"No, you're not. You're doing this because you're angry and you feel betrayed. You want to punish him and you're using me to do it." I'm shaking so hard my teeth are chattering. "I love him, Matteo. I love him and you just—you just?—"
I can't finish.
I run from the study, my vision blurred with tears, and I don't stop running until I'm in my room with the door locked behind me.
I slide down to the floor, pull my knees to my chest and I cry.
I cry for Enzo who just lost everything.
I cry for me who just lost him.
I cry until there's nothing left except the hollow ache in my chest and the knowledge that everything just fell apart.
And I don't know how to put it back together.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
I'm lying on my bed crying when I hear it.
The softest sound. A careful click and then my door is opening.
I sit up fast, my vision blurred with tears as Enzo slips inside and closes the door behind him with the same careful silence, turning the lock without a sound.
"E-Enzo," I whisper. I'm off the bed and across the room before I even finish saying his name, throwing myself into his arms.
He catches me and holds me tight, so tight I can barely breathe. His face is buried in my hair, and I'm crying against his chest, my hands fisting in his shirt.
"You came," I sob. "You came back."
"I had to see you." His voice is rough and broken. "I couldn't leave without—I can't just leave like this, I can't?—"
"Then don't." I pull back and look at him, my hands on his face. "Don't leave. Please don't leave me. Take me with you. I'll go anywhere. I don't care where, just take me with you."
"Isabella—"
"Please, Enzo. Please." I'm begging now, openly, desperately. "I can't stay here without you. I can't do this. Just take me and we'll figure everything else out, we'll?—"
"I can't." His voice cracks. "You know I can't. Your brother would hunt us down. The De Lucas would see it as an insult. The O'Rourkes would use it against your family. I can't put you in that position."
"I don't care?—"
"I care." His hands cup my face, his thumbs wiping away tears that won't stop falling. "I care about keeping you safe. Even if that means—" He stops, his jaw tightening. "Even if that means leaving."
"No." I shake my head frantically. "No, you can't leave. You can't leave me here. Not after everything."
He kisses me.
Hard, desperate and devastated, his hands in my hair, pulling me against him, and I kiss him back with everything I have, with all the fear, grief and helplessness churning inside me.
I kiss him like I can make him stay through sheer force of want.
His hands are already moving, sliding down my sides, finding the hem of my shirt, pulling it up, I lift my arms and let him strip it away.
"I need you," I gasp against his mouth.
He's already working at my jeans, urgent and fumbling. "I know, baby. I need you too."
We strip each other with desperation, clothes hitting the floor, hands shaking, both of us breathing too hard, then we're naked, and he's bringing me to the bed.
