Page 40 of The Don's Deadly Assassin

Camela approaches until she stands directly before me. I search her face, looking for any sign of the fear I well deserve. But all I see is a quiet tenderness.

"I shouldn't have run away," she says softly. "We have things to discuss, you and I."

"Camela..." My voice rasps with emotion. "I'm so sorry. For everything."

She lifts a hand, her fingertips grazing my cheek. "Hush. You have nothing to apologize for.”

“Oh, but I do,” I say, with vehement anger. “It was I that turned you away. That kiss, perhaps I was too forward.”

She frowns, contemplating my words. Then, to my surprise, she shakes her head. “It is not you who needs to apologize, Vincenzo. You see, it is I who owes you an explanation and perhaps, an apology.”

My heart swells, warmth flooding through me. She isn't leaving. She’s here to give us another chance.

“Tell me, Camela.” I gently hold her shoulders to encourage her to talk further.

Camela pulls back to search my face. "There's something you should know about me, Vincenzo. About my past."

I stroke her cheek, sensing her unease. "You can tell me anything."

She takes a deep breath. "I … I just left a bad relationship. My ex...he …continued to threaten me, even after I left him. Feeling something real with you - it scared me. I panicked." Her eyes shine with emotion. "I'm so sorry for running away like that. I didn't mean to hurt you."

The thought of anyone hurting Camela makes me see red. "Where is he?" I bite out. "Tell me his name, and I will make sure he never bothers you again."

"No, Vincenzo." She grasps my face between her hands. "I don't want any more violence. I just want to move on from that part of my life. I want to try what it means to be close to someone, perhaps with..." her voice falters here. “With you?”

I exhale sharply, wrestling my anger under control. She’s right - she deserves peace now, not more pain. Besides, after her last words, I can’t hold on to anger anymore, just hope.

"Camela." I lean down and press my forehead to hers. "You will never have to suffer at the hands of another man again. I swear it."

She smiles tremulously. "You swear it?”

“You’re safe with me now. Thank you for coming back.”

I mean every word. No one will ever hurt her again. Not while I’m by her side.

Camela curls into me with a contented sigh, and I hold her close, stroking her hair. We stand together in the cool night, the mansion glowing behind us, all the riches in the world mine to give her.

But she needs only one thing from me. The same thing I need from her.

A safe place to land.

"He was a bad man," I say quietly. "And you deserved so much better, tesoro. But the past is behind us now. This is our future - building new memories and a life with no shadows, no pain, no fear." I press a kiss to her temple.

She looks up at me, her eyes shining. "That's all I've ever wanted."

At this very moment, all I want to do is hold her in my arms and tilt back her lips for my taking. But knowing what I know now, I wish to take it slower. I want to give her a little taste of what life together can look like and how very good it can be.

“Well, in that case,” I say, breaking out into a grin and stepping back from her, offering her a hand in exchange. “Let us forget all that’s happened and have a good time. What do you say?”

“Yes, please,” she gushes, a flush of color on her cheeks.

And just like that, we’ve wiped the slate clean.

With Camela’s hand in mine, we head back inside, not caring who sees us or what they think. She’s mine now, and I want the world to know it.

We move through the crowd, a sea of curious eyes following our progress. But I? I only have eyes for her.

We end our walk in the grand ballroom, alive with music and dancing. "Would you like to dance?" I ask, already guiding her into my arms.

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