I already knew he would never do it.
She meant more to him than anything—more than me, more than our child, more than his own soul.
If Violet still lived inside him, then every apology he’d uttered was nothing but empty noise.
Vincenzo didn’t even hesitate.
“That’s the easiest thing you could ask of me,” he said, his voice almost gentle.
There was no anger, no edge.
“I never loved Violet.”
I barked out a bitter laugh. “You keep saying that, yet you listened to her every word. You protected her. You showed her love. That is love, Vincenzo. You just refuse to admit it.”
“I was blind,” he admitted quietly. “Or maybe I didn’t want to see.”
His voice cracked. “I caused you unimaginable pain. I treasured a liar over my own wife. I threatened your body, your freedom... your life.”
The admission hung in the air, heavy and unforgivable.
My eyes grew heavy with exhaustion and a bone-deep weariness that made holding onto my anger feel impossible.
My hands trembled as I pressed them against his chest, still cradled in his arms.
“I just... I can’t wait to see my son,” I whispered.
We were nearly at the final exit of the warehouse when Vincenzo suddenly stopped.
He lowered me gently to my feet, his movements careful and controlled, then drew his Glock with practiced ease.
The sharp metallic click of the chamber being checked sliced through the silence.
“There are still men around,” he said, positioning his body in front of mine.
“Stay behind me, okay?”
I nodded wearily and slipped behind him, knowing I had nothing left.
If they attacked now, I wouldn’t be able to fight.
Every drop of strength had been bled out of me.
“Are they Spanish?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as he scanned the shadows.
“No. They’re my soldiers,” he replied, jaw tight.
“But they were recruited by Ciro. The ones who locked you up here followed his orders. They’ve betrayed the family, just like he did.”
His jaw clenched harder.
Then everything exploded.
A figure emerged from the darkness and fired at the same moment Vincenzo did.
Vincenzo grabbed me and dragged me behind cover as two more gunshots cracked through the air.
He groaned sharply as we hit the ground.
