Did she try to tell me, and I missed it, too wrapped up in my own issues?
"Fuck.” I rise from the bed, restless energy coursing through me. There's no returning to Chicago now.
Not until I understand what happened to my father and who called me home.
Not until I know my son.
The determination settles in my soul, hard and uncompromising. I will know Enzo. I will be his father.
Even if I have to tear down every wall Katerina has built between us.
While I’m at it, I won’t leave without her either.
Some things are worth fighting for.
And this boy and the woman I’ve never gotten over are worth it.
Even if it pits me against my family.
Against hers.
She’ll fight it. But one thing was made clear to me that afternoon in the study. I’m still a part of her.
She might not want me in her life. No doubt, she’ll continue to resist me.
But eventually, she’ll give in.
She’ll have to, just as she did in the study because she and I are as inevitable as the sunrise.
I just have to be patient, which isn’t my forte, but I’ve shown remarkable patience with her so far. I've tried to see my son three times now.
Three fucking times.
And each time, Katerina has a new excuse.
"He's at school."
"He's at a friend’s house."
"Now isn't a good time."
Irritation grows. Why doesn’t she understand that I had no choice but to leave, that my silence was to protect her, not abandon her?
Why wasn’t my touch enough to show her that I’ve never let her go?
I can still taste her on my lips from our encounter in the study. Can still feel her body trembling against mine, hear the way she gasped my name when she came.
For those brief minutes, we were us again.
The Luca and Katerina who couldn't keep their hands off each other, who planned a future together.
The moment the orgasm ended, she’d gathered her clothes and her dignity and walked away.
Fucking hell, no one walks away from Luca Dante.
I grab my phone, typing out another message.
We need to talk about our son. Stop avoiding me.
