Page 75 of Heartless Union

I hug her back. “Thank you.”

She pulls back, sitting beside me. “I know it’s not fair. My brother lives. Your father doesn’t. If you want to scream, feel free to. I can join you if you want.”

I manage to smile just the tiniest bit. That’s Gabriella for you. “No, it’s ok. I don’t want to scream. I just want to hurt Carlo for shooting my dad.”

“I want to hurt him too for shooting Massimo. And for kidnapping us. And for trying to kill us all repeatedly.”

“We can do it together.”

Her eyes light up. “Ooh. We should think of all the ways we’re going to make Carlo suffer and that stupid son of his. Ugh. Dante. I can’t believe he wants me. Like I’d ever go for a man who freaking kidnapped me.” She rolls her eyes.

“I’m sure Rocco has some creative ideas to kill Carlo. I hope I’m there to see it happen.”

Her happy expression dims. “Do you really want to? Death changes people, Lara. Maybe it’s not something you actually want to see.”

“Have you seen someone die?”

“I have. Rocco killed someone in front of me. I was just sixteen, and there this was man who liked me. One of my father’s men. He tried touching me, but Rocco intervened. Then he tried hurting Rocco, and Rocco had to stop him. He ended up killing him. It was … a scary sight.”

“I never knew that.”

She shrugs. “It’s not like I go around talking about it all the time. But I know what it’s like to see someone die in front you. I’m not sure you want to see that. Not after just losing your dad.” She pauses. “I know what it’s like to lose my mom. I miss her every day. It’s gotten easier, but it still stings to think about her.”

“Do you miss your dad?”

She snorts. “No. He was asshole. He always ignored me. Treated me like some burden. No, I don’t miss him. But I was jealous of the relationship you had with your dad. It was so loving. You had that with him, Lara. Remember that. Remember the good times.”

My eyes grow misty. “I’ll try. It’s just a little hard right now.”

The door opens, making both of us jump.

It’s just Rocco, carrying a fast-food bag. “When you weren’t in your room,” he says to me, “I was worried.”

Staring up at him fills me with so much emotion. Love and hate. Desire and despair. Adoration and frustration.

Rocco’s controlling nature has shifted. He’s not trying to control me to be a jerk. He’s trying to keep me safe.

I need him to know I never meant to say I hate him.

“Can we talk?” I ask, standing up.

His eyes widen slightly in surprise. “Yes.” He sets the bag of food down. “Eat,” he orders Gabriella. She rolls her eyes but grabs the bag anyway.

Rocco and I go into the other motel room.

“What did you want to talk about?” he asks.

Looking at him, I know I need to tell him everything. But all I want in this moment is to feel his arms around me.

I walk over to him, grab his face, and kiss him. Rocco responds immediately, gripping my hips, and pulling me close to him. I don’t wait another second to start unbuttoning his shirt.

Rocco growls low in his throat as he picks me up and drops me onto the bed. “Are you sure?” he asks. Even though his words are sweet, his expression is dangerous. He wants me if I let him.

And I want to let him.

It’s strange to have so much desire for him while feeling such grief. I’m messed up right now, but I don’t care. I want to be with him.

“I’m sure,” I say.

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