“Okay, no touching. I’m here for you, Figlio Mio. In whatever capacity you need.”
Tears roll down his pale cheeks. “No… You…hurt me. Hurt Dad. I can’t… I can’t… No.”
“I know. And I’m sorry…so fucking sorry, Roman. Please. I’ll do anything, Figlio Mio. Qualsiasi cosa ti serva da me, puoi averla. I will be whatever you need from me. I love you too much to lose you, Figlio. Even if I was shit at showing you that in the past.”
I see the mistrust in his eyes, knowing I earned it, but it still grates. “Apologize to Ignacio. A real apology, not a half-assed one that means nothing because you’re doing it simply for me. I don’t care how you justify it, almost killing him…” Roman shakes his head and curls into himself again, staring at me with those dark green eyes that don’t even try to hide his emotions. “You almost took a part of me. There will never be justification for that. Ever. I need him. Ignacio, Tennant, Hollis, Jude, Emilio, Carter, Leandro…they are pieces of my heart andsoul, and without them, I am nothing. I am a shell of a person without them, and you. Tried. To. Take. Him. Away.”
“I’m sorry, Roman?—”
“No!” He sits up and glares at me, though his dark hair sticking up every which way loses the impact a little. “I am not the one who needs to hear those words from you. You love me? You want to earn some of my respect back? That’s how you start. Apologize to Ignacio…and to Dad.”
I fleetingly look at Carter before meeting Roman’s eyes again. “I have apologized to your father. We talked the first night I got here. We…Carter…” I take a deep breath and gesture to the envelope burning a hole in my lap. “We’re getting a divorce.”
Roman blinks, seemingly taking a moment to process my words. He shifts so he can look between both Carter and me, before he lets out a breath and says, “Good. Now get out.”
“Roman—” Carter tries.
“No.” The boy shakes his head. “I…I’m done. I’m sorry if you’re hurt by this, Dad. I’ll be ready—later—to feel something other than relief from this. I’m glad you won’t be in his clutches anymore. It’ll be a fresh start, for both of us,ifhe does the right thing.”
I swallow. “I will, Figlio,” I promise. “I hear you, and I love you, and I will do anything for you.”
Roman gives me a flat look. “We’ll see.”
Before I can say anything else, there’s a knock on the door just before it opens. We all look over and Kail flushes a little. “I’m sorry to bother you, sir, Roman, but…Ignacio is back, and well, I was told to bring you this.” The nurse walks into the room, carrying a bouquet of colorful gerbera daisies—Roman’s favorite flower—and a gift bag.
Roman blushes as he takes the offerings. “Thank you…and thank him for me.”
“Roman…” Carter says with a sigh, but doesn’t push the issue.
“I will… I can let him in, if you want? Doc will probably grumble about you having so many visitors at one time, but he’s not here to bitch right now, so…”
Roman shakes his head. “Not…not yet.”
“Okay,” Kail says softly. “I’ll pass along your message.”
When the door shuts again, the three of us are locked in a tense stalemate, and I curse to myself.
“Can I come see you again?”
Roman doesn’t look up from admiring his flowers. “Maybe… Depends on if you follow through with your word. It was nice seeing you, Cristian. Thank you for being honest with me, and for doing the right thing by Dad.”
Being called by name…fuck. He might as well have fucking guttedme.
“I love you, Roman.”
I meet Carter’s sympathetic eyes once more, before standing and leaving the room. My heart is in my throat and tears burn the back of my eyes as I step into the hall…and meet Ignacio fucking Martelli’s gaze as he stares longingly at Roman’s door.
And for the first time since Roman was first placed in my arms as a newborn, I don’t know what to do.
Fuck.
Iset the weight down with a grunt, sweat pouring off me. It’s barely anything, but fuck, I’m already exhausted.
“Don’t stop now, Princess. You’ll never earn my cock that way,” Jayden says with a laugh.
Growling, I shake my head. “As I told you, I don’t care if I earn your cock. Nobody matters but Roman. I’m not touching you.”
“Uh huh. Even though you desperately need to be put on your knees. I can see the stress getting to you. You’ll break if you don’t let go.” Jayden’s voice switches to an understanding tone that grates along my skin.
