“We need to tell Cole.”
He stiffened before pulling away to stare down at me. “Really?”
“Do you want me?”
He visibly swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Enzo, do you want me?”
“I’m scared, Rosalie. I am. I fucked everything up before. If this doesn’t work out, then what? I’ll lose you and my brothers. I can’t risk it?—”
“Enzo. Please. Tell me. We can’t do this if it’s not going anywhere. Too many people could get hurt. I don’t want that.”
He nodded. “I know, Sunshine. I know.”
“So…?”
He breathed out. “Can you give me some time? Not to decide if I want you, because I already know that I do. I just need time to think, OK? It’s a lot. So please… know that I want this more than anything, but there are a lot of moving pieces. I’m not just some regular guy, and you’re asking me to leave my life…” His voice trailed off. “Fuck. I’m so lost. I’m just… lost.” He took a step away from me.
The way his voice shook and how his face pinched in an expression of pain made my heart ache for him. He was hurting, and he had been struggling for a long time with it all. Beneath his tough mafia-don exterior was a man barely holding himself together.
“Come here,” I murmured, reaching out for him.
He came immediately and fell into my arms, his body shaking as he cried. I raked my fingers through his soft, black hair, holding him tightly.
“It’s OK,” I said softly. “I’ll wait for you.”
“I don’t want you to wait for me. I’m not worth it?—”
I cradled his face in my hands and made him look at me.
“Lorenzo De Luca, I decide if you’re worth it, and I have made my choice. I know you. I love you.”
“Oh fuck, Sunshine.” His lips met mine in a fierce kiss, our tongues tangling.
“I want you more than my next breath,” he whispered against my lips.
“Take the time you need,” I said, staring into his dark eyes. “I’ll be here.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.” I kissed him a final time before pulling away completely. I returned to my work in the kitchen as he stood where I left him, his dark eyes trained on my every movement. Finally, he seemed to have made a decision because he went upstairs, passing Cole on his way back.
“Hey, baby,” Cole said, bouncing into the kitchen and kissing me. “You and Enzo OK? He seemed sad.”
“We’re good,” I said.
“No fighting?” Worry crossed his handsome face.
“None.” I pecked his lips. “Ryder will be here in the morning.”
Cole sighed. “Don’t remind me.”
“You don’t like Ryder?”
He grunted. “He’s a dick. He’s Ass Hat 2.0.”
I chuckled at that. “Ryder is a good man. He’s been one of my best friends for the last few years. He cares about us.”
