Once Daniella has joined her mother in hell, I’ll wipe the rest of the Martinellis off the face of this planet, and when I’m drenched in their blood, any others will fall at my feet in supplication.
They will know I am their god and worship me as I deserve.
It’s only then the clock strikes four that I remember Dante. Weaving slightly as I stand, I regret the several bourbons I had with my brother, celebrating the imminent demise of one of my enemies.
And regret it more standing over his bed, seeing his pale flaccid face and stiff cold body. He looks peaceful, his eyes closed in slumber forever.
Cesare stands behind me, a silent bastion of strength as we peer down at our brother.
“He always had the best timing, didn’t he, Cesare?” I murmur. He hums in agreement. Getting to my feet, I gaze down at Dante one more time before turning to my last remaining brother. “I want an autopsy done. Find out if it was his heart or foul play.” Glancing around the room, I sigh. Of course, he picked now to die. Couldn’t he have waited a few more weeks?
Why does no one think about me? After everything I do for my family? I have sacrificed so much for them, yet they never consider how their actions might affect me.
Feeling the familiar rage beginning to burn low in my belly, I leave Cesare behind to make the arrangements.
I think a date with my ladies is just what I need to wipe away the day’s disappointments.
Chapter 36
Dutch
Openingthedoortomy apartment, I usher Cruz inside and switch on the lights. I give him a quick tour, then show him to the guest bedroom. “This is your room,” I announce, flinging the door open. “There’s an en suite if you want to shower and change before dinner.”
Leaving him staring after me with a brow raised, I head to my room. Only, I don’t make it that far. I find my back slammed up against the wall, Cruz’s forehead against mine. “Ah,querida, what are you thinking? We just spent the last several nights together, and now you’re going to banish me from your bed?”
My body tightens with tension.Pull him closer. No, push him away.The other nights we did nothing but cuddle. He promised that when his revenge was finished … gulping down a mixture of desire and terror, I try to pull away, but he won’t let me. His eyes search mine and his lips tighten. “You are scared of me.”
No. Yes.A single tear streaks down my face, dropping into my cleavage. Letting out a shaky breath, I shake my head. “I’m not scared of you,” I whisper, turning my head to the side. “I’m scared of tomorrow.”
He presses closer against me, and I breathe in the spicy aftershave he wears. The scent brings back so many memories that I push against him again, needing to get away before I make a fool out of myself.
“Ah.” He grasps my chin and turns my head, forcing me to look at him. His eyes are hard as flint, his lips thinned and downturned. “So, you don’t believe what I said before? You think I’m a liar?”
I say nothing. I’m doing everything in my power to hold back the sheen of tears that’s threatening to turn into a river. But he sees. He’s always seen me, since the first day we met. I’ve never been able to hide from him, and why I thought I could now is beyond me. I clench my teeth together but the dam bursts anyway. Burrowing my face in his neck, I dampen his shirt with my tears.
I haven’t cried since my mother died. Not once. It comes pouring out now, years of tampered down emotions and raw feelings I’ve never known what to do with. Cruz scoops me up and sets me on the kitchen island, his arms tight around me while I break apart. Deep down I know I’m safe with him, that he won’t judge me.
Eventually, the tears stop and I release the stranglehold I have on his neck. With my head down, I whisper, “You never said goodbye. You just left me, disappeared as if I meant nothing to you. It was so easy for you to walk away.”
“You think it was easy?” he growls. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done was walking away from you. As I drove away, my heart was screaming for me to go back and take you with me. I could not leave my daughter unavenged–”
I rear back. “I never would have asked you to! Penelope and Maria deserved justice, Cruz. I wouldn't have made you give that up.”
He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know you wouldn’t have asked that of me. But what would you have done? Run away with me? Left the FBI? Given up on your revenge?”
“No, but–”
He cups my cheek, capturing my gaze with his. “You had your life, and I had to finish my mission. I didn’t say goodbye because I couldn’t. It wasn’t a goodbye, it was a,I’ll see you soon.I was always coming back for you, that was a given. I’m only sorry it took so long.
“You don’t need to worry about tomorrow, Dutch. Or the one after that. I will never walk away from you again. You are mine and I am yours.Siempre.” He leans closer. “Do you understand? Forever.”
His mouth crashes down on mine, a storm of emotions passing between us. His fingers tangle in my hair and I gasp against his mouth at the little prickle of pain. I wrap my legs around him, encouraging him to press closer against me, the hard ridge of his erection grinding against my core. I can’t breathe, I can’t think, I can do nothing but be swept along on the current that is Cruz.
When several minutes or perhaps even hours go by, Cruz finally breaks the kiss. Pulling me off the counter and setting me on the floor, he puts a hand on my shoulder. “By the end of the night, you will never doubt again that you’re mine. Now go shower and get ready for dinner. Make sure you eat plenty, you’ll need your energy.”
I sway toward him and he chuckles, pushing me lightly toward my room. Closing the door behind me, I sink down on my bed, my mind in a whirl. Those fucking butterflies are back again, causing all sorts of havoc inside me.You’ll never doubt again that you’re mine.Fucking hell.
We meet everyone in the dining room just before six. There’s one thing that’s been nagging at the back of my mind for days. Looking around for Nate, I find him having a lively discussion with Kian and Jase. Perfect.
