“Like hell. You didn’t have to go that far.”
“For you? I would’ve gone to the ends of the world, darling.”
“Don’t lie to me more than you already have. It’s never been about me.”
“We’re not going to continue this conversation. I told you you’re not ready to listen to me. We’ll talk again when you are.”
I’ll never forget my reply. My exact words were, “I hate you so much. You have no idea.”
Yes, I was too blinded by hatred to hear him. But now that I’m coming to terms with all the crushing emotions I carried for so long inside me, I’m finally ready to listen.
“Believe me, Tatiana, there’s nothing I wanted more than for you to come to me out of your own free will.” His golden eyes gleam with the darkness that’s so much a part of him. “But I was always going to make you mine, no matter what means I had to use.”
My heart breaks a little more. “I did, Dante. That’s the irony. There was a time when I came to you freely.”
“Until you discovered the man I truly was.” His smile is resigned. “And now you want to leave me again.”
I give a start. “How did you know?”
“I know you. When your memory returned, you hated me all over, even more, if such a thing is possible. I saw the look in your eyes in the hospital. Did you really think I wouldn’t know what was going through your head?”
My heart starts pounding. “Are you going to stop me?”
His smile turns bitter. “No.”
Taken aback, I gape at him. The answer goes against everything he’s done and said up to now. “Don’t you want me anymore?”
His laugh is hollow. “Oh, I want you, Tatiana. Make no mistake. I’ve never stopped wanting you. But there’s only one thing I want more, and that’s your happiness.” His lips thin, the strain around his eyes apparent. It almost seems as if he’s forcing the words out when he speaks again. “So I’ll give you this. I’ll give you your wish. You nearly died. Because of me.” He bites out, “Once by the hand of your own father and twice by the hands of others. Multiple times if I count the men who came after you. God knows, you’ve more than earned the right to live your life the way you choose.” He gets up, his hands balled at his sides. “I won’t stand in your way any longer. You can have the house if you want it. Whatever you need, it will be yours. You won’t want for anything for the rest of your life. I’ll make sure of that.”
I get up too, wincing at the pain. “No, Dante. You don’t get to drop that bomb on me and then tell me I’m free to go.”
“Isn’t that what you want?”
“What I want is a husband who likes and accepts me for who I am and not as a pawn to use for his revenge.” Biting my lip, I stare up at his face. “Isn’t that what you’re kind of telling me, that you like me?”
“No.” His jaw bunches. “Not by a long shot.” Reaching out like a flash of lightning, he wraps his fingers around my nape. “I love you. I’ve never loved anyone but you.” He releases me as fast as he’s grabbed me. “There. The truth is yours. Like your freedom, you deserve it. Now it’s best if I go. If I stay longer, I may break my promise and decide to keep you.”
Even though it hurts, I go on tiptoes and lean against him. “I’d rather you do.”
Narrowing his eyes, he works his jaw. “Do what?”
“Keep me.”
“Don’t play me, Tatiana. I’m too old for those games.”
“Have I ever played games?”
He puts a hand on my hip, tentatively cupping it. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I want a man who loves me, a man who’s worthy of me, and if you’re that man, I’d like to give us a shot. I’m not saying it will be easy, but I’m willing to try if you are.”
His deep voice carries a warning. “There’s no coming back from this. Ever. Do you understand?”
“I understand that I’ll stay if you can show me that you deserve me, and I’ll do the same for you. But there’s one thing we need to be clear about. I won’t be used again.”
He stares into my eyes with emotions churning in his, showing me that he’s not invincible and that if there’s one person with the power to slay him, it’s me.
“Do you mean that, Tatiana Morici?”
