. And if I’m not the man for her…
Silence strains the air between us.
If all I wanted was to own her body, I’d keep her locked up with me. But it’s her heart I desire. Without herlove, I’d be settling for a shell of a woman.
However, if I let her go, then I’ll have to go with her. There’s no world in which I’ll leave Elena alone, vulnerable and unprotected. I believe I proved that in California.
Lazaro would take over my position as don, so the succession is not something I have to worry about, though the transition would take time. Time I probably wouldn’t have.
Am I really considering giving up the most powerful position any family member can hold?
Yes, yes I am.
Because at the end of my day, love apparently overrules every single other aspect of my life.
Unrequited love.
Right. She said she’ll never love me in return. But that doesn’t stop me from doing what I must.
And what happens when she finds a man and falls in love with him? I clench my jaw, unwilling to venture too far down that potential future path. If there’s one thing I know about Elena from her books it’s that she’s a romantic at heart. One day, she will fall in love. With another man. And I won’t be able to bear it.
I heave a sigh. I’m completely fucking screwed. There’s no happy ending for the both of us in this situation. But I also can’t keep us both miserable.
My voice is rough when I finally speak. I can barely get the words out. “I’ll give you back everything I took. You’ll be on the first flight to wherever you want to go tomorrow, just tell me which city.”
Her gorgeous eyes search mine with a mix of surprise and apprehension. “Are you serious?”
I give a curt nod. “It’s either this or I haul you back into that church and force you to marry me before all those witnesses.”
A shiver runs through her—fear or disgust, I can’t tell. Which one makes no difference.
“But you won’t? Force me?” She warily eyes me like I’m a circling shark.
I grit my teeth. “Is that what you expect me to do?”
“It’s what men like you do, so yes.”
Her accusation, even though true, pisses me off. “At least I’m not completely fucking predictable.”
“I guess not,” she softly murmurs. “Thank you.”
I think about all the surprises I had planned for our honeymoon, now all a waste, and my anger deepens. Though I’m not mad at her, I’m upset at myself for being such a bullheaded, optimisticstronzo. Of course she doesn’t fucking love me. I was delusional in trying to force her feelings.
My phone rings, startling us both with the blaring sound. I’m tempted to ignore the call until I see it’s from Sophia. Elena’s cousin is probably worried sick about her.
I answer the call. “She’s fine.”
“Elena’s with you?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank God. Put me on speaker.”
“Why—?”
“Just do it, Maximo.” All these women are so bossy.
With a grunt, I set the cell on my knee and press the speaker button. “Go ahead.”
